Philadelphia seems to be sending a progressive to Congress. PA State Representative Chris Rabb, winner of the Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives’ most Democratic District, is a self-described outgoing introvert who’s not prone to optimism. “Rep Rabb” is a movement candidate whose decisive May win was far from a given. The mayor, the city’s Democratic Party, and other establishment Democrats having endorsed his opponents, Rabb attributes his 15-point victory to energizing voters with no loyalty to the Democratic Party or to status quo politics.
As Chris Rabb plans to head to Washington, D.C. to represent a large chunk of Philadelphia (the 3rd District) in the United States House of Representatives, today we learn more about him as a person and public servant in a long form interview on the Streets Dept Podcast.
In the interview, I talk with Rabb about his plans for Washington. Might he become the next member of “The Squad” with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib? He reflects on his early life, which includes fights against the administration when he attended Yale University, his background in improv and his love of the arts, and how he believes lessons learned from his ancestors have really prepared him for this moment.
The Streets Dept Podcast hosts biweekly conversations with the creative minds shaping the world around us.
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Rep Chris Rabb (left) with Conrad Benner. Photo courtesy of Conrad Benner.