Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby is asking his members to register to vote as Democrats to help oust the current district attorney.
Larry Krasner, the incumbent who has overseen a dramatic change in how the city prosecutes crime, is up for reelection this November. Winning the Democratic primary in May, however, constitutes Krasner’s biggest hurdle in deep-blue Philadelphia.
HIGH-PROFILE DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS PHILLY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RACE: ‘MY JOB IS GETTING TOO EASY’
Law enforcement, which has been sharply critical of Krasner’s policies, has orchestrated a plan to encourage police officers and others who are registered Republicans to register as Democrats and vote for Krasner’s opponent Carlos Vega in the primary before switching back to Republican for the general election. So far, the Democratic Party has seen an influx of roughly 3,000 former Republican members in the last several months.
“They’d rather have insurance to make sure that no matter who it is, it’s not Krasner,” Republican Philadelphia ward leader Bill Lanzilotti said in March. “It’s not all this love for Vega. It’s just a ‘never Krasner’ kind of movement.”
A retired homicide prosecutor, Vega has campaigned on restoring public order while still maintaining he’s a liberal.
“As a career prosecutor working on the frontlines to protect Philadelphians, Carlos knows that we don’t have to choose between making our city safe and reforming our criminal justice system,” his campaign website reads.
Krasner, who remains a favorite to win the race based on his name recognition, has attacked the plot from Philadelphia law enforcement, saying his opponent has support from “fake Democrats.”
The Philadelphia Democratic Party has declined to endorse any candidate, a surprising decision considering Krasner’s high profile.
“It is expected. It is exactly what they did last time,” Krasner said about his party’s lack of endorsement earlier this month. “And last time, we won with more votes than any district attorney candidate in at least 20 years.”
Violent crime has spiked under Krasner’s tenure, with over 100 homicides recorded in Philadelphia so far this year. In 2020, the city saw 499 homicides, a 40% increase from 2019.
Last year also saw a total of 2,236 shootings, which disproportionately targeted black residents.
Krasner took office in 2017, easily winning his first term in part thanks to a nearly $1.5 million donation from left-wing billionaire George Soros. A proud leftist, Krasner has implemented a number of restorative justice policies that include declining to prosecute lawbreakers or recommend deferred prison sentences.
The winner of the Democratic primary will go on to face Republican Charles Peruto, a former defense attorney. Peruto has said he will exit the race if Vega wins the Democratic nomination.
In an interview earlier this year, Peruto told the Washington Examiner that his job has gotten “too easy.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“I’m a Philadelphian, and I’ve always lived here. I was educated here and never left. It’s my city,” Peruto said. “I’ve never really seen it this bad, with the shootings and the guns. You’re always gonna see crime, but not like this.”
