The marquee race on this yr’s major election is the competition between District Lawyer Larry Krasner, who’s searching for a 3rd time period in workplace, and a challenger, former Municipal Courtroom choose Patrick Dugan.
Since there’s no Republican operating for DA, whoever will get essentially the most votes within the Democratic major will doubtless win the November basic election as properly and serve for the following 4 years.
Additionally on the poll are a lot of vital judicial positions — folks whose names you would possibly by no means have heard however who stand to achieve severe sway within the metropolis and state justice techniques — in addition to candidates for Metropolis Controller and three poll questions.
Moreover, residents in lots of districts can vote for the judges of elections and inspectors who run native polling locations. You could find their names by wanting up the pattern poll in your handle, or by checking the complete checklist posted by the Metropolis Commissioners workplace.
Word that Philly holds closed primaries, which means you’ll be able to solely solid votes for candidates inside your social gathering. This yr’s choose candidates for Philadelphia’s native courts are all Democrats, however Republicans are operating in a number of the state court docket and different races.
The voter registration deadline for the first has already handed. The deadline to use for a mail or absentee poll is Might 13. Mail ballots have to be obtained by the Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Major Day, Might 20 — so for those who’re voting by mail, make sure you ship yours in at the least a number of days earlier than that date.
For more information on voter registration and how one can vote by mail, take a look at our information from final fall’s election or go to the Metropolis Commissioners’ web site.
Feeling overwhelmed by all these candidates for choose? The excellent news is that Billy Penn’s Procrastinator’s Information is right here to assist. Have a look via this text, then bookmark it for reference as you fill out your mail poll or head to the polls.
Have any questions on Election Day? Tell us at ideas@billypenn.com.
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District Lawyer
The district legal professional is the town’s high prosecutor, tasked with investigating and charging 1000’s of felony circumstances yearly. Take a look at our full article on the candidates.
Democrats
Patrick Dugan
Dugan is an Military veteran who was appointed a Municipal Courtroom choose in 2007, served as President Choose for 5 years, and retired final yr. He ran for Superior Courtroom in 2023, coming in third within the Democratic major.
He touts his work organising Veterans Courtroom, which goals to maneuver defendants who’re veterans into drug remedy and diversion packages, serving to launch the town’s Eviction Diversion Program, and main the court docket via the pandemic, partly by holding hearings in jails to beat judicial backlogs.
Dugan argues that Krasner’s lenient insurance policies towards accused criminals contributed to historic spikes in murders and different crime throughout the pandemic and persevering with excessive charges of retail theft. He additionally criticizes the DA for hiring inexperienced, out-of-state legislation college graduates as assistant DAs and says Krasner’s poor relationship with different metropolis officers hampers cooperation on anti-crime efforts.
Larry Krasner (incumbent)
Krasner was elected in 2017 and is searching for a 3rd time period. A longtime civil rights legal professional earlier than he took workplace, he has centered on lowering prosecution of many minor offenses, lowering incarceration, supporting group teams that do violence prevention work, exonerating wrongfully convicted folks, and prosecuting police and former prosecutors for alleged misconduct.
The DA highlights latest drops in most classes of crime, together with the bottom murder price in many years. He incessantly cites his opposition to Trump administration insurance policies, and says he might doubtlessly prosecute immigration officers who violate the legislation in addition to white collar crimes being ignored by the U.S. Division of Justice.
In response to Dugan’s criticism, he says lowering the jail inhabitants advantages offenders and the town, and doesn’t result in extra crime. Final yr he ended a coverage of not prosecuting smaller retail thefts, and says retail theft charges have dropped barely up to now yr. He defends his legal professional recruitment and coaching efforts, and says he has good relationships with the mayor and police commissioner.
Metropolis Controller
The town controller is an elected place tasked with overseeing the town’s operations and auditing them once they appear fishy. This official is elected to a 4-year time period, and isn’t topic to time period limits.
