HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) On Tuesday, voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will select candidates for key positions, with the Democratic primary victors likely to secure their roles in the heavily Democratic cities come November.
In Philadelphia, incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner is vying for a third term. Krasner, a veteran civil rights attorney, has faced significant criticism during his tenure. However, he has emerged relatively unscathed from attempts to unseat him while other progressive district attorneys have been successfully removed in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland.
Pittsburgh's Mayor Ed Gainey, the first Black mayor of the city, is also seeking a second term. Both Gainey and Krasner are Democrats who originally ran on progressive platforms and now face challengers in the primary elections. Additionally, former President Donald Trump casts a shadow over the races, as both candidates have pledged to resist his conservative policies.
In the race for the Philadelphia District Attorney position, Krasner seeks re-election amidst past impeachment efforts led by Republican state lawmakers. His tenure has coincided with a decline in crime rates in major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, following a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. Krasner's primary opponent, Pat Dugan, a U.S. Army veteran and former head administrative judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court, is emphasizing a critical stance on Krasner's crime policies, dubbing him “Let 'em Go Larry” and arguing that Krasner has filled the district attorney's office with inexperienced lawyers.
Krasner’s initial campaign in 2017 centered on a progressive agenda that involved holding police accountable, opposing the death penalty, eliminating cash bail, and pushing against the culture of mass incarceration. Recently, he has leaned into more pro-public safety messaging, asserting his commitment to tackling violent crime and highlighting new strategies and technologies to aid his office's efforts. In his campaign advertisements, he positions himself against Trump and suggests he is best suited to confront the former president and the associated conservative establishment.
Dugan has also brought Trump into his campaign discourse, claiming that Philadelphia is under threat from crime and injustice, alongside a "president bent on destruction." He questions Krasner's capabilities in delivering genuine reform and argues that his record shows a failure to ensure safety.
Moving on to the Pittsburgh mayoral race, Gainey and his challenger Corey O'Connor are debating key issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, public safety, and revitalizing downtown Pittsburgh, which is striving for economic growth post-steel industry collapse. Gainey, leveraging his personal history of growing up in subsidized housing, portrays himself as a champion for the people, while also highlighting the city's economic successes during his leadership.
O'Connor, who received the local party's endorsement, has criticized Gainey's approach to city management, claiming financial mismanagement, inadequate plans to revitalize downtown, and deficiencies in expanding affordable housing. He asserts that Pittsburgh residents do not feel safe in their city.
The Republican ballot will include candidates Thomas West and Tony Moreno; however, the city has not elected a Republican mayor in nearly a century. Additionally, voters will face two statewide court races, one for the Commonwealth Court and one for the Superior Court. Democrats will not face primaries in either contest, with Washington County Judge Brandon Neuman running uncontested for the Superior Court seat and Philadelphia Judge Stella Tsai unchallenged for the Commonwealth Court seat.
On the Republican side, the Superior Court race features Maria Battista and Ann Marie Wheatcraft, while the Commonwealth Court has candidates Matt Wolford and Josh Prince. Judges for these courts are elected for ten-year terms, hearing appeals from county courts on various legal matters.
