Progressive Democratic Representative Chris Rapp of Pennsylvania, known for his democratic socialist leanings, won the Democratic Party primary for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for Philadelphia’s 3rd District, in a result that activists considered a new blow to the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups within the Democratic Party.
Rapp’s supporters celebrated at his campaign headquarters, chanting “AIPAC lost,” after he defeated Dr. Alla Stanford, who received indirect support from pro-Israel groups, including the political action committee “314 Action Fund,” which reports revealed received $500,000 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), despite Stanford’s denial of receiving support from the organization, according to the Common Dreams platform.
With 92% of the votes counted early Wednesday, Rapp had 44.3% of the vote, compared to 24.1% for Stanford, while the third candidate, Sheriff Street, received 29.5%.
During his campaign, Raab focused on supporting Palestinian rights and criticizing the Israeli war on Gaza, along with calling for a comprehensive healthcare system, housing and childcare programs, and plans to address climate change.
Raab said in his victory speech that the Democratic establishment had told him his victory was “impossible,” adding: “I don’t know who these people are, but I know who we are… we are the people.”
He also leveled sharp criticism at the leadership of the Democratic Party, arguing that the grassroots are demanding progressive policies that have become “normal” in other countries, such as universal healthcare.
Rap has received support from prominent progressive figures, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ro Khanna and Summer Lee.
If he wins the general election scheduled for November, Raab will join a small group of democratic socialists in the US Congress, including Rashida Tlaib and Bernie Sanders.
Representative Ro Khanna argued that the primary election results, along with Republican Representative Thomas Massie's loss in Kentucky, reflect growing public anger over wars and the influence of lobbying groups within American politics.
