The Forward Party has endorsed Republican Pat Dugan in the November election for Philadelphia District Attorney and says it will directly support his campaign. The party is now backing eight candidates in Pennsylvania for the 2025 election cycle.
Axios Philadelphia first reported on October 14 that the Forward Party had endorsed Judge Pat Dugan, who is running as the Republican nominee against incumbent Democrat Larry Krasner. Dugan lost to Krasner in the May Democratic primary, and local GOP organizers later urged Republican voters to write him in to secure his place on the Republican ballot, which he accepted the following month.
The Dugan campaign told Axios that the Forward Party plans to assist with canvassing, phone banking, and media outreach. Dugan also directly told the outlet that he views the endorsement as “a clear message that I am the middle-of-the-road candidate who embodies the unity our city needs.”
The Forward Party previously announced a nationwide slate of endorsements in September that included six Pennsylvania candidates running in municipal and county races, though Dugan’s campaign was not among them. The party has also since endorsed Democrat Danny Ceisler for Bucks County Sheriff.
While Axios did not publish the full text of the endorsement, and the Forward Party does not currently provide it on its website, Independent Political Report located a copy through a release shared by the Philadelphia Republican Party that following afternoon.
“I’m not running for any political party,” Dugan said in the release. “I’m running as a Philadelphian for everyone in our city. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Forward Party, non-voters, those who can’t vote yet — I’m running to serve everyone.”
In the document, the Forward Party praises Dugan for focusing on “restoring fairness, accountability, and public trust,” quoting National Political Director Kayla Berube, who described him as demonstrating “commonsense leadership that puts people and communities ahead of party labels.” It also highlights his work establishing Philadelphia’s Veterans and Eviction Diversion Courts and notes his appointment to the state’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Board.
The party added that candidates like Dugan have the ability to “break through the partisan gridlock that has left communities divided and underserved,” describing the endorsement as part of its larger effort to “rebuild trust in government and give voters the choices they deserve.”
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