Democrat
Christy Brady (incumbent)
Brady was appointed appearing controller in November 2022 and gained a full time period a yr later. An authorized public accountant, she beforehand held numerous positions within the controller’s workplace for over 30 years. She cites accomplishments together with investigating delays within the demolition of harmful properties, missteps in gun violence prevention funding, distribution of opioid settlement funds, and the Rebuild program.
Her marketing campaign priorities embrace investigating code violations, the usage of unlicensed development employees and different unlawful growth practices, and auditing the Workplace of Property Evaluation and the town’s contracting course of. She is endorsed by the town Democratic Get together.
Her marketing campaign web site is right here.
Republican
Ari Patrinos
Patrinos is a metropolis native who labored as a stockbroker in New York earlier than returning to Philly to show arithmetic and historical past in constitution and public colleges. He vows to push for “accountable budgeting and clear oversight” within the colleges, decrease taxes, extra transparency in authorities, pro-business insurance policies and fewer “bureaucratic crimson tape.” He’s endorsed by the Philadelphia Republican Get together.
His marketing campaign web site is right here.
Choose of the Superior Courtroom
The Superior Courtroom hears appeals in felony and civil circumstances from the Courts of Widespread Pleas, and a few circumstances involving youngsters and households. The 15 judges are chosen in statewide elections, and serve 10-year phrases. (Vote for one.)
Democrat
Brandon Neuman
Neuman is a former four-term state Home consultant from the Pittsburgh space who serves as a choose within the Washington County Courtroom of Widespread Pleas. He was beforehand a trial lawyer dealing with advanced civil litigation and nursing residence neglect circumstances, and he ran for lieutenant governor in 2014. He’s been endorsed by the state Democratic Get together, the Pennsylvania State Training Affiliation, and a number of other different labor unions and elected officers. He’s extremely beneficial by the Pennsylvania Bar Affiliation.
Republican
Maria Battista
Battista is an legal professional in personal follow, specializing in authorities contracting. She beforehand labored for the U.S. Navy, the Protection Logistics Company, the Pa. departments of Well being and State, and as a county prosecutor. Along with her legislation diploma, she has a PhD in training from the College of Pittsburgh. She ran for Superior Courtroom earlier than in 2023. Her endorsements embrace the state Fraternal Order of Police, the state Chamber of Commerce PAC and the PA Sheriff’s Affiliation PAC, in line with her Fb web page. She declined to take part within the Pennsylvania Bar Affiliation advice course of.
Anne Marie Wheatcraft
Wheatcraft has served as a choose within the Courtroom of Widespread Pleas in Chester County for 13 years. Earlier than changing into a choose, she was an assistant district legal professional for the county. She is a board member for a number of nonprofits and works to coach newly elected judges. She was endorsed by the state Republican Get together. Wheatcraft is very beneficial by the Pennsylvania Bar Affiliation, which cited her work growing remedy courts in Chester County and dealing to introduce consolation canine within the courtroom.
Choose of the Commonwealth Courtroom
The Commonwealth Courtroom of Pennsylvania is among the state’s two appellate courts. (Vote for one candidate.)
Democrat
Stella Tsai
Tsai has been a choose in Philadelphia’s Courtroom of Widespread Pleas since 2016. She has expertise within the civil and felony trial courts, Orphans’ Courtroom, Household Courtroom and different divisions. She was beforehand a litigator representing a wide range of shoppers. She is endorsed by the Pa. Democratic State Committee and is very beneficial by the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania bar associations.
Republicans
Josh Prince
Prince is an legal professional from Berks County who focuses on civil liberties circumstances, particularly Second Modification points, but in addition freedom of speech and faith, equal safety and affordable suspicion. Throughout the pandemic he sued the state over mandated closures of legislation corporations and firearms sellers and represented numerous shoppers opposing pandemic-related restrictions. He didn’t take part within the Pennsylvania Bar Affiliation advice course of.
