Rep. Rabb: "I fought for every political win. ... I didn't have the endorsements. But I had the people. ... And I reached them with humility and care because service is its own reward. ... We have a responsibility to do better and do for others ... even when it's not popular."

Sen. Street: "I'm running in this race because I want to get things done. ... We've hit the streets, we've knocked doors, we've collected over 12,000 signatures. ... I have the ability to organize people in the community ... I'm beholden to the streets of Philadelphia because I'm from it."

Griffith: "In this race, if it's David vs. Goliath, I'm David. ... That's important to know because ... the only people I owe is the people who voted for me. I don't owe it to any private interest group [or] corporation. If you send me to Washington, I'm going there for the people of Philadelphia."

🧵 The candidates' closing remarks ⬇️

Sen. Street: "To quote from 'Boyz n the Hood', 'They don't show they don't know and they don't care about what's going on in the hood' - gun violence."

Griffith: "The oligarchy runs our country. They write our tax code ... they decide who's going to get benefits. The one thing we should always do is rewrite the tax code. It is regressive in favor of the wealthy."

Rep. Rabb: We don't talk enough about how the media landscape is controlled by five tech bros. There was a time when we had independent media, independent Black media. We need to be promoting independent media because anything we care about ... is negatively impacted."

What's one issue you think congress ignores too much?

Griffith: Says he would support Medicare for all.

Rep. Rabb: "I want to be positive reinforcement to the people already doing the work ... I want to make sure the good bills that are not getting the attention of our Democratic leadership move forward. ... [such as] the bill that actually increases the wage to a living wage."

Sen. Street: "I would introduce legislature to restore Obamacare tax credit and to expand Medicaid to include the 21 million uninsured people."

What is one bill you would introduce in your first 100 days?

Griffith: "We can take money that has already been allocated to rebuilding our infrastructure. ... That's the main thing we should focus on is taking the money that has already been allocated, already been approved and ... focus on rebuilding our infrastructure."

Sen. Street: "People care about food insecurity. ... We do food giveaways ... We work with the African American Health Wellness program ... People have talked to me about issues like schools and the quality of facilities ... We don't just stay in the office, we get out into the community."

Rep. Rabb: "I've enjoyed a good relationship with the staff of Congressman Evans. ... When you work with local, state and federal as a starting point ... that's how you're best able to serve." Says top issue is affordability. "People are worried about gas prices, groceries, cost of living."

Rep. Evans has a strong reputation for his accessibility to community residents. What specific federal programs will you leverage to keep local projects moving and what top issues are residents bringing to you in your current position and what is your immediate plan of action?

Rep. Rabb: "We need more money to reach more people in effective ways. On the part of what happens on the federal level, we need to make sure we provide more funding so that ... there is enough money to go around."

Sen. Street: "The best indicator of future performance is past performance. As a member of the state senate, I have worked ... with community-based organizations to develop new housing. ... I understand how to work and deliver resources for people where they need them."

Griffith: "We are fortunate to have someone who is a progressive. ... It is absolutely important that we provide housing for people who are disabled, people who are senior, people who have limited or fixed income and what I would like to do ... is maintain the good relationship Rep. Evans has had."

How would you continue Rep. Evans' approach to working directly with local providers on addressing housing needs, especially for seniors and people living with disabilities?

Sen. Street: "I think mental health is important and it's important to acknowledge it but ... there are all sorts of stressors. ... We need to make sure we have cultural competence in mental health services ... access to mental health services and ... childcare."

Griffith: "Yes, mental health is a crisis ... the solution is Medicare for all. If everybody has access to healthcare and we acknowledge mental healthcare is healthcare, the best thing we can do is make sure people can afford the services that are there."

Rep. Rabb (cont.): "Where the body you inhabit based on your race, your faith, your gender expression, your zip code, influences the quality and range of opportunity you have."

Rep. Rabb: "When we talk about the mental health crisis that exists particularly Black and Brown communities, it's born of a stress that is not normal. It's born out of this notion of scarcity where your humanity is based on how productive you are for the people for whom you work."

What specific action would take to protect and expand mental health across the city of Philadelphia for young people and families?

Rep. Rabb: "I don't support work requirements and in fact they're racist. ... There is bipartisan complicity in these policies. ... We need to make sure we have a living wage. ... We need a federal work guarantee."

Griffith: "The work requirements are complete horse manure. ... It has nothing to do with encouraging people to work ... The people who actually get SNAP benefits are some of the hardest working people out there."

Sen. Street: "Absolutely not ... they're designed to create barriers. ... Access to housing is a precursor to people having stable work."

When the HR1 ("Big Beautiful Bill") was passed, it required work requirements for SNAP and Medicaid benefits. Do you believe work requirements are an effective way to promote economic stability for individuals, including those experiencing homelessness?

Sen. Rabb: "Of course, I believe it's a basic human right. Our government doesn't see it as such which is why we need more people in congress to affirm that. As a democratic socialist that is what I believe, that the government has a responsibility to provide the basics."