Larry Krasner and Pat Dugan
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's announcement of another $810,000 in grants to victim advocacy groups on Tuesday has reignited questions about whether his office uses public funding strategically to influence elections, as challenger Judge Pat Dugan continues to draw support across party lines in their November rematch.
The timing of Krasner's latest grant announcement comes just three weeks before Election Day, shattering his annual record for grants, and follows a pattern of increased funding during election cycles that has drawn scrutiny in recent weeks.
Grant Timing Raises Questions
Research published just two weeks ago by Broad + Liberty reveals that Krasner's violence prevention grants have surged during election years, with totals reaching $2.5 million in 2025 compared to just $310,000 in 2022, a non-election year. The largest single grant distribution of $1.1 million occurred in April 2025, just weeks before the Democratic primary.
“The patterns became unmistakable,” according to media commentator Brian Hart, who analyzed the grant data. “Launched during Krasner's 2021 re-election bid, the grants spiked dramatically in election years... painting the picture of a calculated use of forfeiture funds as a political tool to build alliances in key communities."
The nine organizations receiving funding in Tuesday's announcement include established groups like Women Against Abuse and WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, each receiving $90,000. While the nonprofit organizations perform legitimate victim services work, they also fall outside the oversight of the city’s Inspector General, causing critics to question whether the timing of the grants serves Krasner’s personal electoral goals, rather than working for public safety purposes.
“Everything Krasner does is suspect.” said Ralph Cipriano, who regularly covers Krasner for his BigTrial Substack “Every time I go to one of his press conferences, he either lies, plays word games, or runs away. Nothing he says or does should be trusted.”
Cipriano noted that Krasner is no stranger to scandal, despite being Philadelphia's top elected law enforcement officer “As the city’s highest ranking law enforcement officer, Krasner didn’t pay his taxes that he owed on the former Princeton Club for eight straight years.He has brazenly and repeatedly violated the city’s campaign finance laws.” and, as Cipriano continued, Krasner has also been recently cited by the judiciary for misconduct “According to a 149-page opinion just written by Judge Anne Marie Coyle, Krasner fraudulently staged his first co-called “exoneration” by falsely and maliciously accusing two prosecutors of egregious misconduct.”
These fines stem from a Krasner initiative to release convicted killers from prison, which has gleaned scrutiny from state officials. “According to the state attorney general, in 108 appeals filed by convicted killers, instead of performing his duty to investigate allegations of police and or prosecutorial misconduct, Krasner simply rolled over in all of those cases, and gave 108 convicted killers a pass,” said Cipriano
Ethics and Coordination Concerns
Beyond grant timing, recent revelations have exposed potentially illegal coordination between Krasner's campaigns and outside political action committees. Documents obtained through open records requests show extensive communication between Krasner, the Wren Collective consulting firm, Real Justice PAC, and progressive prosecutors nationwide.
"Conflicts of interest are the Wren Collective's business model," said Sean Kennedy of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund. The consulting firm simultaneously worked for Krasner's campaign, Real Justice PAC, and the district attorney's office itself, potentially violating Pennsylvania campaign finance laws that prohibit coordination between candidates and independent political committees.
The Philadelphia Board of Ethics has previously cited Krasner and Real Justice PAC for exceeding contribution limits, but enforcement has been limited to modest financial settlements. Federal statutes and Pennsylvania election laws explicitly forbid collaboration on campaign strategy between candidates and PACs, causing many Philadelphians to wonder if a broader investigation by the US Department of Justice or Pennsylvania Attorney General is forthcoming.
Dugan Builds Bipartisan Coalition
While Krasner faces scrutiny over his funding practices, Dugan has assembled an unusual coalition of supporters crossing traditional political boundaries. The Forward Party, founded by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, endorsed Dugan on Monday, calling him a "middle-of-the-road candidate who embodies the unity our city needs".
"Pat Dugan embodies what Forward stands for: commonsense leadership that puts people and communities ahead of party labels," said Kayla Berube, the party's national political director. The endorsement comes with on-the-ground organizing support including canvassing and phone banking.
More significantly, Dugan has secured endorsements from major labor organizations traditionally aligned with Democrats, including Teamsters Joint Council 53, IBEW 98, Firefighters and Paramedics Local 22, and several other trade unions. These endorsements represent a significant departure from typical Democratic solidarity in Philadelphia politics.
"Pat Dugan is from unions and for unions, always," said Bill Hamilton, President of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters. Dugan's family background in the Teamsters Union has helped him maintain labor support despite running as a Republican in the general election.
However, Dugan did lose the previous endorsement of the partisan Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council after accepting the Republican nomination after thousands of GOP voters wrote Dugan in as their candidate in May’s primary election. Council leader Ryan Boyer, previously Dugan's most important backer, now supports Krasner.
"If you lose, you lose," Boyer told the Philadelphia Inquirer after Dugan's decision to run as a Republican. The anti-Republican building trades had previously provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to Dugan's primary campaign and a super PAC attacking Krasner.
Progressive Network Connections
The coordination concerns extend beyond local politics to a national network of progressive prosecutors. Documents show Krasner communicating with ousted California district attorneys Chesa Boudin and George Gascon, convicted Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, and other progressive prosecutors across the country.
The same funding networks supporting Krasner through groups like the Wren Collective also finance activist organizations involved in civil unrest and anti-Israel demonstrations, according to watchdog research. Major donors include the Soros Open Society Foundation, the Tides Network, and other progressive foundations that have also been linked to violent campus protests and other illicit activity.
Election Stakes
With three weeks remaining before Election Day, the race represents a broader debate about how criminal justice policy is administered in America's largest cities. Krasner's approach has drawn national attention and controversy, while Dugan positions himself as offering "common sense and safety" without abandoning reform principles entirely.
Dugan has pledged to prosecute violent crime while expanding restorative justice programs, creating veterans and eviction diversion courts that helped 46,000 families avoid displacement while securing over $300 million in payments to landlords. His military service and judicial experience offer a contrast to Krasner's activist background.
"I'm not running for any political party. I'm running as a Philadelphian for everyone in our city," Dugan said in announcing the Forward Party endorsement. The statement reflects his effort to transcend partisan divisions in a city where Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans.
As Philadelphia voters prepare to decide between the incumbent and challenger for the second time this year, questions about campaign finance ethics and the proper role of prosecutor's offices in funding community organizations remain unresolved, while Dugan's bipartisan appeal suggests some Democrats are willing to cross party lines for change in the city's top law enforcement office.
