In less than a week, voters in Northwest Philadelphia will cast ballots for judicial candidates in the May 20 primary election. Although these are typically low-turnout elections, races involving the courts have seen increased attention since the 2024 presidential contest.
The Ninth Democratic Ward, which covers Chestnut Hill and part of Mt. Airy, posted a note on its election voter recommendation page reading, “Recently in Wisconsin, a GOP candidate endorsed by Trump and bankrolled with $20+ million from Elon Musk lost to the Democrat by 10 points. Why did Trump and Musk intervene in this judicial race? Because they fear state and local courts will stop them from taking away our rights. That’s why you need to vote for the most qualified and progressive Democratic candidates in the May 20 primary.”
The Ward’s Republican “Voting & Elections” page does not offer any commentary regarding this primary.
With these races often falling under the radar, here’s an outline of the upcoming vote, along with recommendations from Chestnut Hill Democratic and Republican Ward leaders.
Important dates
- The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 13 by 5 p.m. To apply for a mail-in ballot visit vote.phila.gov/votebymail or in person at City Hall Room 142.
- May 20 is election day and the last day for the Board of Elections to receive your mail-in ballot. Mail ballots must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.
In-person voting
- Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
- To find your polling location visit atlas.phila.gov/voting and enter your home address.
- Poll workers can provide assistance if you have questions or need support.
District Attorney
- Pat Dugan and Larry Krasner are running in the District Attorney primary. Both are Democrats. There are no Republicans running for the slot.
- Krasner has served as District Attorney for eight years and is running for his third term. He has a history of taking progressive stances on issues such as police accountability and prison reform.
- Dugan is a former Municipal Court president judge and is running his first race for prosecutor. On his campaign website he promises that violent offenders will receive “maximum penalties allowed by law.”
- The Ninth Democratic ward recommends Krasner writing, “In his two terms, Krasner has prosecuted the most serious crimes while working to address the root causes of violence. Murders in Philadelphia have dropped by 25 percent, and overall crime has declined at a rate greater than the national average. Krasner’s office secured the release of 50 people wrongfully incarcerated, launched a restorative justice program, and is committed to protecting democracy by combating voter suppression.”
- Ninth Ward Republicans endorsed Dugan as a write-in candidate, saying, “Judge Dugan represents a different path. As a longtime judge, Army veteran, and proud Philadelphian, he brings the balance and fairness that our city desperately needs. Dugan is not an ideologue — he is a pragmatist who respects the law and people it’s meant to protect.”
- In a May 8 Inquirer article, Dugan’s campaign indicated that he will not run as a Republican if he loses the primary.
City Controller
- Democrat Christy Brady is running unopposed.
- Republican Ari Patrinos is also running unopposed.
Here are recommendations from the Ninth Ward Democrats and Republicans for Judges in the upcoming election. There are more candidates running than are listed below. Those listed were endorsed by Ninth Ward parties.
Superior Court
- Ninth Democratic Ward recommends Judge Brandon Neuman.
- Ninth Ward Republicans recommend Ann Marie Wheatcraft.
Commonwealth Court
- Ninth Democratic Ward recommends Judge Stella Tsai.
- Ninth Ward Republicans recommend Matt Wolford.
Court of Common Pleas (nine seats)
- The Ninth Democratic Ward recommends candidates: Will Braveman, Leon King, Larry Farnese, Brian Kisielewski, Irina Ehrlich, Anthony Stefanski, Deborah Watson-Stokes, Sarah Jones and Kia Ghee.
- No Republican candidates filed for this office.
Ballot Questions
All recommendations sourced from online Ward Party voter guides.
Question one: Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson to assist residents experiencing homelessness, help provide fair access to essential resources, improve quality of life in the shelter system, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the City’s providers of homeless services?
If passed, the Mayor would nominate an ombudsperson (a person who investigates, reports on, and helps settle complaints) for the Office of Homeless Services. The ombudsperson would advocate for homeless individuals within the system who have experienced.
Ward recommendation:
- The Ninth Democratic Ward recommends voting yes, calling it “necessary.”
- The Ninth Republican Ward recommends voting no. Their voter guide did not provide an explanation.
Question two: Should the Home Rule Charter be amended to increase the minimum amount that must be appropriated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the City’s operating budget each year?
If passed, payments made by developers under the mixed-income housing program (which allows developers to bypass zoning restrictions through payments or building affordable units) would go directly to the Housing Trust Fund.
Ward recommendation:
- The Ninth Democratic Ward recommends voting yes, saying the measure ensures “that all payments made by housing developers in lieu of building affordable units are permanently directed to the HTF, not diverted into the City’s General Fund.
- The Ninth Republican Ward Recommends voting no. Their voter guide did not provide an explanation.
Question three: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of an independent Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight, Board and Office of Prison Oversight and to further authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers and duties of the Board and Office?
If passed, A City Council President would appoint a Prison Community Oversight Board and an Office of Prison Oversight.
Ward recommendation:
- The Ninth Democratic Ward recommends voting no, saying the measure would add “another layer of redundant oversight to the correction system when the problems with the system are well known: aging infrastructure, and a critical under-staffing crisis.”
- The Ninth Republican Ward Recommends voting no. Their voter guide did not provide an explanation.
Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@chestnuthilllocal.com.
