Robyn Bird is not shy about her views. She believes Philadelphia desperately needs a new district attorney.
“We need to fire Larry Krasner,” she told Metro, echoing a GOP campaign sign attached to an adjacent electrical pole. “He does not care about the citizens of Philadelphia at all."
Bird had just walked out of Edward C. Tomaszewski Inc. Funeral Home, her polling place at Allegheny Avenue and Salmon Street in Port Richmond. She blamed Krasner for the death of Kada Scott, the 2020 killing of Police Sgt. James O’Connor, among other bloodshed.
“This is not about party politics. It’s not,” she added. “It’s about making Philadelphia better and making it safe.”
On a sunny and blustery Tuesday, Philadelphians of all political stripes went out to vote in the 2025 general election.
The most-talked-about ballot items were retention elections for a trio of Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices elected as Democrats a decade ago, along with the district attorney’s contest, a Democratic primary rematch between Krasner and Pat Dugan, who accepted the Republican nomination following a write-in campaign.
Voters also weighed in on the city’s next controller; two competitive races for spots on statewide appeals courts; and a host of other judicial elections and retentions related.
Visit metrophiladelphia.com for updated election news; state returns will be posted at electionreturns.pa.gov and local results will be available at vote.phila.gov.
Among the issues mentioned by voters at the polls Tuesday were dysfunction and changes at the federal level since President Donald Trump’s second term began, abortion rights and public safety.
“In poor neighborhoods, there are a lot of people who are suffering,” Ian Brathwait, 59, said after casting his ballot at West Philadelphia’s Andrew Hamilton School, at 57th and Spruce streets. “There’s a lot of changes in government, and some people aren’t getting the resources that they need.”
After stepping out of William D. Kelley School, a polling place in Brewerytown, Curtis Wilkerson, 41, told Metro he is concerned about the president’s use of power. “Right now, the courts are very important to make sure the Constitution is upheld,” he added.
“I came out for the judges,” Brian Miller, a 64-year-old Port Richmond voter, said after emerging from Tomaszewski Funeral Home. “I think it should be pro-choice for young girls.”
Several residents could be seen scanning the ballot posters plastered outside of voting locations. Plenty of judges or judicial hopefuls were listed, and a few people acknowledged not being familiar with many — or any — of them.
“Unfortunately, these types of elections, I feel like in Philadelphia, they were promoting more Jersey than Philadelphia, so we really didn’t know the people that we’re voting for,” said Nakia Staley, 46, referring to the Garden State’s closely watched gubernatorial race.
Turnout, at least anecdotally, appeared to be higher than the May primary, when fewer than 17% of registered Philadelphia voters participated, according to data from the City Commissioners. But it will almost certainly be a far cry from last year’s presidential election, which drew 65%.
Tia DeWitt admitted that she does not vote in every election. She came out on Tuesday to Hamilton School, partially at the chiding of her mother, and to serve as an example for her 1-year-old child, who made her first visit to a polling place.
“Just to show my daughter, we do have a voice, and we are able to come, kind of help toward making a change,” DeWitt replied, when asked why she cast a ballot in this election.
