On May 20, progressive Democrat and incumbent Larry Krasner secured the party’s nomination for district attorney of Philadelphia, making a third four-year term likely. He defeated the former Municipal Court judge and U.S. Army veteran Pat Dugan, who received 35.6 percent of votes. With the Republican Party not fielding a candidate, Krasner is set to appear on the ballot unopposed in November.
Although Drexel University has been ranked as the fourth most liberal college in Pennsylvania, student views on campus varied. Necati Aslan, president of Drexel Democrats and Krasner voter, told the Triangle that “Dugan had money, but we had people.”
Aslan was impressed by the incumbent’s dedication to exonerating the innocent and lowered sentencing, particularly as the city’s murder rate reached a 10-year low last year, setting a 50-year record for largest single-year decrease. Aslan disapproved of Dugan’s disbelief in the crime statistics, calling it “very Trumpian.” The billionaire class also supported Dugan, Necati said, another hallmark of the current presidential administration.
A sophomore game design major who voted for Dugan did not describe his choice at the polls as a vote against Krasner. From his experience, many Dugan supporters were spiteful of Krasner’s progressive policies.
However, this Westphal student believed that both candidates were progressive and Dugan falsely portrayed himself as more centrist to appease moderate voters. Dugan’s platform emphasized employing diversionary programs for minor crimes, community policing and accountability for prosecutors.
Krasner has been criticized as averse to prosecuting gun charges, though recently instituted a unit targeting repeat gun offenders. The importance of this issue decided the student’s vote against the more progressive candidate, despite self-identifying as a progressive. “Having illegal weapons on the street is not positive for the community,” he said.
In the past year, progressive district attorneys have been voted out and replaced by tougher-on-crime candidates in liberal counties, including Portland and Los Angeles. While Philadelphia invites comparison as the bluest county in its respective state, Krasner’s victory bucked this trend.
The Westphal student said he is happy to see a good fight between two “pretty progressive people.” Aslan views Krasner as a great reformer and is looking forward to his third term.
Dugan congratulated Krasner, saying “For the sake of our neighborhoods, our families, and the soul of this city, I truly hope he succeeds.”