Philadelphia Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner is seeking a third term, doubling down on progressive policies and a soft approach to crime despite fierce pushback from Republicans.
The prosecutor has overseen crime spikes during his terms, but has nevertheless insisted that crime rates are now trending downward in Philadelphia. His reelection bid has garnered support from progressives activists and key figures in the current Philadelphia political establishment.
"We have gone in the direction of freedom and fairness very successfully, and we have gone in the direction of public safety very successfully," Krasner claimed during a campaign press conference, asserting that cities across the country had improvements in crime rates last year.
Krasner was funded by progressive billionaire George Soros, who has received criticism for bankrolling the campaigns of prosecutors who have neglected to handle crime in their cities. The prosecutor has been critical of Republican efforts to remove such prosecutors from office.
“There has been this authoritarian and, to some extent, racist and misogynist effort to get rid of us all,” Krasner said during the press conference, claiming the effort targets black females.
The candidate, who has served in his current office since 2018, was himself impeached by the Pennsylvania House. Pennsylvania Republican State House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff remarked that Krasner “through his improper use of prosecutorial discretion has implemented policies and mismanaged his office in such a way that its purposeful ineffectiveness in combatting the crime and violence crisis gripping the city has contributed to the problem itself.”
Krasner also vowed to oppose President Donald Trump if he is reelected, asserting that the commander-in-chief poses threats to democracy that Democratic prosecutors must oppose.
“These are people who are trying to end the rule of law,” Krasner said at the press conference. “One of the things we need from prosecutors now is something we never needed before, and that is that they are going to fight and defend democracy. Because he is out to end it.”
