PA House Primary Preview: Philly

In the waning days until the primary, PoliticsPA takes a look at the contenders for the State House in West and Center City Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA

10th State House Legislative District
Sajda Blackwell (D), Amen Brown (D) and Cassandra Green (D)

Brown is the incumbent but faces a major primary challenge to retain his seat in Harrisburg.

Sajda “Purple” Blackwell

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. West Philadelphia
• Experience. Founder, Blackwell Culture Alliance; Organizer, B.C.A. Actionist
• Top Priorities. Advocate for common-sense gun control measures, including universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole, and implementing restrictions on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. Prioritize comprehensive financial education in our schools and ensure that every student graduates with a strong understanding of budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt.
• Last Election (2022). Finished third in HD-10 primary to Amen Brown (40%) and Cass Green (37.6%) with 22.4%
• Endorsements. Philadelphia Inquirer
• Quotable. “Together, we can empower our community with financial literacy, reduce gun violence, ensure affordable housing, and eradicate food insecurity, creating a more equitable and prosperous 10th Pennsylvania House District.”
• Education. Penn State University
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 3/31/2024)
  • Raised: $4,059 | Spent: $4,059 | Cash On Hand: $0

Amen Brown

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House Assignments. Commerce, Housing & Community Development, Liquor Control, Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
• Top Priorities. Invest in programs that provide youth services, community engagement, mental health care, housing support, job access and placement, and drug addiction treatment. A child’s access to quality education should never be dependent on income, race, or zip code. 
• Last Election (2022). Defeated Cass Green (37.6%) and Sajda Blackwell (22.4%) with 40% in HD-10 primary
• Endorsements. Congressman Dwight Evans; Sen. Sharif Street; Sen. Vincent Hughes; Speaker Joanna McClinton; House Majority Leader Matt Bradford.
• Quotable. “If Philadelphians do not feel safe to live, work or raise a family in the city, nothing else matters. If we don’t confront the gun violence and violent crime plaguing our city, we cannot expect our city and those who live and do business here to succeed and thrive.”
• Education. Community College of Philadelphia
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 4/8/2024)
  • Raised: $77,785 | Spent: $54,380.25 | Cash On Hand: $24,348.91
  • Debts and Obligations: $7,140

Cassandra Green

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. Co-founder, Mill Creek Community Partnership; Activist, Grassroots organizer
• Top Priorities. Push to expand subsidies, rental relief and eviction protections, increase affordable units, rent-to-own options, support home repair subsidies like the Whole Home Repair Program and fight to end housing discrimination and historic redlining practices. Advocate for immediate full and fair funding for our neighborhood public schools, infrastructure and facility upgrades and increased investment in teachers and staff. Will not court wealthy donors and won’t take a dime from those who want to privatize our schools and break unions. 
• Last Election (2022). Finished second in HD-10 primary to Amen Brown (40%) with 37.6%
• Endorsements. Sen. Nikil Saval, Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner
• Quotable. “Our community deserves housing, health care, education and investment. We deserve more than politicians that use their power only to benefit themselves.”
• Education. Fashion Institute of Technology
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 4/8/2024)
  • Raised: $212,772.47 | Spent: $81,676.11 | Cash On Hand: $131,096.36

District composition: Part of PHILADELPHIA County consisting of the CITY of Philadelphia (PART, Wards 04 [PART, Divisions 01, 07, 08 and 12], 06 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 and 16], 08 [PART, Divisions 17, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 29], 24, 44 [PART, Divisions 03, 04, 06, 08, 09, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16] and 60 [PART, Divisions 04, 05, 06, 07, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22]).

PHILADELPHIA

181st State House Legislative District
Naderah Griffin (D), Malcolm Kenyatta (D) and Lewis Nash Sr. (D)

Kenyatta is the incumbent and is also on the ballot for state Auditor General. If he would win the HD-181 and the statewide race, he would most likely resign his House post.

