Civics 101

The race for PA Attorney General is a hot one, and out of that race, there’s only one African-American and one woman running, Keir Bradford Grey. She’s a standout.

The Attorney General of Pennsylvania is an elected constitutional office in the executive branch of the Pennsylvania state government. The Attorney General serves as chief law enforcement officer of Pennsylvania and represents the state and its agencies in any action brought by or against them. The attorney general is responsible for collecting all debts, taxes, and accounts due to the state. The attorney general serves as a member of boards and commissions, including the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Board of Pardons, the Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, and the Mid-Atlantic Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network.
The attorney general is elected in presidential election years and cannot serve more than two consecutive terms in office.
Pennsylvania has a divided government where neither party holds a triplex. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and attorney general, while the Republican Party controls the office of secretary of state.
Pennsylvania voters will elect a new attorney general this November, but Democrats and Republicans first must pick their candidates this spring.
Five Democrats and two Republicans are running for their party’s nomination and will appear on the April 23 primary ballot.
Only registered members of those parties can cast ballots for candidates during spring elections; all voters can participate in November. While the state Republican Party has endorsed one of the candidates, the Democratic Party declined to do so–no candidate was able to meet the two-thirds threshold to get endorsements.

So let’s look at who Keir Bradford Grey is.
Keir Bradford Grey is a native of Boston. She attended Albany State University and Ohio Northern University Petti College of Law. She was appointed Chief Defender for Montgomery County in 2012 and was later the Chief Defender in Philadelphia. As the head of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, she led the pre-entry initiative, which connects people (who have been arrested) to social services. She also oversaw the launch of Participatory Defense Hubs, which educates people facing criminal charges and their families about the justice system.
Currently, she’s a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, focusing on white-collar and government investigations and criminal defense.
If elected, Keir Bradford Grey would be the first Black attorney general in the state’s history. She would also be the state’s first attorney general with a primarily public defender background.
During a recent press conference on March 25, 2024, where Keir was endorsed by a group of African American Lawmakers and a local union, Laborers Local 332, she shared some things about herself that are not in her bio or on her website.
Keir Bradford Grey stated, “I knew you understand my heart and my tenacity. You understand that I want to make sure that we’re not only working within the boundaries of models that people have set for us, but we’re pushing and advancing those boundaries to make sure it works for us.”
“So, for me, my dream has always been to be the one who is a catalyst for change. I have used my law degree in ways that I never thought I could. Because when I started, I was in this box of what the law could be for people. But when I got my chance for leadership, I found out it was so much more. And we started to do things that no one ever thought were possible. To do the impossible, or what people thought was impossible, and to get it done, it took more than me. It took all these folks who are behind me. I have worked with all of these people on so many things.
We learned to balance the narrative because sometimes it wasn’t about what was happening, it was about how things were being narrated. A lot of issues with our justice system were in the process. So, if you control the process, you can control the outcome. We sought to make sure the process was more equitable.”
Keir also acknowledged that her mother gave her the strength to do what she does today. “My mother showed me what it is to fight for people and care for them–at the same time. It’s tough love with a compassionate spirit. That’s something that Black women do in life because we understand we can’t just run around here doing whatever we want. There’s order to this thing. My mother was the disciplinarian, and she was the one who gave hugs and told me, “You’ve got it!” when the world told me I didn’t. Thank you, Mom.”
During the endorsement press conference on March 25, 2024, PA State Senator Vincent Hughes was on hand, along with City Councilmembers Curtis Jones, Jr., Jamie Gauthier and Isaiah Thomas, and Michael O’Rourke.
State Senator Anthony Williams was unable to attend the press event; however, he sent his endorsement as well. Laborers Local 332, Ryan Boyer, the Business Manager, sent his endorsement, as his schedule would not allow him to be there in person.
As Pennsylvania Attorney General, Keir Bradford-Grey will advocate for strong consumer protections and work to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and have access to the resources they need to make informed decisions. Attorneys General have long been leaders in protecting the rights of consumers — Pennsylvanians deserve a tireless fighter in their next chief law enforcement officer. Throughout her career, Keir has been quick on her feet to ensure that our laws are applied fairly, contemporarily, and with the diverse perspectives and needs of all Pennsylvanians in mind. She has been influential in crafting law theory that advances justice and equality, and her contributions have changed countless lives.
Keir Bradford Grey has lived in underserved neighborhoods. She went to school on an athletic scholarship. And, she knows firsthand what it’s like to encounter assumptions and biases every single day. Keir understands the hopes and fears of the underdog, and she says she won’t let anything keep her from doing what she knows is right, even if there are powerful interests on the other side.
She’s done that in the courtroom as a public defender, and she’s done it by leading large organizations and helping them to change, modernize, and focus on the big picture–creating real public safety.

Who are the other candidates running for PA State Attorney General? On the Democratic side, there’s Eugene DePasquale, Joe Khan, Jared Solomon, and Jack Stollsteimer.
On the Republican side, there’s Dave Sunday and Craig Williams.
Whatever you do, get out and vote on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. Don’t know where you are supposed to go vote? Call the Philadelphia City Commissioner’s office at 215-686-3462.