'We are facing an existential crisis': Redistricting rocks the race for the nation's bluest House seat

Progressive activists gathered in North Philadelphia as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that attacks on the Voting Rights Act shake the foundations of democracy. She framed resistance as a tradition of organizing and urged support for congressional candidate Chris Rabb. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison made a parallel appeal to community leaders, arguing that Republicans are not finished after weakening the VRA and that Sharif Street offers both inspirational and principled leadership. Republicans’ efforts to erase majority-Black seats across the South have increased the stakes for an open congressional seat in Philadelphia, a city central to civil rights history. The crowded race to replace retiring Rep. Dwight Evans in the 3rd District has split Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Democrats and sparked a family fight within the Congressional Black Caucus among Black candidates.

"“The very foundations of our democracy are being shaken with the attacks on the Voting Rights Act,” the New York Democrat warned. But Ocasio-Cortez pointed to hope for resistance in a “city of abolitionists and organizers,” where “somebody in each generation refused to accept the world as it was.” For her, that meant supporting congressional candidate Chris Rabb, who she was rallying alongside Friday."

"“You saw what they just did with the VRA. They’re not done,” said Ellison, a former House member, as sweat beaded on his forehead. “The time requires not just inspirational leadership. And it sure requires principled leadership. And in Sharif we have both.”"

"Republicans' rush to erase majority-Black seats across the South after the Supreme Court weakened the VRA has turbocharged the primary for an open congressional seat in this northern city long at the forefront of the civil rights movement. The crowded race to replace retiring Rep. Dwight Evans in the 3rd District, which spans from South Philadelphia to Chestnut Hill and is the bluest in the country, has divided Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Democrats."

"And it has fueled a family fight within the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), with some members choosing sides between the three Black candidates in Penns"

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