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Sharif Street

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Sharif Street
Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
In office
June 18, 2022 – September 6, 2025
Preceded byNancy Patton Mills
Succeeded byEugene DePasquale
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byShirley Kitchen
Personal details
Born (1974-03-29) March 29, 1974 (age 52)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
RelativesJohn F. Street (father)
Milton Street (uncle)
EducationMorehouse College (BA)
University of Pennsylvania (JD)

Sharif Street (born March 29, 1974) is an American politician and attorney. He is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 3rd district since 2017.[1] Street served as vice-chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 2018 to 2022, and party chair from 2022 to 2025. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district in 2026, losing the Democratic primary to Chris Rabb.[2]

Early life and education

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Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Street is the son of former Philadelphia mayor John F. Street, and the nephew of former state senator Milton Street.[3] His mother Helen Street was a teacher at Sheridan Elementary in Kensington.[4] Street graduated from Central High School, where he was the student body president[4] and ran track and field.[5] He attended Morehouse College, serving as president of the student senate.[4] After earning a Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a concentration in finance, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1999.[6][7] During law school, he was the president of the Penn Law Democrats.[4]

Early political involvement

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Throughout the early 2000s, Street was known for his cultural pride and long locks, which he kept even while campaigning.[8][dead link] During the 2000 presidential election, Street was a Pennsylvania state co-chair of GoreNet.[9] GoreNet was a group that supported the Al Gore campaign with a focus on grassroots and online organizing, as well as hosting small-dollar donor events.[10] In 2004, Street was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention committed to John Kerry for President.[11]

Career

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Pennsylvania State Senate

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Street was elected to the State Senate in 2016,[12] becoming the first Muslim elected to the body.[13] He currently serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.[14][15]

In 2021, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Street was working for months with Republicans on a redistricting plan that would boost his own prospective congressional campaign. A spokesperson for U.S. representative Brendan Boyle alleged that Street was "conspiring with Republicans to push a gerrymandered Republican map for personal political gain." U.S. representative Madeleine Dean urged Governor Tom Wolf to veto "the reported gerrymandered congressional maps." J.J. Balaban, a Philadelphia-based Democratic consultant who worked on U.S. House races said "[a]ny Democratic elected official should be embarrassed to support a map as bad for Democrats as that map is." The map, which did not pass, would have created an incumbent-free district in Philadelphia where Street could have run.[16][17][18]

In September 2023, Street voted against Senate Bill 773 in committee, which would allow all of the state’s medical marijuana growers and processors to sell their products directly to patients. The bill passed.[19][20] However, Street voted affirmatively when the bill made it in the full chamber.[21][22]

Committee assignments

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For the 2025–2026 session, Street sits on the following committees:[23]

  • Banking & Insurance (Minority Chair)
  • Agriculture & Rural Affairs
  • Appropriations
  • Health & Human Services
  • Urban Affairs & Housing

Pennsylvania Democratic Party

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In 2022, Street was elected Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party after serving as vice-chair to Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills of Allegheny County.[24] Governor Josh Shapiro did not support Street's candidacy for the role, and said publicly that an elected official like Street should not run the party because they could blur the lines between what is best for the organization and their personal ambition.[18] He was the first Black person to serve as chair.[25]

During his tenure from 2022 to 2025, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Democratic voter registration in the state "dropped precipitously, fundraising stagnated, and Pennsylvania Democrats had a disastrous 2024 that saw all five of the party's statewide nominees lose."[18] Balaban said "[Street] was asleep at the switch while the Democratic registration advantage over Republicans shrunk radically."[18]

In 2023,the Pennsylvania Democratic Party printed out thousands of cards with the wrong election date. Politico reported that this, among other problems like party layoffs and low fundraising, raised questions "about the competency of its leadership, including state party chair Sharif Street."[17]

In July 2025, Governor Shapiro and Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin questioned whether Street should remain state party chair.[25][26] On August 25, Street announced he would step down from the chairmanship to focus on his congressional campaign.[27][25]

When Eugene DePasquale took over as the new chair in 2025, the party was unable to make payroll just two months away from a high-stakes Supreme Court retention race. The party’s federal political action committee had less than $24,000 on hand. The voter registration disadvantage has reversed since DePasquale has been in charge.[18]

2022 U.S. Senate election

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On April 1, 2021, Street filed as a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.[28] He ended his campaign in January 2022.[29]

2026 congressional election

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Main article: 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 3

In 2025, Street entered the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district to succeed Congressman Dwight Evans after he announced his retirement.[13] Street received the support of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker[30] and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker,[31] but Evans backed an alternate candidate in Ala Stanford.[32]

