Primary Election Notes!
You can see the official City of Philadelphia results here.
With 98 percent reporting…some bright spots for activists and progressives while the national mood is so dark. At least here in Philly, we are sane!
DA Krasner, a reformer whose edge never seems to dull, beat off a challenger who was outspending him on TV by a ratio of 10 to 1. Despite the barrage of ads knocking Krasner down, Philadelphians reelected him by a whopping 20 percent margin.
One of the more interesting notes appeared in the Mother Jones piece on the race:
Remarkably, the poll also found that 40 percent of voters thought that violent crime in the city was decreasing and 32 percent thought it was staying the same—which the pollster described as “very very unusual.” Nationally, the majority of Americans think that crime is getting worse, even when data shows otherwise.
Our national media environment has promoted racially-tinged fear for decades. How is it that we Philadelphians are uniquely able to recognize reality?
This fall’s election is important too. Three Democratic statewide judges are up for retention in what is going to be a contested election. (This article from Spotlight PA gives a good overview.)
A MAGA PAC run by an election denier has hired at least 25 organizers to try to win a GOP majority this fall; they are out there now, doing new Republicans around PA.
The campaign responding to this is the “Why Courts Matter” campaign, run by the New Pennsylvania Project Education Fund. You can get more information about that campaign here. (They are looking for volunteers and donations, and also hiring organizers.)
Mr. Dugan may be on the ballot in the fall as a Republican, although he has said he won’t accept the nomination.
Some progressive ballot initiatives passed: addressing affordable housing, the homelessness crisis, and the first-ever prison oversight board!
There wasn’t even much dropoff for the ballot initiatives! Out of 155k votes cast, Philadelphians voted on the ballot initiatives at very high rates – 140k, 141k, 142k (for and against.) Even if overall turnout was low, voters really engaged in direct democracy about their city.
Here is Billy Penn coverage of the ballot measures, and next steps for the process from the Inquirer.
If you’d like to see the state results, here are the totals.
Long-time social activist Sherrie Cohen made the top three cut for municipal judge!
Other city business:
If you have some more energy this week… the SEPTA hearings have been extended to include today, if you can make the hearings. Even just being there counts, if you don’t testify!
The system is facing a 45 percent cut.
You can still make comments for another week in written format or phone calls, by 5 pm on May 28.
Info here: https://wwww.septa.org/fundingcrisis/speak-up/
Hearings TODAY:
SEPTA is facing a funding crisis — and we need your voice.
Without new funding from the state, SEPTA will be forced next year to raise fares and reduce service across the system by 45%. These devastating cuts would impact riders, workers and communities throughout the city and region.
Now is the time to speak up.
Attend a Public Hearing
All hearings will be held at:
SEPTA Headquarters
1234 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
You can also submit comments in these other ways below.
How to Submit Your Feedback
Call Us
Leave a voicemail at 215-580-7771 (Capital Budget) or 215-580-7772 (Operating Budget). Please include your name, zip code, and message.
Email Us
- For the Operating Budget, email operatingbudget@septa.org
- For the Capital Budget, email capbudget@septa.org
Write Us
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)
ATTN: Senior Director, Budgets & Transformation
1234 Market Street, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
The public comment period runs from 10 am on Thursday, April 10 until 5 pm on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Contact Your Legislator
Contact your state legislators and demand action to fund public transit and protect our region’s future.
