On April 22, Liberty City LGBTQ Democratic Club held a meeting at the Church of Saint Luke & The Epiphany to ratify its endorsements for candidates in the upcoming primary elections for several city and state positions. Those positions are: district attorney, city controller, and several judgeship positions on Municipal Court, Court of Common Pleas, Commonwealth Court, and Superior Court.
In order to be considered for endorsement by Liberty City, the candidates must either attend a candidate night to speak to the membership directly, and/or answer an extensive Liberty City questionnaire on their positions with regard to issues important to the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, Liberty City requires that the candidates for judge be recommended or highly recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Only dues-paying members in good standing of Liberty City who meet the group’s attendance requirements are allowed to vote. Liberty City’s endorsement committee debated the merits of the candidates in private before putting their recommendations up for a public vote.
One position did not receive an endorsement, that of Superior Court. The one Democrat running in the primary, Brandon Neuman was disqualified because he neither attended a candidates night nor responded to the Liberty City questionnaire.
According to Dustin Dove, endorsement committee co-chair, the qualities the committee looked for in their recommendations for endorsement were: integrity, a strong commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and its issues, qualifications and overall fitness for the office they’re seeking, and their past performance history and record.
There were three separate questionnaires, with questions tailored to the office. One was sent out for district attorney, one for city controller, and one overall for the various judicial posts.
In the district attorney questionnaire, the questions were divided into two categories. The first was civil rights. How have they worked to advance LGBTQ+ rights? Have they sought input on the needs of marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community? Do they consider trans rights a civil rights issue?
The second category focused on criminal justice questions. How would they address hate crimes against the LGBTQ community? Do they support the incarceration of trans women prisoners according to their affirmed gender? How would they address the current political climate, such as arresting protesters? And many more.
In the city controller questionnaire, the questions mostly centered around how the candidate, as controller, would ensure that LGBTQ+ people and programs were treated fairly and equitably in city agencies, schools, services and other areas.
In the judicial questionnaire, the major concern was one of credentials, qualifications and experience. What sort of law have they practiced, and how long? Have they ever been disciplined by the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board, and if so, why? Additionally, they were asked how they have worked to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights. Are trans rights a civil rights issue? How do they feel about the LGBTQ+ “panic” defense, which is still legal in Pennsylvania, and how would they handle it in their courtroom?
Below is the complete list of Liberty City’s endorsements for the primary election on May 20.
Liberty City LGBTQ+ Democratic Club 2025 Primary Endorsements
District Attorney
Larry Krasner
City Controller
Christy Brady
Superior Court
no endorsement
Commonwealth Court
Stella Tsai
Municipal Court
Amanda Davidson
Cortez Patton
Shawn Page
Court of Common Pleas
Will Braverman
Leon King
Larry Farnese
Brian Kisielewski
Irina Erlich
Anthony Stefanski
Deborah Watson-Stokes
Sarah Jones
Kia Ghee
