How Larry Krasner won third term as Philadelphia's progressive prosecutor
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Krasner, on the move. Ryan Collerd/Bloomberg via Getty
Philadelphia's District Attorney Larry Krasner is set to become only the second DA elected to more than two terms in nearly 100 years.
Why it matters: The three-peat signals that Krasner's progressive policies and shakeup of the office have set a new standard for the job.
The big picture: Philly voters have bucked a national trend of cities removing or voting out their reform-minded prosecutors in recent years in favor of tough-on-crime alternatives.
State of play: Krasner cruised to victory over Republican challenger Pat Dugan in yesterday's election for DA, per the AP.
Reality check: The victory was never in doubt.
- Not only is Philly overwhelmingly Democratic, but this marks the third time Republicans have failed to field a formidable challenger for the office.
Zoom in: Krasner has reshaped the office since taking it over in 2017.
- He ended a tough-on-crime-at-all-costs approach to the office and installed policies that were once thought unthinkable for a Philly DA.
Case in point: Police accountability. Krasner released a formerly secret list of tainted officers and prosecuted at least four cops for on-duty killings since 2018.
Plus: Krasner's efforts to overturn wrongful convictions have found success compared to those of his predecessors.
- The office's Conviction Integrity Unit is one of the most active in the nation, and has exonerated 50 people during his tenure.
- That's compared to only a handful under the two DAs who immediately preceded him.
Yes, but: Krasner has softened some of his progressive stances — including his office's policy on prosecuting retail theft — in order to remain electable in Philly.
Zoom out: Krasner has also shown that a local candidate can win by resisting certain national policies.
- He has become Philly's chief foil and critic of President Trump and his immigration crackdowns.
What they're saying: "Krasner has changed what it means to be a district attorney in a heavily Democratic city like Philadelphia," Michael Sances, a political science expert at Temple University, tells Axios.
- Many of his reforms and stances, including ending mass incarceration, Sances says, are now ingrained in the office and in voters' expectations.
What's next: Krasner begins his new term in January.