Krasner declared winner of Democratic primary for DA in Philly

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Larry Krasner was the unlikeliest of candidates for district attorney in Philadelphia.

That turned out to be just the ticket for victory in the unlikeliest of Democratic primary elections Tuesday.

Progressive voters demanded reform for an office currently held by a man under federal indictment. And the local race was nationalized by a growing sense of resistance among many Democrats in the city to President Trump’s every move.

Krasner, 56, easily defeated six other contenders Tuesday, in a campaign that went from low-key to high-profile last month with a $1.45 million investment from billionaire George Soros in a pro-Krasner independent political action committee.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/philadelphia/Krasner-holds-early-lead-in-Democratic-primary-for-DA-in-Philly.html

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This wasn't just a primary victory. This was a revolution

Few people have seen the big picture of criminal justice in Philadelphia the way that Kevin Harden Jr. has seen it -- selling drugs on the street corners of West Philly and even wounded in a gun fight as a youth, then turning it all around, getting his law degree and spending a half dozen years in the district attorney's office under Seth Williams.

Now in private practice, the 31-year-old Harden spent his Election Day working for the man who promised to radically change that system, the veteran civil-rights attorney Lawrence Krasner. "Larry understands that poor people get the short end of the stick," Harden told me by phone early last night from Election Court, where he was challenging campaign irregularities on his candidate's behalf. He cited Kranser's promise to end cash bail and not lock up non-violent arrestees who pose no apparent threat to the community. "He's going to be sensible -- to make sure his policies don't affect the poorest and most marginal communities."

OK, it's true that the vast majority of folks didn't bother to even vote today, and it's hard to compete with the must-see TV of the NBA draft lottery and the slow-motion implosion of Donald Trump's presidency. So maybe you didn't hear the big boom that went off around 9:45 p.m., the moment that Kranser was declared the winner in the seven-candidate Democratic primary to replace the scandal-scarred Williams as DA.

What was that sound? Nothing less than the stirrings of a whole different kind of revolution from the city that gave America the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights -- a revolution aimed at finally undoing draconian justice regime that had turned the Cradle of Liberty into a death-penalty capital and the poster child for mass incarceration.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Krasner-win-is-a-brand-new-revolution-for-Philly.html

This was actually surprising! I voted for him but figured he was a long shot (despite the Soros connection). And whaddya know? This is in a city that is 80+% Democrat. Another upset was in the City Controller race. There is something in the air folks and despite the dismal turnout, the hope is that this shift can be harnessed for 2018. This was a rejection of the local machine (and boy do we have one).

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Been a long time since

a civil rights attorney won a primary for DA anywhere

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Here's some more on him

Larry Krasner wins Democratic nomination for Philly District Attorney

By MARYCLAIRE DALE
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:49PM

PHILADELPHIA --
A civil rights lawyer who has defended Black Lives Matter and Occupy Philadelphia protesters is poised to become Philadelphia's next district attorney.

Larry Krasner has never worked as a prosecutor but benefited from a $1.5 million donation from liberal billionaire George Soros to an independent political action committee that ran commercials and sent out canvassers in support of his candidacy.

Krasner is a staunch opponent of the death penalty and mass incarceration. He has said that none of his clients have been sent to death row in 25 years of defending capital cases.

Krasner pulled ahead in a crowded field to win the Democratic nomination Tuesday over several veteran prosecutors and a former city manager. He will face the only Republican candidate, Beth Grossman, in the fall.

http://6abc.com/politics/larry-krasner-wins-dem-nomination-for-philly-da/2000212/

Pretty major! After 20+ years of Lynn Abraham as DA, who was often called the "hanging" DA because she tried to get death penalties for as many as she could while in office, this is a 180 from that type of operation. She preceded the current indicted DA Seth Williams.

Hope Krasner will be able to remake the sentiment in that office.

[onetexan]

3. GREAT JOB!!

The silver lining to this horror we're having to live through is more Dems are running for office. Kudos to Mr. Krasner for running, AND WINNING!!

[WellDarn]

4. This may be the best news

this party has had in terms of its future in 30 years.

Obama was a hero, but as soon as the suburbs figured out he was going to stand up for black people, they abandoned him in droves. Kranser told it like it is when it comes to the poor, the black and all the disenfranchised AND the plantation replacement we call our "criminal justice system." He told it like it is when it comes to the death penalty. He did everything that the "experts" have been saying for 30 years that you can't do . . .

AND HE WON

It is a new day.

It is a new way.

God bless Barack Obama for kicking open the door and God Bless Larry Kranser for proudly marching through it.

[democrank]

5. K & R

Good news!

[Ligyron]

6. Great news to hear even here in Florida.

Yeah, we have to get our people to vote in every stinking election, not just the Presidential one every four dam years. In many states one can vote by mail (not PA I don't think) so it's easy and there's no excuse for not filling out a ballot when it's mailed. You have all the time ion the world to research the issues and candidates down here, even those crazy ballot initiatives.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. No early voting or mail-in voting in PA except

for absentee voting, which has a strict criteria for use.

<...>

In Pennsylvania, where Republicans control both legislative chambers, efforts to introduce early voting have gone nowhere. At least five early-voting bills were introduced in the state House and Senate early in 2015, all sponsored by Democrats.

None got traction.

Other states have so wholeheartedly embraced early voting, they have largely put an end to the voting-booth ritual.

Washington, Oregon, and Colorado hold mail-ballot-only elections, giving voters weeks to return completed ballots that will be tabulated on Election Day.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/20161016_Election_Days.html

Primaries traditionally have low turnout, which is ridiculous... But then this year, with a a good chunk of the electorate fired up via orgs like Indivisible, we are seeing a benefit to that advocacy that has actually shifted our Democratic slate to the left. And since Dems far outnumber GOP here, those more progressive candidates are essentially a shoo-in in November.

[Ligyron]

11. I'm glad we outnumber the GrOPers in PA.

In Florida, unfortunately, it's about a 50/50 mix. We're working on it...

[crazycatlady]

10. NJ is one of those states

Already voted in the June primary.

[malthaussen]

8. Maybe the natives are getting restless. n/t

[IronLionZion]

9. Hopefully this is a sign of a big blue wave sweeping liberals into office everywhere