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Larry Krasner Wins Democratic Seat In Philly DA Race

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP)– Candidate Larry Krasner has won the democratic seat in the race to be Philadelphia's next top prosecutor.

Krasner , a civil rights lawyer who has defended Black Lives Matter and Occupy Philadelphia protesters, is poised to become Philadelphia's next district attorney.

Krasner, 53, strongly opposes mass incarceration and the death penalty. He has said that none of his clients have been sent to death row in 25 years of defending capital cases. Pennsylvania under Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has a moratorium on executions.

"Tonight was not about a campaign or a particular person. It was about a vision," Krasner said in statement. "A vision of a criminal justice system that works for everyone. A society that builds people up instead of tearing them down."

Krasner pulled ahead in a crowded field to win the Democratic nomination Tuesday over several veteran prosecutors and a former city manager. He will face the only Republican candidate, Beth Grossman, in the fall.

The victory followed an intriguing campaign as eight newcomers vied for a job that helps shape city policy on sanctuary cities, police use of force, prison reform and other national issues.

They hoped to succeed two-term incumbent Seth Williams, who goes on trial next month in a federal bribery case. They included a Pakistani-American, a Cuban-American, a black Muslim and Krasner, who also got a nod from singer-songwriter John Legend, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Several candidates supported prison and bail reform and prisoner re-entry programs, despite efforts under U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to return to the era of long prison terms for drugs and other crimes.

Philadelphia district attorney race
Credit: CBS3

The political action arm of Color of Change, an online racial justice group, sent out 200,000 texts to black city voters and called Krasner's win "a victory for all Americans resisting the Trump Administration's backwards criminal justice policies."

The other Democrats included Joe Khan, a former city and federal prosecutor; Rich Negrin, a former city prosecutor and city managing director; and Tariq El-Shabazz, who did a stint as Williams' top assistant.

One "juvenile lifer" released this year after serving 41 years in prison for a killing committed when he was 17 was out canvassing on Election Day, urging voters to support justice reform efforts. Michael Twiggs, 59, was taking part in a project run by the American Civil Liberties Union.

"If we get a D.A. in place who will be somewhat compassionate, not so eager to throw lives away, who would be fair," Twiggs said last week, "then I think that ... we'll be getting a better outcome."

In the city controller's race, Rebecca Rhynhart defeated incumbent Alan Butkovitz for the Democratic nomination.

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In the race for Allentown mayor on the democratic side, incumbent Mayor Ed Pawlowski is fending off his democratic challengers.

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In the race for the republican nomination for Allentown mayor developer Nat Hyman has defeated Allentown police detective, Luiz Garcia.

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(TM and © Copyright 2017 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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