Question 1: What prior experiences, skills and expertise would you bring as a US Senator?
I would bring a lived experience that is all too rare in the US Senate. As the son of a home health care aid and a social worker, I had to get my first job at the age of 12 washing dishes to help pay the bills. I understand what it is like to be evicted. My mother would spend her days making sure folks got their medication, only to come home and have to ration her insulin. I lost both of my parents by the time I was 27 because neither of them could afford to regularly take their prescription medication.
Question 2: What is your plan to win the election? Please speak to fundraising and field operations.
Our path to victory in the Primary is clear – win the black and brown vote throughout the state, play competitively among white progressive and young voters in Philadelphia, the Collar counties, Pittsburgh, NEPA, and college towns, and do reasonably well among white suburban voters, particularly women. This grouping is not only the electoral coalition that will win us the primary but the one that will be our base to build off of as we head into the general.
While we know we will not outraise all of our competitors we are on track to hit our budget goals to win. We know that what we may lack in fundraising we will make up in field and organizing. We have already built out a volunteer program with hundreds or active volunteers throughout the commonwealth helping us build meet and greets, register voters and do peer to peer texting. We will continue to build on our organizing and bring in organizations and individual leaders to support our field program.
Our Endorsements and Validators: One of the core strengths of this campaign, thus far, has been our ability to rack up endorsements from key constituencies that will make up our coalition. We are building the biggest and broadest coalition all across the Commonwealth. We have over 80 endorsements from elected officials that not only span across Pennsylvania but also ideologically. Every progressive organization that has endorsed in this race has chosen our campaign. All of these endorsements and the ones from unions like AFT, SEIU, Teamsters and more will be pivotal for our field operations.
Key validators and endorsements will continue to be an essential part of the campaign as we bring folks together to run this campaign as and will continue to govern by bringing folks to the table.
As a candidate that is driven by the issues most of which I have been personally impacted by, I have continued to show that I am the strongest candidate on the issues that matter to working families throughout the Commonwealth.
Question 3: What endorsements have you received, or are you seeking?
Collective PAC One Pennsylvania American Federation of Teachers Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Working Families Party Democracy for America Temple Association of University Professors Victory Fund Brand New Congress AFSCME 1199C AFSCME DC33 SEIU Teamsters Local 623 Teamsters BMWED Voters of Tomorrow Gloria Steinem, Activist Wanda Sykes, Comedian and Activist Cristela Alonzo, Comedian and Biden Surrogate Lee Daniels, Actor, Producer, and Activist Sharice Davids, Member of Congress Al Green, Member of Congress Chairman Matthew Bradford, Democratic Appropriations, Pennsylvania State House D-70 Chairwoman Donna Bullock, PA Legislative Black Caucus, Pennsylvania State House D-195 State Representative Jordan Harris, Democratic Whip, Pennslvania State House, D-186 State Representative Jeanne McNeil, Pennsylvania State House D-133 State Representative Stephen Kinsey, Pennsylvania State House D-201 (and former chair of the PA Legislative Black Caucus) State Representative Joe Hohenistein, Pennsylvania State House D-177 State Representative Danilo Burgos, Pennsylvania State House D-197 State Representative Maureen Madden, Pennsylvania State House D-115 State Representative Jess Benham, Pennsylvania State House D-36 State Representative Nancy Guenst, Pennsylvania State House D-152 State Representative John Galloway, Pennsylvania State House D-140 State Representative Regina Young, Pennsylvania State House D-185 State Representative Jason Dawkins, Pennsylvania State House D-179 State Representative Danielle Friel Otten, Pennsylvania State House D-155 Former State Representative Tony Payton Isaiah Thomas, Philadelphia City Council At-Large Kathy Gilmore Richardson, Philadelphia City Council At-Large Jamie Gauthier, Philadelphia City Council At-Large Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia City Council At-Large Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Council Gopal Balachandran, SCASD School Board Candidate Rich Biever, SCASD School Board Candidate Peter Buck, SCASD School Board Candidate and Former Candidate for PA HD 171 Carline Crevecoeur, SCASD School Board Candidate and Health & Education Advocate Deanna Behring, State College Borough Councilmember Hoff Tout, William Penn District School Pres. Ms. Phobe Harris, Allentown School Board Jeremy Breon, Centre County Prothonotary Cindy White, Community Organizer and Gun Reform Advocate Jennifer Millner, Council – Aliquippa Safronia Perry, Council – Carlisle Brenda Landis, Council – Carlisle Benjamin Hover, Council President – Landsdowne Claudette Williams, Council President – Mt. Pocono Magda Byrne, Council Vice President – Landsdowne Jason