Naderah Griffin

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. Former educator, School District of Philadelphia
• Top Priorities. The most pressing issues are the cost of living, displacement of low income residents (Blacks people largely impacted) as a result of re-gentrification, poor education, mental health issues, mass incarceration (Blacks disproportionally impacted in comparison to other races), violent crimes, and unemployment/low wages.
• Last Election (2022). 
• Education. B.A, M.Ed. 
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 4/8/2024)
  • Raised: $250 | Spent: $543.63 | Cash On Hand: (-$293)
  • Debts and Obligations: $1,214.60

Malcolm Kenyatta

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House Assignments. Commerce, Finance, Judiciary, Liquor Control, State Government
• Top Priorities. Work to protect workers’ rights, enact common-sense gun safety policies, and root out government corruption and waste.
• Last Election (2022). Ran unopposed in general election.
• Endorsements.
• Quotable. “I’m running because it’s time for the underdog to be the watchdog for Pennsylvania’s working families. To ask the tough questions, to help reimagine and streamline government, and to build coalitions to fix what’s wrong.”
• Education. B.A, Temple University; M.S., Drexel University
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 4/8/2024)
  • Raised: $108,293.18 | Spent: $144,795.01 | Cash On Hand: $112,177.72

Lewis Nash Sr.

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. Founder and Pastor of Faith and Deliverance Kingdom Worship Center; Leader of the 47th Ward
• Top Priorities. Gun violence, jobs, education, affordable housing and the drug epidemic are pressing issues. I want the Election Code reviewed and language made clear, concise and clean. Will support all legislation which fairly remedies the school funding situation.
• Education. Bibleway Academy
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 3/31/2024)
  • N/A

District Composition: Part of PHILADELPHIA County consisting of the CITY of Philadelphia (PART, Wards 08 [PART, Divisions 25, 26, 30 and 32], 14, 15 [PART, Divisions 03, 07 and 10], 18 [PART, Divisions 09, 14, 15 and 16], 20, 37 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17 and 18] and 47).

PHILADELPHIA

188th State House Legislative District
Tony Dphax King (D) vs. Rick Krajewski (D)

Krajewski is the incumbent and faces a primary challenge from King.

Tony Dphax King

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. West Philadelphia
• Top Priorities. I am a 100% PUBLIC SCHOOL advocate. If you are UNDER 18, I agree that parents/guardians must give permission for an abortion. I agree with the judicial bypass.
• Quotable. “I’m Running For State REP. To Fight The Corrupt Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). Send Me To Harrisburg For Only 3-4 Years — Then I’m OUT OF THERE! ”
• Education. B.A, Temple University
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 3/31/2024)
  • Raised: $5,000 | Spent: $0 | Cash On Hand: $4,765

Rick Krajewski

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House Assignments. Children & Youth; Health; Housing & Community Development; Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development
• Top Priorities. Healthy Housing For All. A Dignified Education for All. A Green New Deal For Pennsylvania
• Last Election (2022). Defeated James Wright, 71-29% in primary. Ran unopposed in general election
• Endorsements.
• Quotable. “I’m running for re-election to continue fighting for our community.”
• Education. B.A, University of Pennsylvania
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 4/8/2024)
  • Raised: $8,644.36 | Spent: $6,851.86 | Cash On Hand: $20,519.38

District Composition: Part of PHILADELPHIA County consisting of the CITY of Philadelphia (PART, Wards 27, 46, 51 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 05, 06, 07, 08, 14, 15 and 23] and 60 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13 and 23]).

PHILADELPHIA

190th State House Legislative District
Roni Green (D) vs. James Jackson (D)

Green is the incumbent and faces a primary challenge from Jackson.

Roni Green

• Party. Democrat 
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House Assignments. Agriculture & Rural Affairs; Environmental Resources & Energy; Housing & Community Development; Human Services; Labor & Industry
• Top Priorities. Activist for working people
• Last Election (2022). Defeated James Jackson who ran as independent in general election
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 4/8/2024)
  • Raised: $19,870 | Spent: $2,066.94 | Cash On Hand: $21,356.91

James Jackson

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. N/A
• Top Priorities. N/A
• Last Election (2022). Lost to Roni Green in general election as independent
• Education. N/A
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide 
• Campaign Finance Report (from 1/1/2024 thru 3/31/2024)
  • N/A