Matt Wolford
Wolford runs a solo legislation follow in Erie, representing a wide range of shoppers and specializing in environmental legislation. He’s additionally labored for the state Division of Surroundings Safety, as a deputy legal professional basic accountable for an environmental crimes subject workplace, and as a particular prosecutor for the state AG and the U.S. Lawyer for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He’s endorsed by the state GOP and extremely beneficial by the Pennsylvania Bar Affiliation.
Choose of the Courtroom of Widespread Pleas
That is Philly’s basic trial court docket. The judges have authentic jurisdiction over most civil circumstances. (Vote for as much as 9 (9) candidates.)
Democrats
Qawi Abdul-Rahman
A Philadelphia native, Abdul-Rahman is a felony protection legal professional who was beforehand a public defender in Dade County, Florida. He’s additionally operating for choose of the Municipal Courtroom. He beforehand ran for choose within the Courtroom of Widespread Pleas in 2023. He’s the daddy of Muhyyee-Ud-din Abdul-Rahman, who was charged in 2023 for searching for to make bombs for terrorist teams. Qawi Abdul-Rahman shouldn’t be beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Will Braveman
An legal professional specializing in employee-side labor legislation, baby welfare and psychological well being court docket, Braveman beforehand labored as a legislation clerk within the Courtroom of Widespread Pleas, a deputy metropolis solicitor, a DJ and a recording artist. He’s endorsed by the town Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Sherrie Cohen
Cohen is a tenants rights lawyer who beforehand ran for Metropolis Council. She has advocated for reasonably priced housing development, LGBTQ+ rights, holding metropolis libraries open, and ending money bail, amongst different causes. She can be operating for choose in Municipal Courtroom. She is endorsed by the Working Households Get together and District Lawyer Larry Krasner, amongst others. She didn’t obtain a advice from the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Irinia Ehrlich
Ehrlich is a former Philadelphia assistant district legal professional who’s in personal follow, specializing in felony protection, immigration, private damage and guardianships. Throughout her time with the DA’s workplace she was designated as a Particular Assistant U.S. Lawyer. She is initially from Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. in 1994. She is endorsed by the Philadelphia Democratic Get together and the Working Households Get together, and is beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Larry Farnese
Farnese served three phrases as a state senator representing components of South Philadelphia and the River Wards and has labored as an legal professional in personal follow. In 2017 he was acquitted on a cost of bribing a metropolis Democratic Get together official. He’s endorsed by the town Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Kia Ghee
Ghee is the previous govt director of the Philadelphia Fee on Human Relations, the town’s civil rights company, and earlier than that was a lawyer within the metropolis’s Legislation Division. She beforehand labored for nonprofits, managing Head Begin packages and organizing well being and job gala’s. She is endorsed by the town Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Taniesha Henry
Henry is an legal professional who has labored as a listening to officer and legislation clerk in Household Courtroom, a Courtroom of Widespread Pleas arbitrator, and an assistant metropolis solicitor for the town’s Division of Human Providers, amongst different positions. She shouldn’t be beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Sarah Jones
Jones is an legal professional in personal follow. She focuses totally on household legislation issues, together with safety from abuse, custody, baby help, divorce and grandparents’ rights circumstances. Jones is endorsed by the town Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Leon A. King II
King is an legal professional who has served as Philadelphia’s jail commissioner, a deputy metropolis solicitor, a staffer for former Metropolis Councilmember Frank Rizzo, and a deputy commissioner for Maryland’s jail system. He’s endorsed by the town Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Brian Kisielewski
Kisielewski manages professional bono (volunteer) initiatives for the Faegre Drinker legislation agency and beforehand based the First Judicial District’s Elder Justice & Civil Useful resource Middle. He was additionally a Widespread Pleas legislation clerk and a post-conviction and habeas corpus felony appeals legal professional. He’s endorsed by the town Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Anthony Stefanski
Stefanski is an legal professional who has labored for the District Lawyer’s Workplace and personal legislation corporations, and for the previous three years has represented the Democratic Metropolis Committee, in line with a marketing campaign video. Stefanski is endorsed by the Philadelphia Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Deborah Watson-Stokes
Watson-Stokes is a longtime assistant district legal professional within the DA’s workplace, together with 18 years within the murder unit. She was beforehand a public college instructor and adjunct legislation professor. She is endorsed by the Philadelphia Democratic Get together and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Candidate Mike Huff may even seem on the poll for Courtroom of Widespread Pleas and Municipal Courtroom, however he was disqualified from operating and votes for him won’t be counted.
