The anticipated district attorney candidate debate on Tuesday night evolved into a one-man show when challenger Patrick Dugan opted out of participating, leaving incumbent Larry Krasner to face focused questioning for an hour.
Dugan’s decision not to attend raises concerns that the two may not have an official debate before the May 20 Democratic primary, a critical moment as no Republican candidates are running, making the primary effectively the decisive election for Philadelphia’s top prosecutor for the next four years.
Though both candidates have engaged in numerous debate-like forums over the past month, many had expected Tuesday’s gathering to serve as the only formal debate of the race.
Dugan, a first-time candidate aiming to raise his profile and challenge a well-established incumbent, has called for multiple debates, including at least one to be broadcast live on network television.
However, Krasner stated he would only participate in the debate organized at WHYY’s studios in Old City, which was open to public attendance and streamed live on YouTube and Facebook.
A spokesperson for Dugan’s campaign criticized Krasner’s limited debate participation, insisting that it should be on network television to effectively reach Philadelphia voters.
Krasner’s campaign responded to Dugan’s complaints by labeling them as the “antics of a losing campaign with a failing message,” while WHYY officials expressed disappointment at Dugan’s absence.
WHYY spokesperson Tory Harris emphasized that both candidates had equal chances to present their visions for the city, and Dugan’s choice to skip the debate deprived voters of the opportunity to hear from both candidates in an organized forum.
The debate was sponsored by WHYY News, the Committee of Seventy, and the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Despite Dugan not being present, Krasner tackled various criticisms from his opponent, addressing key issues that resonate in the community.
Moderated by Cherri Gregg, co-host of WHYY’s “Studio 2,” and WHYY News reporter Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, Krasner was questioned about significant topics, including ongoing concerns over high retail theft rates and his working relationship with police department leaders.
During the debate, Krasner defended his policies regarding retail theft, emphasizing that crime overall has decreased, pointing out that the homicide rate is at its lowest in 50 years.
He acknowledged the persistent issue of retail theft but noted an 8% drop in these incidents compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the police department.
In his discussion on the handling of retail theft, Krasner argued for showing
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