Philadelphia Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans is a 70-year-old Democrat serving his fifth full term representing Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District in Philadelphia, first elected in 2016 after a long career as a state lawmaker.

Priorities: A Plan for America's Cities · Creating Good Jobs · Investing in Public Schools

Irina Ehrlich is an experienced attorney and Ukrainian immigrant with nearly 25 years of legal experience, serving as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. She graduated from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2000 and has handled over 50 jury trials, specializing in criminal defense, immigration, and guardianships.

Priorities: Commitment to justice, fairness, and treating everyone with respect in court. · Protection of rights, due process, and upholding the rule of law. · Advocacy for the weak and vulnerable, ensuring every voice is heard in court.

Aaron Bashir is a Republican candidate, legal immigrant from Pakistan, and US citizen. He holds an MBA, has worked as an accountant for the City of Philadelphia, an adjunct professor, and is a small business owner.

Cortez Patton is a Democratic judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in Pennsylvania, who assumed office on January 5, 2026. Patton successfully ran for election in November 2025, with their current term set to end on January 5, 2032.

Leon A. King II is a candidate for Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, an attorney, and an Associate Teaching Professor of Criminal Justice at Drexel University, who previously served as Philadelphia’s first openly LGBTQ+ prisons commissioner and holds a J.D. from Temple University.

Priorities: A lifelong dedication to making our courts and communities stronger. · Treating everyone with dignity and respect as a judge. · Focusing on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

William "Will" Braveman is a lifelong Philadelphian and seasoned trial attorney with over 25 years of legal experience. He served 12 years as an Assistant and Deputy City Solicitor and has extensive experience as a union attorney, child welfare advocate, and mental health court counsel, dedicated to public service and equity.

Priorities: Ensure fairness and dignity in the courtroom for all litigants. · Promote mental health continuity of services and access to appropriate treatment. · Guard against employment discrimination and promote anti-discrimination measures.

Brian Kisielewski is a dedicated public interest attorney and lifelong advocate for fairness and access to justice, currently serving as Pro Bono Counsel at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He has over a decade of experience in law and public service, including founding Philadelphia’s Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center.

Priorities: Ensuring accessible justice · Promoting fairness in the courts · Increasing access to legal aid for underrepresented populations

Qawi Abdul-Rahman is an attorney who previously served as a Public Defender in the Dade County Public Defender's Office. He holds a JD from St. Thomas University and a Bachelor's in Political Science from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

First elected in 2016, Rep. Chris Rabb is a 5-term state representative for a majority Black, mixed-income legislative district in northwest Philadelphia, known for challenging corporate power and advancing social justice. He identifies as a Democratic Socialist, campaigning to join other bold progressive public servants in Congress.

Priorities: Tackle the affordability crisis, ensuring universal basic income and a living wage for all. · Pass a strong climate agenda, including a Civil Climate Corps and a transition to renewable energy. · Expand social justice, workers' rights, and guaranteed access to healthcare, housing, education, and jobs.

Dr. Ala Stanford is a pediatric surgeon, public health leader, and the first Black woman pediatric surgeon trained entirely in the U.S., who gained national recognition for founding the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.

Priorities: Expanding affordable healthcare and health equity · Investing in public education · Securing affordable housing and food security

Shaun Griffith is an attorney and income tax adviser, serving as operations manager at a Roxborough-based tax services firm. He previously worked as a public service employee for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Priorities: Universal healthcare (such as Medicare for All) · Increasing the federal minimum wage · Protecting Americans' civil liberties and limiting executive branch funding, particularly for ICE

Josh Shapiro, the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania, has dedicated his career to public service, previously serving as Attorney General, Montgomery County Commissioner, and State Representative. He is committed to investing in quality schools, safe communities, and an economy that works for all Pennsylvanians.

Priorities: Creating economic opportunity and cutting costs for Pennsylvanians · Investing in quality education · Ensuring safer communities

Stacy Garrity is the 78th Treasurer of Pennsylvania, a retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel with three combat deployments, and a former business leader. She champions transparency, fiscal responsibility, and cutting waste in state government.

Priorities: Lower taxes and reduce regulations to make Pennsylvania open for business. · Create jobs and foster economic activity. · Support school choice and make communities safer.

Austin Davis is Pennsylvania's 35th Lieutenant Governor, the youngest in the nation and the first Black person to hold the office. A Western Pennsylvania native, he has a background in public service, having previously served in the State House of Representatives and championed efforts against gun violence.

Priorities: creating ladders of opportunity for lower income families · ensuring every child regardless of their zip code receives a quality education · creating family sustaining jobs

John Ventre is a retired UPS executive with 26 years of experience as a multi-state security, crisis management, and public affairs director. He is a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, campaigning as an "America First" and "Never Socialist" anti-establishment advocate.

Priorities: Implement a Department of State Efficiency (DOSE) to audit state agencies and reduce wasteful spending. · Repeal Act 77 for election integrity, implementing mandatory in-person voting with strict voter ID. · Support universal school choice and eliminate one-third of school administrator roles.

Jason Richey is a Republican candidate running for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in the May 19, 2026 primary election. An attorney and Allegheny County GOP Chairman, he has been endorsed by the state Republican Party for this role.

Priorities: Protect taxpayers from reckless spending and higher taxes · Prioritize public safety and support our law enforcement · Support job creators and economic growth

Brendan F. Boyle, a son of an immigrant and a janitor, was the first in his family to attend college, earning degrees from Notre Dame and Harvard. He served in the Pennsylvania state legislature before being elected to the U.S. House to represent Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District, where he is now Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee.

Priorities: Budget and Fiscal Responsibility for Working Families · Increased Federal Funding for Education · Affordable Healthcare and Medicare Improvement