As Pennsylvania’s primary election approaches on May 20, PGN is proud to announce our endorsements for key races across the region. These decisions are not made lightly — we consult with community leaders and politically connected individuals who understand both the nuance of governance and the needs of LGBTQ+ communities.
For District Attorney, we endorse Larry Krasner. In a political climate where LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly under attack, Krasner has remained a consistent ally. His words are matched by his record.
“Where we have the dominant party in Washington systematically and consistently fomenting hate against LGBTQ+ people, it will be important that there are local prosecutors who are going to make sure that the law applies equally within their jurisdiction, who are not going to succumb politically, or let their ambition or their polling get ahead of what they think is right,” Krasner said in a recent interview with PGN. “Everybody deserves protection.”
We also endorse Christy Brady for Controller and Stella Tsai for Commonwealth Court — two candidates with the experience and judgment necessary to serve all Pennsylvanians with fairness and integrity.
In Philadelphia’s judicial races, we support Amanda Davidson, Cortez Patton and Shawn Page for Municipal Court, and for Court of Common Pleas: Will Braverman, Leon A. King II, Larry Farnese, Brian Kisielewski, Irina Erlich, Anthony Stefanski, Deborah Watson-Stokes, Sarah Jones and Kia Ghee.
Of special note is Leon A. King II. A former commissioner of Philadelphia’s prison system and longtime civil rights advocate, King would make history as the first openly gay Black man elected to the Court of Common Pleas. He has worked at every level of the legal system — from correctional leadership to civil litigation — and has consistently fought for the rights of marginalized communities, including incarcerated LGBTQ+ individuals. His legal background and lived experience would bring a critically underrepresented perspective to the bench.
We are also proud to support Dan Miller for mayor of Harrisburg. If elected, he would become the city’s first openly gay mayor — a historic milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in Pennsylvania. With decades of public service, Miller combines deep government experience with a commitment to equity, transparency, and building a more inclusive Harrisburg.
In the race for New Jersey governor, we endorse Ras Baraka. As mayor of Newark, Baraka has shown a strong commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and has pledged to codify protections for queer and trans people — including in health care, education and public communication — at a time when federal rollbacks demand bold state-level action.
These candidates reflect the values of fairness, equity and progress. We urge our readers to vote on May 20 — and to vote with pride.