PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Democratic City Committee declined to make an endorsement in the district attorney primary election, scheduled for May 20, but some individual wards are choosing a candidate to endorse.
A surprise in that process came Wednesday night from West Center City’s Ward 8. The ward roughly covers Broad Street to the Schuylkill River, between Fairmount Avenue and Lombard Street — a fairly progressive swath of the city.
Four years ago, the ward endorsed incumbent Larry Krasner, but after a two-hour meeting with what one source described as a lively debate, the ward announced its endorsement of Krasner’s challenger, Judge Pat Dugan.
“I am very grateful to the dedicated committee people of the 8th Ward, the largest ward in the city,” Dugan said in a statement. “I appreciate their courage during these political times to speak truth to power in a very open and fair democratic process. Committee members chose something different. They chose to vote their conscience. They chose to say that what’s happening in our city isn’t working — and that it’s time to try a different way forward.”
Firefighters and SEPTA bus drivers also backed Dugan on Monday, joining more than 20 other unions in the building trades to throw support to the challenger. Krasner has the support of half a dozen large unions, including the Laborers, Unite Here, and the city worker District Councils.
In all, Dugan has received endorsements from 30 wards. Krasner has been endorsed by 14.
Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO declined to endorse either candidate, saying neither got the two-thirds majority required for an endorsement when the council voted earlier this week.
Krasner’s campaign spokesperson said in a statement that the DA is proud of the “broad-ranging support” he has received, “from wards and unions across the city, from our public sector workers to the service sector employees who keep our city running. They know that Larry’s track record of standing up to corrupt special interests and driving reforms is more important than ever as Donald Trump politicizes the Justice Department.”
The off-year primary is notorious for low turnout, which can blunt the influence of ward endorsements, as voters who show up are generally driven by support for a particular candidate.