Street's campaign focused on his experience at the state level increasing investment in Philadelphia, expanding healthcare access, and criminal justice reform.[33] He has been critical of Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Israel, but asserts his belief in a two-state solution, and does not describe the Gaza genocide as a "genocide".[34]

Street would be defeated in the Democratic primary, finishing in second to state representative Chris Rabb, a democratic socialist considered to be running to Street's left.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Scott, Emily (January 8, 2017). "Sharif Street celebrates state senatorship on Main Campus". The Temple News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Orso, Anna; Janesch, Sam (May 19, 2026). "State Rep. Chris Rabb wins Democratic primary for Philly congressional seat, a decisive win for the progressive left". Inquirer.com. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  3. ^ Colaneri, Katie (January 15, 2016). "Sharif Street launches Pa. Senate bid". WHYY Newsworks. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Baer, John M. (March 25, 2002). "Young Street challenges canny foe". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 9. ProQuest 1891539058.
  5. ^ Nolan, Jim (June 15, 2001). "Mayor's son proves acorn doesn't fall far from the tree". Philadelphia Daily News. ProQuest 1886068708.
  6. ^ "Sharif Street | Senate District 3". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Wilson, Kendall (June 18, 1999). "Following father's success". Philadelphia Tribune. ProQuest 337760334.
  8. ^ "Length Matters". mycitypaper.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "GoreNet State Co-Chairs". Gore 2000. August 15, 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "GoreNet: A Network of Young Americans Dedicated to Al Gore President". Gore 2000. August 15, 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "2004 Democratic National Convention". C-SPAN. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "Pennsylvania 3rd District State Senate Results: Sharif Street Wins". The New York Times. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Terruso, Julia (July 2, 2025). "State Sen. Sharif Street launches campaign for Congress, vying to replace retiring Dwight Evans". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "Members of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing". Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "Members of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee". Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  16. ^ Seidman, Andrew; Lai, Jonathan (December 9, 2021). "Democrats are suddenly fighting each other over Pennsylvania redistricting". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Otterbein, Holly (September 1, 2023). "Pennsylvania is key for Biden. Democrats there say the party is in shambles". Politico. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  18. ^ a b c d e Orso, Anna (May 12, 2026). "Sharif Street's record leading Pennsylvania Democrats faces renewed scrutiny in Philly congressional race". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  19. ^ Savage, Henry (January 5, 2024). "Porch pirates, medical marijuana, and SEPTA crimes: A rundown of Pennsylvania's new laws in 2024". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  20. ^ "Roll Call: PA SB773 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session".
  21. ^ Hoopes, Zack (September 20, 2023). "Pa. Senate passes bill allowing more medical marijuana growers to sell directly to patients". PennLive. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  22. ^ "Roll Call: PA SB773 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session".
  23. ^ "Senator Sharif Street". Pennsylvania State Senate. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  24. ^ "Sharif Street elected Vice-Chair of Pennsylvania Democratic Party". Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  25. ^ a b c Terruso, Julia (August 25, 2025). "Sen. Sharif Street is stepping down as Pa. Democratic chair with plans to endorse Eugene DePasquale for the job". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  26. ^ Terruso, Julia; McGoldrick, Gillian (July 14, 2025). "Gov. Josh Shapiro, DNC chair Ken Martin question whether Sharif Street should remain state party chair while running for Congress". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  27. ^ "Sen. Street to step down as Chair of Pa. Democratic Party". KYW Newsradio. August 25, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  28. ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1506980". Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  29. ^ Terruso, Julia (January 19, 2022). "SEIU endorses Malcolm Kenyatta's bid for U.S. Senate". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  30. ^ Orso, Anna; Walsh, Sean (April 15, 2026). "Mayor Cherelle L. Parker endorses State Sen. Sharif Street for Congress". Inquirer.com. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  31. ^ "The final stretch: AOC joins Rabb while Sen. Booker stumps for Street". WHYY. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  32. ^ "Dr. Ala Stanford announces run for Congress in Pennsylvania's 3rd District, endorsement from Rep. Dwight Evans - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. October 1, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  33. ^ Janesch, Sam; Walsh, Sean; Orso, Anna (April 8, 2026). "Meet the 4 Democrats vying to replace Dwight Evans in Congress". Inquirer.com. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  34. ^ Orso, Anna (April 30, 2026). "How the Middle East and the word 'genocide' became the defining issue of the Philly congressional race". Inquirer.com. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
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