Choose of the Municipal Courtroom
It is a trial court docket divided into three divisions: felony, civil and site visitors. The judges hear trials for some misdemeanors, abstract offenses and felonies. (Vote for as much as three (3) candidates.)
Democrats
Qawi Abdul-Rahman
He’s additionally operating for choose of the Courtroom of Widespread Pleas. See his profile, above.
Sherrie Cohen
She can be operating for choose of the Courtroom of Widespread Pleas. See her profile, above.
Amanda Davidson
Davidson has practiced legislation for 3 many years with circumstances spanning household legislation, enterprise disputes and felony issues. She represents shoppers who’ve skilled office accidents, automotive accidents and slip-and-falls. Davidson is endorsed by the Democratic Metropolis Committee and Working Households Get together, and beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Shawn Web page
Web page is a felony protection legal professional who says he’s “devoted to lowering gun violence, felony justice reform and contemplating childhood trauma in sentencing.” In 2021 he obtained a public reprimand from the state Supreme Courtroom’s disciplinary board for mishandling a shopper’s case, and he’s been topic to liens for about $200,000 in unpaid federal revenue taxes and penalties, the Inquirer reported. He’s endorsed by the Democratic Metropolis Committee, and never beneficial by the Philadelphia Bar Affiliation.
Cortez Patton
Patton is chief counsel to state Senator Anthony Williams. He has labored to reform the felony justice system in Pennsylvania with a give attention to probation reform, reentry help, and the sealing of nonviolent felony data and extra. He has endorsements from the Democratic Metropolis Committee and the Working Households Get together. The Philadelphia Bar Affiliation didn’t suggest Patton.
Poll questions
Modifications to the Dwelling Rule Constitution, which serves like a structure for the town, have to be accredited by voters. Voters of any social gathering can vote on them. For extra data on the questions, take a look at our explainer article.
Query #1
“Ought to the Philadelphia Dwelling Rule Constitution be amended to create the Workplace of Homeless Providers Ombudsperson to help residents experiencing homelessness, assist present honest entry to important assets, enhance high quality of life within the shelter system, examine shopper complaints, and supply oversight and proposals to the Metropolis’s suppliers of homeless companies?”
The brand new workplace would advocate for folks experiencing homelessness and their households, examine shopper grievances, and supply oversight and advice to the Managing Director’s workplace, in line with Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, who sponsored a invoice placing the measure on the poll.
Query #2
“Ought to the Dwelling Rule Constitution be amended to extend the minimal quantity that have to be appropriated for spending on Housing Belief Fund functions within the Metropolis’s working price range annually?”
This measure would require the town to place funds from a developer incentive program, which are supposed to help reasonably priced housing, into its Housing Belief Fund. The town has been placing the cash into the Basic Fund as a substitute and spending it on different packages. The query was proposed by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. The Parker administration opposes the change, saying it will “bind the palms” of mayors throughout price range negotiations.
Query #3
“Shall The Philadelphia Dwelling Rule Constitution be amended to supply for the creation of an unbiased Philadelphia Jail Group Oversight Board and Workplace of Jail Oversight and to additional authorize Metropolis Council to find out the composition, powers and duties of the Board and Workplace?”
The measure goals to enhance poor circumstances on the metropolis’s 4 correctional services. The Jail Oversight workplace can be approved to conduct investigations and have entry to the prisons and their databases and paperwork, whereas the nine-member Oversight Board would meet at the least month-to-month and will suggest investigations and different actions by the brand new workplace.
Editor’s observe: The spelling of Will Braveman’s title has been corrected.