Progressives Democrats secured important primary election victories in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Bob Brooks, a retired 20-year firefighter and union leader, and State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) won their congressional primaries after the Associated Press (AP) called their races.
However, the two have taken completely different paths to their primary victories.
Brooks secured endorsements from Gov. Josh Shapiro, US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and other high-profile Democrats as well as the support from more than a dozen labor unions and progressive organizations, including the Working Families Party. He was able to win his primary election after Republicans spent over $1.7 million against him in the final weeks of the campaign.
“I spent 20 years running into burning buildings as a Bethlehem firefighter because nothing is more important to me than protecting the community I love,” Brooks said in a statement.
He added, “I’ve lived the challenges of regular people, and I know personally what it’s like to work multiple jobs at a time just to get by.”
Rabb, on the other hand, ran against the machine.
The race for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional district was thrown into disarray after Ala Stanford’s campaign imploded weeks before the election, leaving the race between Rabb and State Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia).
Street had the backing of Philadelphia’s Democratic Party, most elected officials in the city, andthe Philadelphia AFL-CIO and an overwhelming majority of labor unions. Rabb’s campaign was bolstered by US House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the Working Families Party, Reclaim Philadelphia, One Pennsylvania, and progressive lawmakers and organizations.
Rabb topped off his campaign by celebrating his victory with hundreds of supporters at the Victorian Banquet Hall in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
“There were people who showed up for me at my worst, in the depths of adversity. Good people who showed up when I needed them most. Not the least of which was my mom,” Rabb said thanking his mother, who convinced him to remain in the race after an advisor stole over $160,000 in campaign funds.
“She would not allow me to make that choice because my mother and those closest to me knew that for me, in this race, that I was walking in my purpose.”
Brooks will face Ryan Mackenzie in the general election, while Rabb will run unopposed in November.
