‘Not participating': Dr. Ala Stanford exits WHYY debate hours before

A debate among candidates vying to represent Pennsylvania’s third Congressional District took an unexpected turn when one of the frontrunners pulled out just hours before it began.

Candidate Dr. Ala Stanford announced she would not participate in the event at WHYY studios, leaving State Sen. Sharif Street and State Rep. Chris Rabb as the only candidates on stage as the three fight for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.

In a statement released before the debate, Stanford cited concerns about the format.

“After engaging in good faith with WHYY, we could not reach terms on a format that would deliver the serious accountability voters in Pa.-03 deserve. I am not willing to lend my name to a conversation that falls short of that standard and so we will not be participating today,” the statement read.

WHYY executive producer Kevin McCorry said there had been ongoing discussions with all of the campaigns leading up to the event.

“They never made any sort of threat about anything being clear. We were working with them. They wanted to have notes on the table. We said, ‘Sure you can have notes on the table.’ They wanted to have extra staffers here in the audience we said, ”Sure you can have extra staffers here in the audience.’ So at the end of the day I’m really not sure why they dropped out,” McCorry said.

The withdrawal follows recent scrutiny of Stanford, including a moment from an interview with NBC10 that circulated on social media after she used the phrase “abolish ICE” in a campaign ad.

“Who do you think should be in charge of enforcing immigration laws,” she was asked.

“That’s a good question. And you can pause cause I just want to think about it,” Stanford said as she looked into the camera.

Evans is not seeking reelection and has endorsed Stanford.

With Stanford absent, Street and Rabb used the debate to draw clear contrasts in their approaches.

“Rep. Rabb and I share value propositions. The difference is I deliver on ideas,” Street said.

“I also do not believe in establishment politics and Sen. Sharif is the epitome of establishment politics which got us to this point,” Rabb said.

Adding to the debate day developments, a fourth Democratic candidate, Shaun Griffith, who did not meet a financial threshold set by WHYY, attended the event from the audience.

“I would have liked to have participated. I personally reached out to WHYY,” Griffith said.