Candidates have filed for the May 20 primary.
The big race is in the Democratic primary between District Attorney Larry Krasner and former Municipal Court President Judge Pat Dugan.
Republicans did not file a candidate, but the party could organize a write-in campaign for Dugan or someone else. The write-in campaign needs 1,000 valid names of a candidate to be successful. If an effort to write in Dugan is successful and he loses the Democratic primary, he would have the option of accepting the Republican nomination and facing Krasner in the general election. If Dugan declines, the party could choose another candidate.
City Controller Christy Brady is unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Republican candidate is Ari Patrinos.
In the race for Superior Court, the Democratic candidate is Brandon Neuman, a Common Pleas Court Judge in Washington County. The Republican candidates are Chester County Common Pleas Court President Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft and Clarion County attorney Maria Battista. Wheatcraft has the GOP endorsement.
In the race for Commonwealth Court, the Democratic candidate is Stella Tsai, a Common Pleas Court judge in Philadelphia. The Republican candidates are attorneys Josh Prince of Berks County and Matt Wolford of Erie County. Wolford is the GOP-endorsed candidate.
There are nine openings for Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. No Republicans are running. The 11 Democratic candidates are Anthony Stefanski, Brian Kisielewski, Deborah Watson-Stokes, Irina Ehrlich, Kia Ghee, Larry Farnese, Leon A. King II, Qawi Abdul-Rahman, Sarah Jones, Taniesha Henry and Will Braveman.
There are three openings on Municipal Court. No Republicans are running. The five Democratic candidates are Amanda Davidson, Cortez Patton, Qawi Abdul-Rahman, Shawn Page and Sherrie Cohen.
There are three proposed changes to the Home Ruler Charter. They are:
“Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson to assist residents experiencing homelessness, help provide fair access to essential resources, improve quality of life in the shelter system, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the City’s providers of homeless services?”
“Should the Home Rule Charter be amended to increase the minimum amount that must be appropriated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the City’s operating budget each year?”
“Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of an independent Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board and Office of Prison Oversight and to further authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers and duties of the Board and Office?” ••
