PA House Basic Preview: Philadelphia

In the final days before the primary elections, PoliticsPA is taking a look at the House of Representatives candidates in West and Center City in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA

10th House of Representatives Legislative District
Sajda Blackwell (no), Amen Brown (no) and Cassandra Green (no)

Brown holds the office but faces a grave primary challenge to keep his seat in Harrisburg.

Sajda “Purple” Blackwell

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. West Philadelphia
• Experience. Founder, Blackwell Culture Alliance; Organizer, BCA Actionist
• Top priorities. He advocates 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 every student graduates with a solid understanding of budgeting, saving, investing and debt management.
• Last elections (2022). He finished third in the HD-10 primary standings behind Amen Brown (40%) and Cass Green (37.6%) with 22.4%.
• Confirmations. Questioner from Philadelphia
• Quotable. “Together, we can empower our community with financial literacy, reduce gun violence, provide affordable housing, and eliminate food insecurity while creating a more equitable and prosperous Pennsylvania 10th Home District.”
• Education. Pennsylvania State University
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 31/03/2024)
  • Raised: $4,059 | Spent: $4,059 | Cash on hand: $0

Amen Brown

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House assignments. Commerce, Housing and Community Development, Alcohol Control, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
• Top priorities. Invest in programs that provide youth services, community engagement, mental health care, housing support, job access and placement, and drug treatment. A child’s access to a quality education should never be determined by income, race or zip code.
• Last elections (2022). Defeated Cass Green (37.6%) and Sajda Blackwell (22.4%) with 40% in HD-10 primary schools
• Confirmations. Congressman Dwight Evans; Senator Sharif Street; Senator Vincent Hughes; Speaker Joanna McClinton; House Majority Leader Matt Bradford.
• Quotable. “If Philadelphians don’t feel safe living, working or raising a family in the city, nothing else matters. If we do not 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 prosper.”
• Education. Community College of Philadelphia
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 4/08/2024)
  • Raised: $77,785 | Spent: $54,380.25 | Cash on hand: $24,348.91
  • Debt and liabilities: $7,140

Cassandra Green

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. Co-founder of Mill Creek Community Partnership; Activist, grassroots organizer
• Top priorities. Push to expand subsidies, rent relief and eviction protections, boost the availability of affordable housing, rent-to-own options, support home improvement grants like the Whole Home Repair Program, and fight to end housing discrimination and historic redlining practices. Advocate for immediate full and equitable funding for our area’s public schools, infrastructure and facility upgrades, and increased investment in teachers and staff. He won’t court wealthy donors and won’t accept a dime from those who want to privatize our schools and bust our unions.
• Last elections (2022). He finished second in the HD-10 primary to Amen Brown (40%) with 37.6%
• ConfirmationsSenator Nikil Saval, Philadelphia prosecutor Larry Krasner
• Quotable. “Our community deserves housing, health care, education and investment. We deserve better than politicians who use their power solely for their own gain.”
• Education. Institute of Fashion Technology
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 4/08/2024)
  • Raised: $212,772.47 | Spent: $81,676.11 | Cash on hand: $131,096.36

District Composition: That portion of PHILADELPHIA County, consisting of the CITY OF Philadelphia (PART, Districts 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 House of Representatives legislative district
Naderah Griffin (Germany), Malcolm Kenyatta (Germany) and Lewis Nash Senior (Germany)

Kenyatta holds that position and is also on the ballot for state auditor general. If he had won HD-181 and the statewide race, he would likely have resigned from the House of Representatives.

Nader Griffin

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. Former educator in the Philadelphia School District
• Top priorities. The most pressing issues include cost of living, displacement of low-income residents (largely Black) due to regentrification, destitute education, mental health issues, mass incarceration (Black people disproportionately affected compared to other races). ), violence, crime and unemployment/low wages.
• Last elections (2022).
• Education. B.A., M.Ed.
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 4/08/2024)
  • Raised: $250 | Spent: $543.63 | Cash on Hand: ($-293)
  • Debts and Liabilities: $1,214.60

Malcolm Kenyatta

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House assignments. Commerce, Finance, Judiciary, Alcohol Control, State Government
• Top priorities. Work to protect workers’ rights, implement commonsense gun safety policies, and root out government corruption and waste.
• Last elections (2022). He was unopposed in the general election.
• Confirmations.
• Quotable. “I’m running because it’s time for the underdog to be the guardian of Pennsylvania’s working families. To ask the hard questions, to help rethink and improve government, and to build coalitions to fix what’s wrong.
• Education. B.A., Temple University; M.S., Drexel University
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 4/08/2024)
  • 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 the Kingdom of Faith and Liberation Worship Center; Leader of the 47th District
• Top priorities. Gun violence, jobs, education, affordable housing and the drug epidemic are pressing issues. I want the electoral code to be reviewed and its language to be clear, concise and clean. She will support any legislation that equitably fixes the school funding situation.
• Education. Bible Academy
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign financial report (from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024)

District Composition: That portion of PHILADELPHIA County that includes the CITY of Philadelphia (PART, Districts 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 House of Representatives legislative district
Tony Dphax King (No) vs. Rick Krajewski (No)

Krajewski holds this position and faces a primary challenge from King.

Tony Dphax King

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. West Philadelphia
• Top priorities. I am 100% in favor of PUBLIC SCHOOLS. If you are UNDER 18, I agree that parents/guardians must consent to an abortion. I agree with the judicial bypass.
• Quotable. “I’m running for state assemblyman. Fighting the corrupt Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). Just send me to Harrisburg for 3-4 years – then I’ll be out of there! “
• Education. B.A., Temple University
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 31/03/2024)
  • Raised: $5,000 | Spent: $0 | Cash on hand: $4,765

Rick Krajewski

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House assignments. Children and youth; Health; Housing and Community Development; Tourism and economic and recreational development
• Top priorities. Healthy housing for everyone. Decent education for all. A Green New Deal for Pennsylvania
• Last elections (2022). He defeated James Wright, 71-29% in primary. He was unopposed in the general election
• Confirmations.
• Quotable. “I am running for re-election to continue fighting for our community.”
• Education. B.A., University of Pennsylvania
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 4/08/2024)
  • Raised: $8,644.36 | Spent: $6,851.86 | Cash on hand: $20,519.38

District Composition: That portion of PHILADELPHIA County, consisting of the CITY of Philadelphia (PART, Districts 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 House of Representatives legislative district
Roni Green (No) vs. James Jackson (No)

Green holds the position and faces a primary challenge from Jackson.

Roni Green

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. State Representative
• House assignments. Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Environmental resources and energy; Housing and Community Development; Human services; Work and industry
• Top priorities. Activist for working people
• Last elections (2022). He defeated James Jackson, who ran as an independent in the general election
• Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign finance report (from 1/01/2024 to 4/08/2024)
  • Raised: $19,870 | Spent: $2,066.94 | Cash on hand: $21,356.91

James Jackson

• Party. Democrat
• Residence. Philadelphia
• Experience. Not applicable
• Top priorities. Not applicable
• Last elections (2022). Lost to Roni Green in the general election as an independent
• Education. Not applicable
• Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Vote411 Voter Guide
• Campaign financial report (from January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024)