Pat Dugan won eight of the 14 wards in the Northeast on Tuesday, but was swamped by District Attorney Larry Krasner in most of the rest of the city.
Back in May, Krasner took 64 percent of the vote to beat Dugan – a former Municipal Court judge – in the Democratic primary. Republicans did not field a candidate, but organized a write-in campaign for Dugan, and he received enough votes to appear on the GOP ballot.
On Tuesday, Krasner won with 76 percent of the vote. That’s a better showing than in 2021, when he took 72 percent against Republican Chuck Peruto.
Democratic turnout was a lot higher this year, as the party wanted to show dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump. For instance, Krasner received 155,102 votes in 2021. On Tuesday, he took 272,603 votes.
Dugan won all the wards north of Cottman Avenue – the 56th, 57th, 58th, 63rd, 64th, 65th and 66th – along with the 55th Ward in West Mayfair. He also won in the 26th Ward in Packer Park and 45th Ward in Bridesburg. His best showing was in the Far Northeast’s 66th Ward, where he won with 74 percent.
Krasner, though, won a bunch of wards with more than 90 percent of the vote.
Dugan spent election night at Cannstatter’s as part of a crowd that included state Sen. Joe Picozzi, state Rep. Martina White, City Councilman Brian O’Neill and Republican City Committee chairman Vince Fenerty.
“What an honorable fight,” Fenerty said of Dugan’s campaign.
Dugan, entering the room with his wife Nancy to the theme from Rocky, thanked his family and volunteers.
“We had zero paid staff members,” he said.
Dugan blasted Krasner in his speech, calling him a “despicable, uncaring, heartless human being,” adding that he likes to pass blame, mock police and shrug at criticism.
“He is a bad person because he protects bad people,” he said.
Dugan labeled Krasner a “curse upon this city.” When he urged some media outlets to stop coddling Krasner, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, as he walked off to a high-five from grandson Mason and a hug from his wife.
Meanwhile, in the race for city controller, incumbent Democrat Christy Brady won all 66 wards and took 86 percent of the vote to beat Republican Ari Patrinos. Brady was elected in 2023 to finish the term of Rebecca Rhynhart, who resigned to run for mayor.
City voters also elected 11 Common Pleas Court judges and four Municipal Court judges and easily retained judges on both courts.
Statewide, Democrat Brandon Neuman was elected to Superior Court. He had 56 percent to Republican Maria Battista with 42 percent and the Liberal Party’s Daniel Wassmer with 2 percent.
Democrat Stella Tsai won the Commonwealth Court race with 57 percent against Republican Matt Wolford.
Voters also retained five statewide judges, all Democrats, up for retention. Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht, along with unions, trial lawyers, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, vastly outraised groups opposing their retention. Donohue and Dougherty were retained with 62 percent, while Wecht took 61 percent. ••
