Spring 2021 Endorsements & Voter Guide

Larry Krasner

Endorsed 02/18/2021

Four years ago DA Larry Krasner was elected on promises to treat children as juveniles, reduce unnecessary incarceration and instead focus on serious crimes, stop tolerating police corruption, and not seek the death penalty. He has delivered on all accounts. Some of his office’s many achievements include: increasing the conviction rate for homicides, decreasing the county jail population by 40%, stopping prosecution of low level offenses (like marijuana possession) used to target Black and brown people, cutting the number of children charged as adults by half, exonerating an astonishing 18 wrongly convicted people, and establishing the CARES program to provide intensive support for victims after the homicide of a family member.

Krasner’s opponent in the primary, Carlos Vega, draws core support from the reactionary backlash to the Black Lives Matter and immigrant rights movements. But he needs to expand his appeal to win this election and so is attempting to manipulate fear about crime. The truth is that drug crime, property crime, and overall violent crime have continued to decline. In fact, they were all much higher during Vega’s tenure in the DA’s office. There is a serious epidemic of gun violence of all types across the United States, from which Philadelphia is not spared. Its impacts are most severe in our poorest communities. But can a District Attorney reduce gun violence by reigniting the violent abuses of “tough on crime” policing and prosecution? No. That promise may be enticing, but it is a lie, and we know it because many jurisdictions already have Republican “tough on crime” prosecutors right now—and many of them are experiencing even greater rises in gun violence than Philadelphia. Falling for this lie would only add violence to violence, make us less safe, and delay us from seeking real solutions.

Rebecca Rhynhart

Endorsed 02/18/2021

During her three years in office City Controller Rhynhart has investigated the city's calamitous response to protests over the killing of George Floyd, scrutinized the questionable procurement of new voting machines, and shined a light on the city's dysfunctional payroll system. She deserves a second term.

Maria McLaughlin

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Judge McLaughlin currently serves on the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Known as hardworking and reliable, Judge McLaughlin spent the majority of her career as a Philadelphia prosecutor focusing on child support enforcement cases. She is known as a hard-working and knowledgeable judge, and is “Highly Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Timika Lane

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Judge Lane has spent a career in public service working as a middle school teacher, a family law practitioner, and a public defender before joining the Court of Common Pleas in 2013. An advocate for Democratic priorities in the Pennsylvania state government, she is thoughtful and well-respected. She is “Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and was rated “Highly Recommended” in 2019.

Lori Dumas

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Judge Lori Dumas has been a Common Pleas judge for over 18 years, mostly in the Juvenile Division of Family Court, where she has shown leadership in focusing on the needs of survivors of human trafficking. She has taught law at several local schools and served on many boards of directors. Judge Dumas has a reputation for fairness and compassion and is “Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

David Spurgeon

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Judge David Spurgeon has been a judge in the Family Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas since 2016. He has advocated for and helped create diversionary programs to better handle individuals who might otherwise go to prison. He is “Highly Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Caroline Turner

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Caroline Turner served over a decade as a public defender before entering private practice as a trial lawyer. She is committed to restorative justice, ending cash bail and bringing transparency in the courtroom. Turner’s background includes a career in nursing and volunteer international aid organizing for Bosnia. She is “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Wendi Barish

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Wendi Barish is currently Senior Deputy General Counsel of the Philadelphia Housing Authority. She is committed to equality in the law and has 20 years of legal experience in both the public and private sector. She is “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Cateria McCabe

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Cateria McCabe was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas in 2019 and currently serves on Family Court. Her experience includes private practice, Philadelphia Assistant City Solicitor and most recently, an attorney at the Senior Law Center in Philadelphia where she focused on protecting the legal rights of seniors. She is “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Nick Kamau

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Nick Kamau is a trial attorney with experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. He served in the Obama Administration as Democratic Counsel to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and under the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, where he assisted in defending Medicaid expansion. He has 17 years of legal experience and is “Highly Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Dan Sulman

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Dan Sulman was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas in 2019 and currently serves on Family Court. He spent over 10 years as a Master in Support in Domestic Relations, presiding over child and spousal support hearings. He supports court reform, including progressive hiring practices, greater employee diversity, and implicit bias training for judges and staff. He is “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Betsy Wahl

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Betsy Wahl has spent 35 years serving in Philadelphia’s courts and is currently a Philadelphia’s Juvenile Court Hearing Officer where she presides over juvenile delinquency and dependency hearings. Her background includes mediating over domestic relations matters and serving as a public defender. She is “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Michele Hangley

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Michele Hangley is a nationally recognized litigator who has done pro bono work for the Innocence Project and the ACLU. She played a critical role in defending against voting rights attacks by the Pennsylvania GOP in the 2020 election. One of the first women to attend Central High School after court ordered gender integration, she is endorsed by State Senator Nikil Saval and is “Highly Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Chris Hall

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Chris Hall has been a federal prosecutor and a corporate defense attorney. He has won due process rights for subjects of grand jury investigations, and successfully led cases against an asbestos dumper in Cobbs Creek and a predatory mortgage lender in North Philadelphia. He is well respected by legal peers in Philadelphia for his commitment to equal justice and is “Highly Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Greg Yorgey-Girdy

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Greg Yorgey-Girdy is a South Philly resident and civil rights leader with a wide range of experience, first as a City Solicitor and later with two large law firms. Greg has served in leadership of Liberty City LGBT+ Democratic Club, Philadelphia Family Pride, and the Philly Queer March for Black Lives. He is “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Michael Lambert

Endorsed 03/25/2021

Michael Lambert is a civic leader and an attorney with extensive experience representing small clients in Municipal Court. While his Bar evaluation group found this professional experience narrow, we believe his deep experience in Municipal Court more than qualifies him to fight for equity and justice within that branch.