Who to vote for in the 2021 general election | Endorsement Guide
The Inquirer’s Editorial Board vetted candidates in key races across the state to help you decide who to vote for.
![I VOTED TODAY stickers displayed with City Hall in the background for the May 2019 election.](https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/vyfVQKpAAug5l6YbndZQX81czL8=/760x507/smart/filters:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/23XC6W6N6BAKRAUN3XOYNECB7M.jpg)
Prior to each election, the Inquirer’s Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom, identifies the races where an endorsement can help readers understand where candidates stand on issues and why we think voters should support (or not support) a particular candidate.
We think all elections are important and try to cover as many as we can. In elections like the 2021 general, with many races and candidates, we have to make the hard decision to limit our endorsements to highly competitive races and local ballot questions. This means that unfortunately, we did not have the capacity to endorse in this year’s lower court races. A lack of an endorsement is not judgment on the office or the race.
We research the candidates’ backgrounds through our own reporting, as well as the work of our newsroom colleagues.
The Board hosts meetings with candidates running in contested races, where we ask them about their stance on the issues we think are most important to their constituents. This year, we held virtual meetings with them on Zoom. The meetings are on the record, and political reporters and editors are invited to participate, but they do not weigh in on the endorsement process.
We invite your comments on this process and our endorsements at opinion@inquirer.com. If you’d like your comments to be considered for our letters to the editor page, please include your address and phone number (not for publication) so we can verify your identity.
District attorney: Larry Krasner
The Inquirer Editorial Board endorsed Larry Krasner for in the May primary. After meeting with his Republican opponent, lawyer Chuck Peruto, the board stands behind our initial endorsement of Krasner for the general election.
» Read the full Inquirer endorsement of Larry Krasner in the 2021 primary.
Supreme Court: Maria McLaughlin
» READ MORE: Read the full Inquirer endorsement of Judge Maria McLaughlin in the 2021 general election.
Lower courts
In Philadelphia, voters will select judicial candidates for Superior and Commonwealth Courts, among others.
We have not interviewed candidates, so we are making no endorsements in these races. However, the Philadelphia Bar Association has a rigorous vetting process, and we recommend you review their findings at judges.philadelphiabar.org.
Ballot questions
Question 1 (cannabis): Yes
Question 2 (fleet services): Yes
Question 3 (civil service): Yes
Question 4 (Housing Trust Fund): No
» READ MORE: Read The Inquirer's full list of ballot question endorsements for the 2021 general election.
City controller: Rebecca Rhynhart
Philadelphia’s City Controller, Rebecca Rhynhart, is running unopposed in the general election. In 2017, the Editorial Board endorsed Rhynhart, who previously served as city treasurer, budget director, and chief administrative officer before being elected the controller’s office. The board stands by this endorsement today.
N.J. governor: Phil Murphy
» READ MORE: Read The Inquirer's full endorsement of Phil Murphy for governor of New Jersey