Sharif Street

Sharif Street was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Central High School in 1992. He earned a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in 1996. He earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 1999. Street's career experience includes working as a business and affordable housing attorney. He has been affiliated with the Philadelphia Barristers Association, with Kappa Alpha Psi, and with the Prince Hall Masons.[1]

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Campaign websiteStreet's campaign website stated the following:01 Delivering Affordable HealthcareAs a State Senator, Sharif Street led the creation of Pennie, Pennsylvania's Obamacare health insurance exchange — expanding access to affordable healthcare and lowering insurance costs for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. When the Affordable Care Act was under attack, Sharif stepped up to protect coverage for working families — strengthening Medicaid, defending safety net hospitals like Temple and Einstein and ensuring health care remained a right, not a privilege. In Congress, Sharif will continue fighting to lower health care costs, make prescription drugs more affordable and expand access to mental health care — all while protecting our care from Donald Trump's political attacks.02 Ending the War on Drugs and Making our Communities SaferSharif Street has led the fight to make Philadelphia safer while reforming our broken criminal justice system. Sharif has been the state legislature's leading advocate to legalize recreational cannabis — ending the failed War on Drugs while pushing to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues into our communities to create new pathways to economic opportunities for local residents. His leadership helped move cannabis reform from a fringe issue into serious legislative action — laying the groundwork for justice-centered federal legalization. In Congress, Sharif will fight for federal cannabis legalization that prioritizes justice, equity, and community reinvestment. At the same time, Sharif has worked to reduce punitive sentencing laws and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars each year in state antiviolence prevention funding into grassroots organizations that are expanding opportunities for at-risk youth.03 Standing Up to Trump. Defending Our Democracy.When Donald Trump and his cronies tried to undermine our democracy, Sharif Street didn't stay silent — he took action. As a Democratic leader in Pennsylvania, Sharif fought Trump's 2020 attempts to suppress votes and intimidate election officials. When other party leaders were afraid to be out in front, Sharif led the charge to protect our fundamental rights by suing Trump more than a dozen times — and winning every time. Despite receiving thousands of threats, Sharif stood firm, and his successful legal strategy ensured every vote was counted and the will of the people was respected. From protecting access to the ballot to defending healthcare, reproductive freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights, Sharif understands that democracy only works when every voice is protected and heard. In Congress, Sharif will do the exact same thing again. He's going to stand up to Trump's extreme agenda. And he's going to win.04 An Economy That Works for FamiliesFamilies across Philadelphia are working harder than ever — yet falling further behind. As a civil rights and housing attorney and State Senator, Sharif helped build thousands of affordable homes in neighborhoods across Philadelphia while creating family-sustaining union jobs and protecting workers' rights. In Congress, he will take on corporate price gouging, fight to lower the cost of living, expand affordable housing, and ensure everyone has a fair chance to succeed — not just those at the top.05 Safety Through Prevention and OpportunityAs a father and grandfather, Sharif Street knows that our future depends on the opportunities we create for our youth. Sharif has fought to invest in public education, support educators, and expand career and technical education — recognizing that there are many paths to success. Whether through college, the trades, or workforce training, every young person deserves access to opportunity. Sharif has led the fight to increase education funding in Harrisburg. And when he gets to Congress, he's going to finally secure the federal funding we need to rebuild our aging schools and ensure that every child in Philadelphia can learn in safe, modern school buildings. Sharif was part of the tour that discovered asbestos at Peirce Elementary and fought for the funding to rebuild that school so it would be safe for children to attend. Too many of our school buildings are aging and unsafe — and fixing all of our schools is too big for the city or state to do on their own. Sharif knows that we need a massive federal investment to rebuild aging schools in cities and rural districts across America. He will lead the charge to invest $500 billion in school infrastructure to make sure students have access to safe schools that can support the needs of modern learners — including reliable internet, electrical capacity for every student, clean water, and buildings free from asbestos.— Sharif Street's campaign website (May 6, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am running to improve access to healthcare, reform our criminal justice system, create quality jobs, fairly and fully fund our public schools, invest in science and technology to combat climate change, and fight for the rights of all Pennsylvanians. From Philadelphia to Erie and Scranton to Pittsburgh, my message of strength through diversity allows us to accomplish even the most formidable goals.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Criminal Justice Reform - Pennsylvania has more people serving time in prison than almost every other state in the country. We must end the school to prison pipeline and begin to reduce the amount of people incarcerated in our state. We can start with eliminating cash bail, creating more opportunities for parole and probation, and completely ending the death penalty.Healthcare Access - All Pennsylvanians deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare whether they live in a big city or in a rural community. I'm working to find creative ways to lower healthcare costs by strengthening insurance networks, eliminating surprise balance billing practices, and getting a handle on rising pharmaceutical costs.Investing in Education - I understand that access to quality education is the key to raising strong families and a building a prosperous Pennsylvania. I am fighting for state of the art educational opportunities across the Commonwealth from fairly funded public schools, to world class higher education institutions, to focused career and technical training.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm dedicated to expanding healthcare and education, to fund our schools and set students up to succeed, not fail, reform our criminal justice system, and protect the rights of every Pennsylvanian.

