Philadelphia, October 14, 2025 – In a surprising twist in the 2025 Philadelphia district attorney race, the Forward Party, an independent third party founded by entrepreneur-turned-presidential-candidate Andrew Yang, has thrown its support behind Pat Dugan. The endorsement gives a centrist boost to the Republican nominee as he challenges progressive Democratic incumbent Larry Krasner.

Story Highlights

• Forward Party endorses Pat Dugan in Philadelphia DA race, backing centrist Republican candidate.

• Dugan emphasizes unity and focusing on the job over political labels.

• Krasner, progressive Democrat, defeated Dugan in May primary by 28 points.

• Philadelphia’s Republican candidates face uphill battle in citywide elections.

• Campaign has seen limited public events and low fundraising; Forward Party support expected to aid outreach.

• Former City Councilmember David Oh joins news conference, showing local support.

Dugan, a former Municipal Court judge, held a news conference outside City Hall on Tuesday to announce the endorsement. Framing himself as a “unity candidate,” he emphasized that the race is about more than partisan politics.

“This race is bigger than the left, the right, the red, the blue,” Dugan said. The statement highlights his campaign’s effort to appeal to voters across the political spectrum, a strategy that could prove critical in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than six-to-one.

Dugan, a registered Democrat, initially lost to Krasner in the spring primary. However, he successfully launched a write-in campaign organized by Philadelphia’s Republican Party, securing the GOP nomination. “I’m focused on the job, not political labels,” Dugan told reporters, reinforcing the centrist messaging of his campaign.

Andrew Yang, the Forward Party founder and former Democratic candidate for president and New York City mayor, did not attend the announcement. Robert Grabel, representing the Forward Party’s Pennsylvania chapter, explained the party’s decision to endorse Dugan.

“We believe Pat Dugan is focused on doing the job, not on political labels,” Grabel said. He added that the Forward Party plans to support Dugan “in a number of ways,” including voter outreach, volunteer coordination, and connecting him with donors, although no specific financial contributions were detailed.

Former Philadelphia City Councilmember David Oh also attended the news conference, signaling broader local support for Dugan’s bid. With three weeks remaining until Election Day on Nov. 4, the endorsement could provide a jolt to what has so far been a quiet general election campaign.

Campaign activity in the race has been notably low. Both candidates have held few public events, and there has been minimal advertising. Dugan’s fundraising has also lagged since switching to the Republican ticket, with campaign finance reports showing he has raised just $26,000. By contrast, during the spring Democratic primary, Dugan out-raised Krasner significantly, with much of that funding coming from labor unions.

“Philadelphia voters are looking for someone who can unite the city and focus on results,” Dugan said. “I believe this endorsement helps reinforce that message.”

Krasner, a progressive Democrat, defeated Dugan in the May primary by 28 percentage points, and Republican candidates have historically faced steep challenges in citywide races. Yet Dugan’s centrist positioning and the Forward Party endorsement could give his campaign new momentum in a race that remains far from predictable.

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