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Axios
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Philly district attorney race could see a rematch in November
A Democrat is on track to win Philadelphia's Republican nomination for district attorney. Why it matters: Pat Dugan lost last week's Democratic primary to Larry Krasner, but a loophole in Pennsylvania election law could lead to a repeat matchup later this year. State of play: Dugan likely received enough Republican write-in votes in the May 20 GOP primary to be on the party's ticket in November, Philly's Republican City Committee chairperson, Vincent Fenerty, tells Axios. By the numbers: More than 7,100 write-in votes were cast in the GOP primary for district attorney, as of the latest count Tuesday, Nick Custodio, deputy commissioner for City Commissioner Lisa Deeley, tells Axios. And it appears that "Pat Dugan" received 1,000 write-ins in that primary, the threshold needed to win the nomination, says Custodio. The fine print: The city's election board has yet to certify the results — so nothing's official yet. Yes, but: Fenerty says Dugan could decline the Republican nomination and ensure his name is not on the November ballot. Dugan's campaign had said before the primary that he's committed to not running as a Republican. The Dugan campaign didn't return Axios' request for comment on whether Dugan had changed his mind after the write-in support. What they're saying: Philly Republicans would run Dugan as an "independent Democrat" on the party's line for district attorney, Fenerty says. Fenerty adds that the decision is up to Dugan and that the party isn't giving him a deadline to decide. "Does [Dugan] want to do it to make the city better? We're hoping he does. We're hoping he sees a path to victory," Fenerty says.
Axios
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Larry Krasner wins Democratic primary for district attorney
Larry Krasner won the Democratic primary for Philadelphia's district attorney on Tuesday, per the Associated Press. Why it matters: A victory for Krasner, who's running for a third term, signals the city's ongoing support for his criminal justice reforms. State of play: Krasner was leading with 61% of the vote over challenger Pat Dugan late Tuesday night, per the city's unofficial results. Krasner has been campaigning as a bulwark against President Donald Trump's policies and immigration crackdowns, and championing progressive criminal justice policies. Zoom in: The victory puts Krasner on the Democratic ticket in November. He'll likely win the general election due to the party's overwhelming advantage of registered voters in the city. Plus: Republicans didn't run any candidates in the primary. Yes, but: Dugan may get a second chance to defeat Krasner. Philly's Republican City Committee funded a write-in campaign to nominate Dugan for their party's ticket in November. However, Dugan's campaign has said he's committed to not running as a Republican. It could take several days for election officials to determine whether he received the required 1,000 write-in votes. Zoom out: A third term for Krasner would be historic. He would become only the second district attorney elected to more than two terms in roughly a century. The last to do so: Lynne Abraham, who was elected to four terms and served until 2010. Meanwhile, City Controller candidates Christy Brady (Dem.) and Republican Ari Patrinos — who both ran unopposed in their primaries – move on to the November ballot.
Axios
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Philly GOP is bankrolling a write-in campaign for Larry Krasner's opponent
Philadelphia Republicans have a new election strategy to defeat Larry Krasner: Run his Democratic opponent on their ticket in November. Why it matters: Democratic district attorney candidate Pat Dugan could get two shots at knocking Krasner out of office this year. Driving the news: Republicans are bankrolling a write-in campaign in Tuesday's primary to nominate Dugan for their party's ticket in November. Philly's Republican City Committee is funding a website for the effort and is expected to have a strong presence on the street during Tuesday's primary. Context: Pennsylvania has closed primaries, which means voters registered with a specific party can only vote in that party's election. Plus: Republicans failed to field a district attorney primary candidate, so they're facing the prospect of no candidate in November. What they're saying: Vincent Fenerty, who leads Philly's Republicans, tells Axios the purpose of backing Dugan is to "rid the city of Philadelphia of Larry Krasner." Reality check: Dugan is "committed to not running as [a] Republican" and is not collaborating with the city's GOP, a Dugan campaign spokesperson tells Axios. "Judge Dugan has every intention of running in the general election, as the Democratic nominee," he said. Between the lines: The write-in strategy targets a loophole in Pennsylvania's " sore loser" law, which prevents failed primary candidates from running again in the general election for another party. Dugan would need 1,000 Republican primary votes on Tuesday to secure the GOP's line in November. Yes, but: Voter turnout in Philly primaries is typically low. By the numbers: There are more than 130,000 registered Philly Republicans. Although Philly Republicans have seen their numbers rise in recent years, Democratic voters dominate by a roughly 6-to-1 margin. Zoom out: The strategy has proved successful elsewhere in Pennsylvania. In Allegheny County in 2023, Stephen A. Zappala Jr. lost his Democratic primary for district attorney but prevailed in the Republican. He went on to win the general election on the GOP line. A Democratic mayoral candidate in Allentown is also employing the write-in scheme. The fine print: The spelling of Dugan's name could prove pivotal.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As early voting begins, a committed few turn out in Hampton Roads
Early voting began Friday for primary elections in Virginia, and a few Hampton Roads residents decided to show up as soon as possible. Noel Craig was among the first 30 people to vote early in Norfolk. A retired social worker, Craig said his biggest concerns were the threats to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and the threats to voting rights. He said the governor's race was the most important to him because it has the most direct impact on taxes and quality of life. Specifically, he wants the governor to address the high tolls in Hampton Roads and lower auto insurance rates. 'I think (the tolls) are ridiculous, I think there's other ways to generate revenue instead of implementing tolls all over the blasted place,' Craig said angrily. In Newport News, where there are three local primaries, Steve Groce exited City Hall around 9 a.m. Groce, 75, is a former chairman of the Newport News Republican City Committee, but on Friday he voted in the Democratic primary, he said. 'I don't consider myself a staunch Republican, so much as a conservative person.' Groce has a long history of organizing 'pop tents' in support of local conservative candidates at events such as the Fall Festival, Poquoson Seafood Festival and Larry King Law's Langley Speedway, he said. This year, he showed up for the Democratic primary out of respect for incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn. Gwynn, 72, has won eight straight unopposed elections — until this year. His challenger, Shannon Jones, 40, is opposing Gwynn in the Democratic primary. 'Howard Gwynn has been here a long time, and Howard Gwynn has been a non-partisan individual,' Groce said. 757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 primary election guide Thirty-one people had cast in-person, early ballots as of 12:40 p.m. Friday. at the Newport News Voter Registration office in City Hall. Voting began at 8 a.m., and about 15 minutes later, Hailey Dollar exited as the first Newport News resident to cast a vote in this year's primary election, she said. She voted for herself. Dollar explained that it was her first time voting. 'I want to support the democratic process: be the first in line; be good to go; ready,' she added. 'And you know the fact that my name is on the ballot helps.' Dollar, 35, is one of two Republicans vying to become the GOP nominee for Virginia's House of Delegates 70th District. The district covers a portion of Newport News. Dollar or her opponent in the Republican primary, 49-year-old Cynthia Scaturico, will face off in November against Democrat incumbent Shelley Simonds. Over in Norfolk, Jane Watson, 73, voted on the way to the tax office. Watson said she's been frustrated at the fallout from the presidential election, but also acknowledging that she didn't cast a vote in the race, she said that this time, she wants to 'do the right thing.' As a retired home health care worker and a widow, Watson said her biggest concerns are the potential cuts to social security, Medicare and Medicaid. 'I'm always going to be alert to (what's being done to public health programs) until the end of my time here because that's my source of support,' Watson said. 'I won't know (if anything will change for the better) because I'm not a genie but all I can do is keep hoping and praying.'
