[VT- Philadelphia, PA]July 18, 2025 — The Philadelphia District Attorney race may not be over just yet.
Though incumbent DA Larry Krasner decisively defeated former judge Pat Dugan in May’s Democratic primary, the Republican City Committee is now aggressively courting Dugan to run in the November general election — as their nominee.
Dugan, a registered Democrat, received over 6,000 write-in votes in the GOP primary, far surpassing the 1,000 needed to qualify for the Republican line. His victory came despite not actively seeking the Republican nomination.
Now, Republicans are gauging public interest with a new digital poll that pits “Pat Dugan, a Democrat running on the Republican ticket” against “Larry Krasner, the Democrat.” The survey also probes blame for Philadelphia’s crime rates, with options that lean into conservative talking points.
Republican leaders are hopeful. “We believe Judge Dugan would be a fair and strong DA,” said GOP chair Vince Fenerty. He pointed to a successful playbook from Allegheny County in 2023, when Democrat Stephen Zappala lost the primary but won the general election as a Republican.
Krasner, for his part, is treating Dugan as an active candidate. “He’s not a Democrat — he’s a Dem-publican,” the progressive prosecutor said Thursday, criticizing Dugan’s silence and GOP support.
Dugan’s campaign has yet to respond to media inquiries. He must decide by August 11 whether to accept the nomination or withdraw.
For now, the DA race remains in flux — and Pat Dugan could get a second chance to unseat Larry Krasner this fall.
