Shaun Griffith, Christopher Rabb, Ala Stanford, and Sharif Street are running in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District on May 19, 2026. Incumbent Dwight Evans is not running for re-election. Rabb, Stanford, and Street led in media attention, campaign fundraising, and endorsements. There are no Republicans running in the district.

Local media outlets have framed the race as both an example of generation shifts in officeholders that are taking place around the country, and as a test of different types of Democratic candidates' messaging to turnout voters.

Evans was unopposed in the 2024 general election. Kamala Harris (D) won the district, which is located in Philadelphia, 88.1% to 10.7% in the 2024 presidential election. Evans was first elected to Congress in Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District in 2016 and was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District in 2018. According to Philadelphia Magazine, this is the first time the seat has been open in 35 years.

Rabb was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016. He previously worked as an aide for U.S. Sen Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) and on the White House Conference on Small Business during the Clinton administration. On his campaign website, Rabb describes himself as a democratic socialist. In a press conference, Rabb said, "Centrism is not going to save us. We need real change, not another status quo politician who gives us more of the same. We need to elect a movement candidate.” U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), state Rep. Nikil Saval (D), Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke, the Working Families Party, Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America, Justice Democrats, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus have endorsed Rabb.

Stanford is a physician and health care executive. In March 2020, she founded the Black Doctors Consortium in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, President Joe Biden (D) appointed her the Mid-Atlantic regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Stanford is running on her medical experience, and has said, "The same old politics and the same old politicians are not going to cut it. We need people who step up in a storm, who lead when others wilt away, and that’s what I’ve done and will do for this city. When our government failed us during COVID, I stepped up and delivered results for Philadelphia.” Evans, U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), U.S. Rep. Herb Conaway (D-N.J.), U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D. Calif.), former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, EMILY's List, and 314 Action Fund have endorsed Stanford.

Street was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in 2016. Street is the son of former Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street and the former chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Street is running on his legislative experience. In an interview with the Daily Pennsylvanian, he said, “There are a lot of parallels between the way our state government works and federal government, and I’ve worked in an environment where you have to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done.” The Philadelphia Democratic Party, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D), former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, as well as several local wards and trade unions have endorsed Street.