Democrats react with fury and republicans with joy with the announcement of Pat Dugan that he changes parties and candidates as a republican in the November elections to the District Prosecutor.
Dugan, a retired city judge, lost the May basic basis with Larry Krasner’s official with a 29-point margin or almost 44,000 votes.
There was no republican candidate, but the city of GOP mobilized to encourage its members to write Dugan on basic voting cards. He received over 6,100 votes, well above 1000 needed to make him a republican candidate.
Dugan’s campaign had previously promised that he would not act as a republican, but after the basic one it clearly refrained from giving up the race. On Saturday, he announced that he was abandoning the promise to stay in the Democratic Party.
“I can’t stand and let Mr. Krasner still keep our hostage to the city,” he said. “Every Philadelphin has a real choice this fall and I believe that they will stand with me for common sense and security.”
Democrats quickly called Dugan a liar for his earlier promises, so as not to change the party, repeating the language that Krasner often used during the campaign.
“Pat Dugan promised me and our party that he would not act as a republican in the autumn election. It was clearly a lie,” wrote the chairman of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia Bob Brady E -Mail to the department leaders.
“Pat Dugan’s decision to escape as a republican is shameful. His acceptance of the Republican nomination is a betrayal for the Democratic Party, and the people of Philadelphia. His ego allowed him to be used as a pawn by a republican party, an attempt to divide our forceful and growing democratic part.
Meanwhile, Stalwarts of the Republican Party, which despises the dwarf, said that they are pleased to see that he would face the claimant GOP this fall.
“Larry Krasner’s release has always been the highest priority for me and for the north -eastern Philadelphia.
“Philadelphians will finally have a real choice between someone involved in the protection of our citizens and our city versus Larry Krasner, who is a proven supporter of the criminals themselves to chase,” said President Philly Gop Vince Fenerty.
Dugan did not answer immediately at the request for comment. Krasner refused to comment.
A enormous hole to fill
Dugan will have to do much better than in the first place to achieve a nervous win.
For example, if both he and Krasner receive the same voices (democratic and republican) they received in May, Dugan would need about 38,000 to go to the top.
Higher attendance can cause more votes for one or both candidates, but it is not clear if more people will go to the polls in November. Only 16.6% of eligible voters gave basic voting cards this year.
In the last competition in 2021 the turnout only increased slightly between two elections, from just over 21% to not to not 22%, which is a difference of about 5,400 voters. The election four years ago covered the race of the State Supreme Court, which led to the interest of voters and voting efforts. This year there is no such competition.
In addition, Dugan will probably lose many of his democratic voices, creating an even larger hole so that he can surprise himself.
He could also lose the support he received from selected officials, such as councilor Mike Driscoll and State Senator Tina Tartaglione, and from influential organizations of work with even democratic, such as Philadelphia Building Trades Council, IBEW 98 Electrical Workers Union and unions representing sept and firefighters.
While Brady and other Democratic Party officials often objected to honestly progressive Krasner – they did not do this year or in 2021, throwing out of the tradition of supporting democratic operators – the party leader signaled the fact that it doesn’t matter anymore, considering that Dugan annoys the other side.
“As the leader of the Democratic Department, I will do everything in my power to again choose our democratic candidate, Larry Krasner, as the District Prosecutor of Philadelphia,” Brady said. “As the chairman of this Democratic Party, it is my duty and duty based on our parties to maintain the same departments leaders.”
“Democratic nominated here in the city of Philadelphia benefits from the full resource system bring our party infrastructure. As a party we will stand together, reject dishonesty and provide victory in November to our democrats,” he said.
At the same time, while the Republicans are widely numbers in the roles of registration of the city voters, the city party seems to be ready to put resources for the Dugan campaign, trying to overthrow the Krasner.
Fenerty noticed that in Pittsburgh and Baltimore the candidates have lost the prosecutor to the headquarters in recent years. In particular, after Allegheny da Stephen Zappala lost his basic two years ago, switched to the Republican party and won the re -election.
“Philadelphia can and will do the same in November, supporting a common, double -sided approach to public security and justice, which Judge Dugan will bring to the table as a district prosecutor,” said Fenerty.
However, the Allegheny Ferry Race differed from Philly in many ways. Unlike Dugan, Zappla was a well -known sitting, working for over two decades. He also lost the basic narrower margin, 11 points before he returned and won the universal election.
