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May 19, 2021

Larry Krasner Wins Dem Primary for Philly DA; Ed Gainey Set to Become Pittsburgh's 1st Black Mayor
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In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner handily won the
Democratic nomination against his challenger Carlos Vega Tuesday. Vega
is a former homicide prosecutor who was fired by Krasner after he took
office in 2018. Krasner is credited with lowering Philadelphia's prison
population, halting the prosecution of drug possession and other
low-level offenses, and reversing around 20 wrongful convictions. But he
has also come under fire for opposing the appeals of political prisoner
and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal. Krasner will face a Republican defense
lawyer, Charles Peruto Jr., in the November general election.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, state Representative Ed Gainey defeated
incumbent Bill Peduto for the Democratic mayoral nomination. Tuesday's
win means Gainey is likely to become Pittsburgh's first Black mayor.


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