News & Politics

A Q&A with state Sen. Sharif Street

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair discussed constitutional amendments in Harrisburg and much more.

State Sen. Sharif Street

State Sen. Sharif Street Jared Gruenwald/Left Eyed Studios

It’s a busy time for state Sen. Sharif Street. Not only is the Democratic state senator active in Harrisburg, but he is leading the Pennsylvania Democratic Party at a time when it is already preparing for next year’s presidential election and key congressional races. Street took some time to talk with City & State about the state of Harrisburg, what Democrats need for success at the polls and the prospects of marijuana legalization in the state. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. 

What are your top legislative priorities during this new session – and have they changed due to the new dynamic in Harrisburg?

I don’t know that my priorities have changed, but I think our ability to move things forward has. What’s going to be a Democratic majority in the House, along with the continuation of a Democratic governor and an increased number of Democratic senators – I think our ability to move forward an agenda is only advanced. 

I think the priorities around funding education, advancing crime-prevention dollars, making sure that we have health care for all, the people’s basic civil rights – those things remain constants. I anticipate us making some progress on advancing responsible energy policy while protecting the Earth, reducing our carbon footprint – and we’re going to legalize adult recreational use of cannabis. 

The cautionary tale for Democrats is that just because we’re having success, we shouldn’t forget why we’re having success.
– State Sen. Sharif Street

During a speech at the Pennsylvania Press Club last year, you said that the midterm election results showed that the state was still “solidly purple.” As chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, what do you think Democrats need to do in 2024 to appeal to independent-leaning voters?

We do have a small group of people who are registered Independents, but I think that we have a lot of Democrats and Republicans who will vote for people in the other party if the messaging is consistent with their values. We have a significant number of Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania who are clustered in the middle … They didn’t switch parties and then run to the polar extreme of the other party. They’re still sitting somewhere in the middle; we have to be cognizant of that – both parties do – as we advance legislation. 

I think our success statewide had a lot to do with the fact that Gov. Josh Shapiro led a slate of candidates that were very conscientious of reflecting the values of the people of Pennsylvania – and we, as a party organization, did the same.While the Republican organization catered to the most extreme elements of its party, it not only alienated Democrats, but it alienated independent voters and a significant portion of the Republican electorate that was much more moderate. 

The cautionary tale for Democrats is that just because we’re having success, we shouldn’t forget why we’re having success. If we’re going to continue to have success, we have to replicate some of that. So dealing with bread-and-butter issues like expanding health care, job creation, education, public safety – these are the kinds of things that Democrats have historically done a good job with, and reminding people that we really are the big tent party that represents ordinary folks. 

The Republican Party at its highest levels has come to symbolize a party that is denying elections and denying science. It’s embracing bigotry. Certainly, neither party in Pennsylvania will have success if it is unable to successfully manage staying in the middle and sticking with issues that people care about on both sides of the aisle.

Will you be endorsing anyone in the Philadelphia mayoral race?

I’m not going to get out in front of the county organization. I have to see what the Philadelphia County Party and the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee does with respect to any endorsements. Certainly, if the committee is able to satisfy the requirements of its bylaws in such a way that it makes an endorsement, I will respect and support whoever that party is. If the party committee doesn’t make an endorsement, then I’ll have to look at the candidates and talk with folks around me to determine whether it’s in the best interest of the party in the city for me to endorse someone. 

Street attends a rally protesting the imprisonment of rapper Meek Mill outside the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center in April 2018.
Street attends a rally protesting the imprisonment of rapper Meek Mill outside the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center in April 2018. / Photo credit: Brian Stukes/Getty Images

You and state Sen. David Argall are sponsoring a proposal to move the state’s presidential primary from April to March. How would that affect the state and its voters?

We’re still working on the particulars as to what day that will be. We have a proposal but there’s a negotiation with other states, the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee around doing this in a way that enhances Pennsylvania’s voice in the selection of the president. 

Pennsylvanians have often been frustrated that for as large and important as we are, the primary process is sometimes decided before we get a chance to vote. That hasn’t been the case most recently, but it’s been the case in many instances, and we believe that Pennsylvania being one of America’s most important states means that we should be appropriately represented and thought about in the primary process.

New York and New Jersey have legalized recreational marijuana – what is the likelihood of a legalization bill getting to the governor’s desk in the next few years? 

I think it’s fairly likely. It is incredibly significant that New York and New Jersey have already moved toward legalization of recreational use of cannabis. 

People in both parties recognize that Pennsylvania is losing revenue even though it’s not permitted under federal law. People are still driving across the state lines. There’s no border patrol between states. We don’t need to lose the revenue. For years, we lost gaming revenue as Pennsylvanians poured into New Jersey for gaming. We shouldn’t let the same thing happen. 

The implications are even bigger because this could be helpful to local economies in urban areas as well as farm economies, as there are growing opportunities across the commonwealth. 

Attitudes around cannabis suggest that the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians believe it’s time to end the prohibition on adult-use cannabis. I think some recent polls have had as many as 77% of Republicans and over 80% of Democrats supporting legalization of recreational, adult-use cannabis. So I think it will happen. I think it will happen in a bipartisan way. And while we may not be the first to get it done, I think we’ll get it done in the best possible way.

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.