Philly DA Larry Krasner got kicked out of election day lunch after clashing with union leader Ryan Boyer
The argument stemmed from last year’s DA’s race, when Boyer, a political centrist who leads the powerful Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, endorsed Krasner’s challenger.
District Attorney Larry Krasner said that all he wanted at Philadelphia’s traditional election day lunch — where local politicians and operatives gather to gab — was some macaroni and cheese.
But he didn’t make it in the front door.
Krasner, the third-term progressive Democrat, was escorted away from the South Restaurant and Jazz Club on Tuesday afternoon after getting into a combative argument with Ryan Boyer, the union leader who hosts the twice-yearly lunch and is considered one of the most powerful unelected people in Philadelphia.
The kerfuffle stemmed from last year’s race for district attorney — when Boyer, a political centrist who leads the powerful Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council — endorsed Krasner’s challenger.
And it swiftly escalated into Boyer telling Krasner to “get the f— out of here." All of it happened in public view at a time when the restaurant was packed with elected officials, including Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and two candidates in Tuesday’s competitive race for Congress, State Sen. Sharif Street and physician Ala Stanford.
Stanford left shortly after the dust-up between Boyer and Krasner, saying public displays of disaffection were not her thing.
The altercation began while an Inquirer reporter was interviewing Krasner in front of the restaurant on North Broad Street. Boyer attempted to shake Krasner’s hand and welcomed him to the event, and Krasner quickly pivoted to tell Boyer: “You owe me money.”
Krasner said he was referring to his reelection campaign last year. Boyer and the building trades unions initially supported Pat Dugan, a former judge who challenged Krasner as a Democrat and then, after he lost the primary, switched his party affiliation to Republican and ran against Krasner again in the general election. Krasner sailed to reelection.
Boyer told The Inquirer in August he was “shocked” that Dugan switched his party and that the Laborers’ District Council — which he leads — and other unions would be happy to donate to Krasner’s campaign “if he asks or needs some.”
On Tuesday, Krasner told Boyer the support never came. Boyer blew him off and said “get the f— out of here," to which Krasner responded: “We were having a conversation here,” referring to the ongoing interview.
“I don’t care. You’re talking about me,” Boyer said. “It’s a free society.”
The two briefly argued over whether or not Krasner eats macaroni and cheese (he says he does), before City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. intervened in an attempt to bring down the temperature.
“He’s an honest man,” Krasner said of Jones. “But that’s not what [Boyer] is. How did you get the nickname Lyin’ Ryan? How did you get that nickname?”
A man working the event alongside Boyer then attempted to escort Krasner away from the front of the restaurant and placed his hand on Krasner’s arm.
“Get your hands off me,” Krasner told him. “You are not welcome to touch me.”
Boyer told the man: “Don’t touch him. He’s the DA.”
And Krasner walked away.
The district attorney said in a brief interview afterward that Boyer “promised me to do for me what he did for Pat Dugan, which was $160,000.” He was referring to an independent expenditure group, also known as a super PAC, that was bankrolled by the building trades and ran ads attacking Krasner.
“And then for three months he lied to me on the phone, call after call after call,” Krasner said. “His nickname is Lyin’ Ryan. It just is what it is.”
He added: “I will miss the mac and cheese.”
Boyer said he was “surprised” that Krasner so quickly brought up a disagreement over campaign contributions during an election day lunch that is intended to bring together elected officials and staff, even if they have policy disagreements.
He said the Laborers’ District Council gave directly to Krasner’s campaign in the 2025 general election — the laborers gave the maximum amount allowed under campaign finance law — but that he could not compel other unions contribute to Krasner. For example, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers continued to support Dugan even after he became a Republican.
“I didn’t realize we had a beef. Now we got a beef,” Boyer said of Krasner.
Then he corrected himself.
“You know what? We don’t have a beef,” Boyer said. “He’s the DA. And Philadelphia needs the DA to work so that we can attract business. I’m done with it. It’s over.”
