June 07, 2016
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
Milton Street speaks to reporters on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2015, outside the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
Oh boy.
Just when you thought the interesting part of the race for Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District was over, a familiar face has entered the fray.
T. Milton Street — former state senator, state representative and brother to former Philadelphia Mayor John Street — said on Facebook Monday he plans on challenging state Rep. Dwight Evans for the seat.
Evans defeated 11-term incumbent Chaka Fattah in April for the Democratic nomination — essentially securing a general election victory in a heavily Democratic district. Fattah's re-election bid was marred by a 29-count racketeering indictment, for which he is currently standing trial.
Despite the near-certainty Evans will become the next person to hold the office after November, Street said he plans on running for the job. From his Facebook post:
TO VOTE IN THE SECOND Congressional district who want to stop the violence in our community and schools.I have decided to challenge representative Dwight Evans in the November election.
My name will appear on the ballot under the heading ( STOP THE VIOLENCE).
Street added he will be releasing a video Wednesday to further outline his platform.
The 77-year-old, a perennial candidate for public office, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he's running as an Independent, and that he simply wants to make Evans "work" for the seat. Per the newspaper:
"I don't have anything against Dwight Evans," Street said. "My issue is, he should have to work for the seat between now and November. I'm going to make him work."
Street must collect 3,623 signatures by Aug. 1 to appear on the ballot, and if he does, he'll also face Republican candidate James Jones, the Inquirer notes.
While just now declaring a run for the 2016 election (he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2015), Street has made plenty of noise during the current campaign cycle.
He's courted Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, meeting with him (twice!) and vocally supporting him along the way.
Also, for what it's worth, his daughter, Renee Toppin, released a video before the Pennsylvania primary asking Evans not to challenge Fattah. She said Fattah's seniority gave him the power to serve those in the district and that the congressman deserved a fair trial before his political fate was decided.
