(The Center Square) – In Pennsylvania’s largest population centers, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, election day favored the usual suspects.
District Attorney Larry Krasner winning a third term and Democratic Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Conner won their races handily in firmly Democratic cities on an election day that went decidedly Democratic nationwide.
Krasner ran against fellow Democrat, former Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan, who ran as a Republican in an attempt to unseat the progressive DA. In his campaign for the position, he received support from the Forward Party.
Krasner took 73.1% of the city’s votes to Dugan’s 23.6%.
In conceding to Krasner, Dugan expressed disdain for Krasner and his policies, which he said result in “death and carnage” and “unspeakable suffering.”
“Make no mistake about it, Larry Krasner did not win this election,” said Dugan. “The truth won, because throughout this campaign, Larry Krasner was finally exposed for what he is: a despicable, uncaring, heartless human being.”
In Pittsburgh, the race was considerably more congenial.
O’Conner has been the presumed winner of the mayoral race since he defeated incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey in May’s Democratic primaries. The controller ran a moderate pro-business campaign to counter Gainey’s progressive policies.
His opponent in the general election, Tony Moreno, is a former police officer. A Republican has not held the seat since the 1930s.
“No matter who you supported tonight, we are united in the fight for a safer, more transparent and more robust city.”
Many have been quick to point out the challenges O’Conner will soon be facing, including a tight budget and serious transportation concerns exacerbated by inaction at the state level.
“It has been my greatest joy to serve as the 61st Mayor of Pittsburgh,” Gainey said in a statement released Tuesday. “I wish Mayor-elect O’Connor all the best as he assumes the responsibility of leading our city next year.”