Moser, County Controller Laura Shadle, Democratic Jury Commissioner Sean Shultz, Deputy Mayor – Carlisle Olivia Bennett, District 13 Councilmember Tierra D. Williams, Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors candidate Kolbe Cole, Former State Rep Candidate- Beaver County Shanna Danielson, Former State Senate Candidate Zachary Cole, Lehigh County Nominee for Commissioner Chardaé Jones, Mayor- Braddock Dwan Walker, Mayor – Aliquippa Mark Barbee, Mayor – Bridgeport Tim Scott, Mayor – Carlisle Michael Penn, Mayor – Mt. Pocono Maria McCabe, Zone Leader – Honeybrook Democrats Linda Baugher, Former Mayor – Downington Dana Wainstein, Asst. Zone Leader – Westtown, Thornbury, Birmingham Dems Bob Leipold, Committee Person – Thornbury Jerry Franklin Poe, Committee Person – Erin Ward, Asst. Zone Leader – Central Chester County Democrats, CP East Brandywine Shelley Francies, Committe Person – East Brandywine N-1 Jessica Huhn-Kenzik, Committe Person – East Brandywine South Jill Bielawski, Committee Person – Upper Uwchlan 2 Susan Miner, Leader – Chester County Marching Foward Rebecca Britton, Committee Person – Uwchlan 4 Laura Obenski, Township Supervisor – Uwchlan Laura Ann Detre, School Board Member – West Chester Area High School Bill Miller, Township Supervisor, Committee Person – Uwchlan 1 Ashley Gagne, Township Supervisor Debbie Bookman, Prothonotary – Chester County Fredda Maddox, Sheriff – Chester Lilian DeBaptiste, Mayor – West Chester Phil Dague, Mayor – Downingtown Alex Rokaff, President of Council – Downingtown Jane Kennedy, Commissioner – Caln Josh Young, Commissioner – Caln Khadijah (Jackie) Al-Amin, City Council – Coatesville Carmen Green, City Council Vice President – Coatesville Brandon Rhone, School Director Region 2 – Coatesville Mary Harris, School Director Region 1 – Coatesville Renee Carey South, Borough Council – Coatesville C. Arvella Hunt, City Council – Coatesville Patrice Proctor, Supervisor (Chair) – Valley Township Carmen Boyd, Supervisor – Valley Township Rhett Lipscomb, City Council – Parkesburg Andy Dinniman, Former State Senator and County Commissioner – Chester County Brett Dolente, Committee person – Kennett Square Blair Thornburgh, Committee Person (Zone 5) Pam Depte, Community Leader – Coatesville Jarrell Brazzle, Committee Person (Zone 4) Charrise Allen, City Council – Coatesville
Question 4: What would be your three highest priorities in the Senate?
I have a lot that I would like to prioritize and pass as it relates to housing, economic justice, climate justice, school funding, etc. What would make me proud is if I were able to stand next to the president as he signs Phillips Law which is named after an 11 year old who died by suicide. This law would reimagine how we provide mental health care in schools. It would support kids who grew up in neighborhoods like Maloclms to be able to get the support they need.
Question 5: Should the filibuster be abolished or modified?
Abolished.
Question 6: What policies do you support to make healthcare, including long term care, more affordable and accessible?
We can choose to invest in the health and wellbeing of everybody so that all of us can get the care, medication, and recovery time we need to thrive. That means holding insurance companies and drug manufacturers accountable so that life-saving medications are affordable. It means ending surprise billing and reducing out-of-pocket costs so that one medical need doesn’t bankrupt a working family. It means expanding Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP so that everyone can afford to see a doctor, dentist, or specialist.
Question 7: How will you address the climate crisis as a US Senator?
We need to begin investing more heavily in renewable energy sources. As a Pennsylvania co-chair of Climate Power, I know that creating sustainable communities and building good-paying green jobs go hand and hand. Our planet is rapidly approaching the point of no return as global temperatures continue to rise. The United States must lead the world in responding to the climate crisis on the scale, scope, and urgency this moment requires. But addressing the climate crisis isn’t limited to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. That means we need a moratorium on new fracking and to end tax breaks to oil and gas giants, shifting our resources to fund a just transition and investments in green energy technology so Pennsylvania remains an energy leader.
Question 8: What policies do you support to protect voting rights and fair and transparent elections?
We must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I have outlined an 8 point plan for protecting our democracy and moving forward legislation that matters here.
Question 9: What types of changes to tax policy do you believe are needed with regards to personal income tax, wealth tax, and estate tax, as well as corporate tax policy?
Tax cuts for the wealthy have got to be reigned in. We must repeal the 2017 trump tax cuts and implement a wealth tax. Corporate tax breaks on big companies must be stopped.
Question 10: How do you plan to address housing access and affordability?
The affordable housing crisis is an issue that I know in my bones. As someone who was evicted from my home when I was a child, I realize the importance of this issue. We need HUD to expand its housing voucher program to help the growing number of people impacted by this crisis.