Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has announced his bid for a third term in office. The Democratic prosecutor made the announcement on Tuesday, surrounded by fellow elected officials and advocates.
Krasner outlined three key challenges his office will continue to address: chronic violence in Philadelphia, the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and theft, and the city’s reliance on the federal government. He took the opportunity to criticize former President Donald Trump and Washington politicians, urging his supporters to mobilize for his re-election.
“Eight years ago, I stood up here talking about our ideas and visions… and what we said at that time is justice makes us safer,” Krasner said. “Doing justice has made us safer, but there’s another side to it as well, it has also made us freer.”
“We’re gonna win, we’re gonna win big, we’re gonna do it together, we’re gonna stand up together… we’re gonna make sure these haters lose,” he said.
During his seven years in office, Krasner has faced criticism for policies some say are too lenient on crime. However, pointing to a reduction in murders, he argued that his approach is proving effective. He also redefined the meaning of “D.A.” as “democracy advocate” in response to the political climate surrounding Trump.
First elected in November 2017, Krasner took office in early 2018 and won re-election in 2021. His tenure has included significant policy changes, such as dropping charges for small amounts of marijuana possession in his first year. More recently, he filed a lawsuit to block Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaways, which were part of a political effort to support Trump’s campaign.
While some have praised Krasner’s progressive policies, he has also faced strong criticism for his handling of violent crime. His re-election campaign will likely hinge on whether voters believe his reforms have made Philadelphia safer.
