Retired Judge Pat Dugan will be on Philadelphia ballots in November, running as a Republican in a rematch against current District Attorney Larry Krasner. (Image courtesy of Instagram @judgeduganforda)
As a former Municipal Court Judge with seventeen years on the bench, appointed by Governor Ed Rendell prior to three election wins, and a veteran Army paratrooper, I've dedicated my career to fair justice and public safety. A lifelong Democrat, I'm running a unity campaign as a Philadelphian for all parties and all people — because this race isn't about party lines; it's about caring for our city. I accepted the Republican nomination, knowing the risks in our heavily blue city, to give Philadelphians a real chance to defeat Krasner and restore sanity, justice, and fairness to the District Attorney's Office.
Imagine Philadelphia in 2026: the City of Brotherly Love transformed into a global stage, alive with millions of visitors celebrating America's 250th birthday — the Semiquincentennial. We'll host six FIFA World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field, drawing soccer fans from around the world; the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, spotlighting our Phillies; early rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Center; and the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.
This isn't just a party: it's a generational economic opportunity, projected to inject billions into our tourism, retail, and hospitality sectors, including an estimated $770 million from the World Cup alone, as noted in a July 2025 Philadelphia Inquirer article. From restaurant servers hustling for record tips to CEOs expanding hotels and shops, every corner of our business community stands to thrive.
But this vision is under siege. Under DA Larry Krasner's failed leadership, unchecked retail theft and crime have turned our streets into a nightmare, shuttering stores, emptying shelves, and chasing away investments. We can't trust or afford to re-elect him — not when 2026 promises so much, yet his policies have already cost us dearly. It's time for the Philadelphia business community — from the server wiping down tables after a long shift to the executive planning multimillion-dollar developments — to unite against this devastation and demand change. My unity campaign is about bridging divides to build a safer city for everyone, regardless of party.
Since taking office in 2018, Krasner has pursued a dangerously lenient approach to retail theft, treating incidents under $500 as mere summary offenses — essentially a slap on the wrist — unless the stolen value exceeds $500 or the offender has an extensive criminal history, as detailed in a March 2025 Fox 29 report. This “catch and release” mindset has emboldened thieves, leading to a staggering surge in retail theft: reports jumped 53 percent from 2021 to 2023, with over 37,000 incidents documented in that period, according to Pennsylvania court data from December 2024.
These aren't abstract statistics: they're the shattered dreams of hardworking Philadelphians. Servers lose shifts when restaurants close early due to safety fears; CEOs watch prime real estate sit vacant as investors flee. And the baseline is even worse: pre-Krasner in 2017, retail theft reports hovered below 8,000 annually according to Philadelphia Police Department data, a far cry from the explosion under his watch.
Krasner's belated attempt to course-correct — a “new” retail theft policy announced in March 2025 that categorizes cases into organized, habitual, and ordinary theft for supposedly tougher handling — rings hollow, as examined in a March 2025 Billy Penn article. It arrived years too late, after irreversible damage, and reeks of election-year desperation. Even with a task force launched in 2024, theft continues to plague our stores, leaving CVS shelves barren and forcing businesses to lock up basics like toothpaste and coffee.
Krasner's unilateral decisions have undermined police morale, eroded public trust, and turned Philadelphia into a punchline for retail criminals. Worse, he's been an obstructionist to Mayor Parker and Police Commissioner Bethel's initiatives, refusing to be a full partner in their public safety efforts — as highlighted in a January 2024 Philadelphia Inquirer opinion piece noting that without alignment from the DA, positive change is stalled. At a forum, Krasner even stated he doesn't work for them, further fracturing the collaboration needed to protect our city.
The toll is evident in every neighborhood, where commercial landmarks and community hubs have vanished under Krasner's watch. Take Wawa, a Philly institution that once symbolized convenience and community. Since 2020, the chain has shuttered at least eleven stores in Philadelphia, including nine in Center City and two more in Northeast Philly in April 2025, citing “continued safety and security challenges” amid rampant theft, as reported in an April 2025 WHYY article. These closures aren't just about lost hoagies — they mean hundreds of jobs evaporated, neighborhoods without quick access to essentials, and tourists deterred by visible decline.
Rite Aid tells a similar heartbreaking story. All Rite Aid stores in Philadelphia have now closed, with the final 33 shuttering in August 2025 as part of a national bankruptcy exacerbated by organized theft rings and massive operational losses exceeding $100 million in 2021, according to a July 2025 Billy Penn report. Since 2022, over 70 Philly-area locations have shut down, leaving voids in communities where these pharmacies served as lifelines for medications, groceries, and daily needs. Theft played a pivotal role, with stores hit repeatedly by bold shoplifters who face little consequence.
Then there's Macy's iconic Center City store in the Wanamaker Building, a cornerstone of Philadelphia retail that closed in March 2025 amid declining sales and persistent security threats, as reported in a February 2025 WHYY report. This follows a tragic 2023 stabbing of a security guard during a theft attempt, plus dozens of reported incidents, including 37 thefts of $200 or more in December 2024 alone.
And let's not forget the countless mom-and-pop shops — the bodegas, delis, and family-run retailers — that can't withstand even a single $499 "freebie." These small businesses, the backbone of our neighborhoods, are folding under the weight of Krasner's inaction, leaving empty storefronts from Center City to the Northeast.
The broader economic fallout is devastating. While homicides reached a decade-low in 2025 with 151 as of August, per Philadelphia Police Department data, property crimes remain 35 percent higher than in 2021, amplifying losses through business flight, reduced property values, and depopulation. Nearly two-thirds of Philadelphians cite crime as the city's top issue, reflecting a citywide cry for help that's gone unanswered, according to a 2025 Pew Charitable Trusts poll conducted from January to March 2025. Without decisive action, 2026's influx of visitors — eager for World Cup excitement and All-Star festivities — could turn into a disaster, with unsafe streets repelling the very tourists who could revitalize our hospitality sector.
Philadelphia deserves better. Residents, workers, and executives — from the server dreaming of a bustling 2026 shift to the CEO eyeing expansion — must unite to prevent Krasner from undermining this massive opportunity. Support my unity campaign to enforce laws fairly, prosecute retail theft aggressively, and collaborate with police and businesses for real safety. Vote in the 2025 general election to send a message: No more excuses, no more closures. Join business coalitions, advocate for reforms, and invest in a DA who puts economic security first. Let's make 2026 our comeback story—a thriving, safe Philadelphia where every neighborhood prospers. The City of Brotherly Love can rise again, but only if we act now.
