Larry Krasner

Lawrence Samuel Krasner was born January 1, 1961. He's an American lawyer and politician who's been serving as the Philadelphia District Attorney since January 2018. Running as a reformist Democrat, Krasner became one of the most prominent and polarizing progressive prosecutors in the country, fundamentally reshaping Philadelphia's approach to criminal justice. His tenure made him a national figure in debates over mass incarceration, prosecutorial discretion, and public safety.

Early Life

Krasner grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, in a household shaped by activism and the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s. His father, Michael Krasner, was a political science professor at Temple University. His mother, Pauline, was a minister and evangelical preacher. That mix of academic intellectualism and moral conviction would later define how he approached prosecution.

When he was young, the family moved to Philadelphia. He grew up in neighborhoods throughout the city, eventually attending Central High School, one of Philadelphia's elite magnet schools. It was there he was exposed to the city's diverse communities and developed an early sense of social justice.

For his undergraduate studies, he went to the University of Chicago, graduating in the early 1980s. Stanford Law School came next, where he earned his Juris Doctor. After finishing law school, he returned to Philadelphia. What followed was a three-decade legal career before he ever entered electoral politics.

Legal Career

Criminal Defense and Civil Rights (1987-2017)

Krasner spent 30 years as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney in Philadelphia before becoming district attorney. His practice centered on representing activists, protesters, and individuals whose civil liberties had been violated by law enforcement.

He represented members of Occupy Philadelphia, Black Lives Matter protesters, and activists from ACT UP. Over 75 lawsuits against the Philadelphia Police Department came from his office, challenging everything from illegal stop-and-frisk to excessive force. Among civil rights advocates, he was beloved. Law enforcement saw him very differently.

His clients included supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal, anti-war protesters, and journalists arrested while covering demonstrations. He built a reputation as one of the city's most aggressive police accountability lawyers.

Political Career

2017 District Attorney Campaign

Krasner's decision to run for Philadelphia district attorney in 2017 raised eyebrows. A career defense attorney with no prosecutorial experience and 75 lawsuits against the police seemed like an unlikely candidate for the office overseeing criminal prosecution.

But timing mattered. His campaign benefited from a national moment of reckoning over mass incarceration, police violence, and racial disparities in criminal justice. George Soros-backed political action committees provided significant financial support, funding direct-mail and advertising campaigns that totaled nearly $1.7 million. This made the race one of the most expensive DA campaigns in city history.

Krasner won the seven-way Democratic primary with 38% of the vote, carrying neighborhoods across the city. His platform centered on decarceration, diversion programs, ending cash bail for nonviolent offenses, and police accountability. In the general election, he won with over 75% of the vote in this overwhelmingly Democratic city.

First Term (2018-2022)

He took office on January 2, 2018. Sweeping changes followed immediately. Within his first weeks, he fired 31 prosecutors and issued a charging memo instructing his attorneys to seek shorter sentences, decline prosecuting marijuana possession, and consider incarceration costs in charging decisions.

Major policy changes included:

• Declining to seek cash bail for 25 categories of low-level offenses
• Creating a conviction integrity unit that overturned dozens of wrongful convictions
• Reducing mandatory minimum sentences
• Declining to prosecute simple marijuana possession
• Creating diversion programs for nonviolent offenders

National attention came quickly. So did fierce opposition. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, Philadelphia's police union, became vocal critics. Republican state legislators in Harrisburg attempted his impeachment in 2022, passing articles in the Pennsylvania House before the effort stalled in the Senate.

Crime statistics turned into a political battleground. Supporters pointed to reduced incarceration rates, fewer people held on cash bail, and exonerations of wrongfully convicted individuals. Critics pointed to rising homicide numbers. 2021 saw 562 homicides, the highest in Philadelphia's recorded history.

2021 Re-election

Despite the controversy, Krasner won re-election in 2021. He defeated former homicide prosecutor Carlos Vega in the Democratic primary by a decisive margin. That result showed his progressive coalition remained durable, even amid rising violent crime.

Second Term (2022-present)

His second term continued pursuing reform while attempting to address violent crime criticism. He expanded the Gun Violence Task Force, increased prosecutorial resources for carjacking and retail theft cases, and emphasized community-based violence intervention programs.

House Republicans' impeachment effort ultimately failed, but it marked an extraordinary intervention by state legislators into a locally elected office. Krasner successfully challenged the proceedings' constitutionality. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court eventually halted the trial.

Philadelphia Impact

His impact on Philadelphia's criminal justice system has been transformative, regardless of perspective. The office changed how the city prosecutes crime, treats defendants, and interacts with communities that have historically borne aggressive policing and mass incarceration.

In neighborhoods like Kensington, North Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia, where opioid epidemics and gun violence have devastated communities, Krasner's approach drew both praise and criticism. Diversion programs kept some nonviolent offenders out of prison. Critics argued reduced prosecution emboldened criminal behavior.

Over 30 wrongfully convicted individuals were exonerated by the conviction integrity unit, many after spending decades in prison. These cases, concentrated in communities of color, represented some of Philadelphia's most dramatic corrections of legal injustice.

His tenure also changed Philadelphia's political dynamics around criminal justice. Progressive candidates for City Council, state legislature, and other offices aligned themselves with his reform agenda. Opponents countered with public safety concerns.

Data transparency became a priority. His office published detailed reports on prosecution trends, case outcomes, and demographic breakdowns that had previously been unavailable to the public.

2028 Senate Speculation

Krasner has been mentioned as a potential Democratic challenger to John Fetterman in the 2028 U.S. Senate primary. His national profile as progressive prosecution's face, combined with deep roots in Philadelphia's political ecosystem, makes him a compelling if unconventional candidate.

Strengths include a massive Philadelphia base, a national fundraising network connected to criminal justice reform, and a confrontational style that generates media attention. Weaknesses are more substantial. The polarizing nature of his record, limited appeal in rural and suburban Pennsylvania, and difficulty translating a local prosecutorial record into statewide messaging all pose challenges.

Philadelphia's progressive wards would likely offer strong support. The collar counties and western Pennsylvania might prove tougher, where his criminal justice positions could seem too lenient. He's one of several potential challengers discussed alongside Brendan Boyle, Chris Deluzio, Nikil Saval, and Malcolm Kenyatta.

The potential primary field was analyzed by phila.fyi, which profiled five Democrats who could end Fetterman's Senate career, highlighting the field's strength.

Personal Life

Krasner was previously married to Lisa Rau, a public defender and therapist. He lives in Mt. Airy, a racially integrated neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia known for progressive politics and community activism.

His direct, sometimes abrasive communication style divides opinion. Supporters see refreshing honesty. Critics call it arrogance.