District Attorney Larry Krasner’s campaign filed 5,587 nomination petitions on Friday.
Candidates for D.A. need 1,000 valid signatures to get on the May 20 primary ballot.
Krasner is being challenged in the primary by Pat Dugan, former president judge of Municipal Court.
Krasner is running to serve a third four-year term on a record of reducing Philadelphia’s murder rate while adopting progressive policies that tackle mass incarceration and make communities safer.
Philadelphia’s murder rate has dropped the last four years, but increased during Krasner’s first four years in office, from 2018-21. In 2021, there were a whopping 562 homicides.
“We’re pleased to submit signatures today from every corner of the city,” Krasner said. “This filing demonstrates our broad-based support and the grassroots energy behind our campaign to reform Philadelphia’s criminal justice system and to stand up to MAGA extremists like Donald Trump and his billionaire friends.”
The effort to gather signatures, Krasner’s campaign said, is the first step of a citywide campaign to activate voters in every corner of the city to engage in the political process — not just for this election, but in future contests. The Krasner campaign pointed to Pennsylvania’s role as a key swing state in the upcoming midterm elections.
In previous elections, Krasner’s campaign said it increased turnout by engaging with a diverse coalition of voters seeking change and who were attracted by Krasner’s promise to work with law enforcement partners, like the Philadelphia police and FBI, to reform the culture of the D.A.’s office to value accuracy, integrity and a focus on justice.
However, many supporters of law enforcement have criticized Krasner for what they see as his leniency on crime, inappropriate charges filed against police officers in various cases and a focus on exonerating convicted murderers without seeking new trials.
Krasner’s campaign is preparing to file more petitions next week in advance of Tuesday’s filing deadline. ••
