On Nov. 4, 2025, voters in major cities returned several reform-minded prosecutors to office, including Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, signaling continued urban support for criminal-justice changes even after high-profile setbacks elsewhere.
Tuesday’s results offered a contrast to recent losses for the movement. In Philadelphia, Democrat Larry Krasner won a third term, defeating former Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan, who became the Republican nominee after a GOP write-in effort in the spring. Unofficial returns show Krasner leading roughly 75% to 25%. In May, he beat Dugan by about 29 points in the Democratic primary. (en.wikipedia.org)
In New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured a second term, winning just under three-quarters of the vote against Republican Maud Maron and independent Diana Florence. In Brooklyn, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez faced no opposition, effectively guaranteeing another term. (en.wikipedia.org)
These wins follow tougher cycles for progressives in 2024. In Los Angeles, George Gascón lost to former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, while Portland’s Mike Schmidt was ousted in Multnomah County’s primary by Nathan Vasquez. And in 2022, San Francisco voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin. (apnews.com)
At the same time, other reform-minded prosecutors have held or expanded their foothold. In Michigan, Washtenaw County’s Eli Savit and Oakland County’s Karen McDonald were reelected in 2024 and have since launched campaigns for the state’s open attorney general post in 2026. (michigandaily.com)
Progressive incumbents also retained office in other Democratic strongholds: Travis County (Austin), where José Garza won a second term last year, and Pima County (Tucson), where Laura Conover secured a second term following her 2024 primary victory and uncontested general. (fox7austin.com)
Opponents of the movement have highlighted the setbacks. The R Street Institute asked whether this is the “Last Gasp of ‘Progressive DA’ Movement?,” and the Heritage Foundation declared after Boudin’s recall that it showed the “rogue prosecutor movement” is a failure. (rstreet.org)
Yet in New York City, the same night Bragg won reelection, voters elected state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani—a self-described democratic socialist—as mayor, underscoring the durability of progressive politics in heavily Democratic jurisdictions. (pbs.org)