All Pennsylvanians deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare whether they live in a big city or in a rural community. We need to make it easier for our seniors to access home healthcare, reduce premiums in the healthcare marketplace, lower prescription drug prices, improve access to healthcare in rural Pennsylvania, increase funding for hospitals who serve low income patients, and eliminate predatory short-term health insurance plans.

We must end the school to prison pipeline and begin to reduce the amount of people incarcerated in our state. We need to extend parole eligibility to those serving life sentences, establish a state office of re-entry programs, auto expunge all charges not resulting in a conviction, end cash bail in Pennsylvania, decriminalize possession of cannabis, and enact comprehensive probation reform. That also requires investing in education, fully funding public schools in a way that does not pit one Pennsylvania region against another, while also realizing the potential of charter and technical schools.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Our elected officials should be committed to developing good public policy that connects to the needs of their constituents. When elected officials are able to develop an overarching philosophy of governance that reflects this, our government - and our society - grows as a whole.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Back when I was about 5 years old, the Mayor of Philadelphia was Frank Rizzo, and he was advancing policies that would have destroyed communities. One of these policies was what we now call gentrification. I remember going door-to-door campaigning against the implementation of Mayor Rizzo's policies. It reminded me of the importance of neighborhood cohesion and how people could take command of their own destiny by using their collective power.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Obviously Spiderman because he understands that with great power comes great responsibility.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the hardest things I've had to do is find a balance between my work and home life. As a dedicated member of my local community and Senator, I strive to always give as much as I can to my career, and thus back to my community. Being a husband, father of 5, and grandfather of 2 (with 1 on the way!), that balance can be really hard to strike sometimes.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

The next decade will feature one of our greatest realignments in economic and societal structure, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has highlighted the outrageous disparities in Pennsylvania and America's communities. To meet these new challenges of the 21st century, we have to invest, first and foremost, in education. Without a foundation of education, society and the economy cannot grow. We must eliminate the disparities between students living in the richest and poorest school district, ensuring all schools are funded fairly and equally, including trade schools. Beyond growing jobs in emerging sectors, part of this changing century will also require retraining the workforce of displaced adult workers. Above all, we have to provide the resources Pennsylvanians need to thrive, whether it be education, healthcare access, or job retraining, regardless of if they're 5 years old or 75 years old.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

We have to approach redistricting with a fundamental respect for the integrity of our diverse communities. Any process that determines who people are voting for must maintain the very simple rule of equal representation for all: one person, one vote. This foundational concept protects the enfranchisement of every American. We must also keep in mind the historical disenfranchisement of minority communities and those who live there, ensuring any effort is consistent with the Voting Rights Act.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Agriculture and Rural Affairs - Even though I grew up in and currently live in Philadelphia, agricultural issues and the issues of rural Pennsylvania are close to me. My grandfather was a dairy farmer, and my father grew up on one. I know the importance of our farmers, their crops, and the immense economic benefit they provide the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Appropriations - I believe the budget we pass is more than just numbers on a piece of paper the Governor signs. Our budget is a moral document, and it is a reflection of what values we hold.

Banking and Insurance & Health and Human Services - I saw first-hand as nurses helped save my brother who was born with a congenital heart problem, and I've watched the impact of healthcare providers on helping my cousin overcome his addiction struggles. I'm committed to making sure all communities are able to access quality, affordable healthcare whether they live in a big city or in a rural community. I also co-founded and served on the Board of Directors of Urban Solution, a non-profit corporation created to address the health needs of traditionally under-served communities.

Housing and Urban Development - During law school, I began my public career as a community activist by organizing a Town Watch group to organize community cleanups and prevent the violence endemic to his hometown. Commitment to my community - and communities just like mine - inspired deep involvement in local organizations. I developed an expertise in issues related to affordable housing serving as a Board Member for the North Central Philadelphia Empowerment Zone's Housing Trust Fund, managing director of the Housing Association of Delaware Valley, and a member of the North-Central Empowerment Zone's Community Advisory Committees for Housing, Crime and Public Safety, and Economic Development.