Larry Krasner, the progressive district attorney of Philadelphia, has won the Democratic primary, securing what seems to be a third term in office. Krasner, known for his lenient crime policies, defeated moderate challenger Pat Dugan by a significant margin. With about 83% of the votes counted, Krasner was leading by nearly 30 percentage points, according to reports from the Associated Press.
This primary victory is crucial for Krasner, especially since there is no Republican candidate running against him in the upcoming general election in November. The city of Philadelphia leans heavily Democratic, making his re-election likely.
During the campaign, Dugan, a U.S. Army veteran and former head judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court, raised nearly double the funds compared to Krasner. He collected around $900,700 while Krasner garnered about $499,900. A large portion of Krasner’s donations came from outside the city, including contributions from notable figures like Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, and Patricia Quillin, wife of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. In contrast, Dugan received most of his support from local donors.
Krasner’s campaign focused heavily on national issues, particularly criticizing former President Donald Trump. He referred to Trump and his supporters as “fascists” and claimed they thrive on crime to create crises that allow them to target marginalized groups.
Dugan positioned himself as a moderate alternative, criticizing Krasner’s policies that have included eliminating cash bail for some offenses and reducing parole supervision. Since Krasner took office in 2018, Philadelphia has seen a rise in homicides, with numbers jumping from 351 in 2018 to 562 in 2021. However, recent reports indicate that violent crime in the city dropped to a 20-year low in 2024.
Krasner faced impeachment by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2022, but a judge ruled that the impeachment articles did not meet constitutional requirements.
The Philadelphia GOP encouraged voters to write in Dugan’s name on the Republican line during the primary. If he received 1,000 write-in votes, he could run as a Republican in November. However, Dugan’s campaign manager stated he would decline any GOP nomination.
As Krasner prepares for another term, his policies and their impact on crime in Philadelphia will continue to be a point of discussion and debate among residents and political observers alike.