Previous Democratic contender, Pat Dugan, has switched parties and is now competing as a Republican candidate in the election for Philadelphia's district attorney position.
In the upcoming election in November, Philadelphia will witness a political standoff between incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner and his challenger, former municipal court judge Pat Dugan. This contest marks a significant shift, as Dugan, a lifelong Democrat, has decided to run as a Republican in the race for district attorney [1].
During the primary campaign in May, Dugan was a Democratic candidate, running against Krasner but ultimately losing the bid. However, Dugan's political ambitions did not end there. He has since switched parties, leveraging an unusual political strategy to secure a spot on the ballot for the general election [2].
This move has positioned Dugan as Krasner's main rival, aiming to take over the DA office. The standoff reflects a broader political contest in Philadelphia, with Krasner facing renewed scrutiny and opposition amid controversies related to his management of the DA's office and rising violent crime [3].
Despite having limited campaign funding, Dugan is determined to make his mark. He identifies as an independent Democrat and plans to run for the benefit of all Philadelphians. His campaign platform includes a focus on addressing crime and holding the district attorney accountable [4].
In contrast, Krasner has asserted that retail thefts in Philadelphia were lower in the year he was speaking than the previous year [5]. However, this claim has not deterred Dugan, who continues to criticize Krasner for not doing his job and cites rising crime statistics during his tenure [6].
Pat Dugan's decision to run as a Republican may be seen as a departure from his lifelong Democratic affiliation. This change could potentially affect his chances of winning the support of city unions, which traditionally lean Democrat [7].
In a recent forum hosted by News, Krasner pushed back against Dugan's criticism, but he did not schedule a press conference for Monday, unlike his usual practice of meeting with the media on Mondays [8].
As the election approaches, Dugan calls for increased voter participation. Approximately 7,000 people wrote-in votes for Dugan during the primary, indicating a strong base of supporters [9].
The race for Philadelphia district attorney promises to be an exciting and closely-watched contest. With both candidates presenting different perspectives and approaches, the voters of Philadelphia will have an important decision to make in November.
[1] https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pat-dugan-republican-philadelphia-district-attorney-20210819.html [2] https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/07/29/pat-dugan-republican-philadelphia-district-attorney/ [3] https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/pat-dugan-republican-philadelphia-district-attorney/3482460/ [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/19/pat-dugan-philadelphia-district-attorney-republican/ [5] https://www.phillyvoice.com/pat-dugan-philadelphia-district-attorney-campaign-2021/ [6] https://www.phillyvoice.com/pat-dugan-philadelphia-district-attorney-campaign-2021/ [7] https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/07/29/pat-dugan-republican-philadelphia-district-attorney/ [8] https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pat-dugan-republican-philadelphia-district-attorney-20210819.html [9] https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/05/24/pat-dugan-philadelphia-district-attorney-primary-results/
- Pat Dugan's political ambitions led him to switch parties from Democrat to Republican, showcasing an unusual strategy in his bid to become the District Attorney of Philadelphia.
- The upcoming Philadelphia district attorney election, featuring two opposing candidates - Incumbent Larry Krasner and Pat Dugan, is a significant general news event that reflects a broader political contest in the city.
