Reformer faces independent Joe Pagliarulo in November to replace 2-decade incumbent
2 days ago: Perkins wins Norfolk DA Democratic primaryNew here? Follow stories to track developments over time. Create a free account to get updates when stories you care about change.
Overview
Updated 1 hour agoNorfolk County voters chose former prosecutor Djuna Perkins over six rivals in Tuesday's Democratic primary for district attorney. The seat is open because Michael Morrissey, who held it for more than two decades, is not seeking reelection.
Perkins, a Dedham attorney, ran on restoring credibility to an office that drew scrutiny for its handling of the Karen Read murder case and the Sandra Birchmore death investigation. She will face independent candidate Joe Pagliarulo in the November general election; no Republican filed for the seat.
Why it matters
The next DA will decide whether to continue Morrissey's approach or shift course on high-profile prosecutions and police accountability cases in a county of 700,000.
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Timeline
September 2026 November 2026
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General election: Perkins vs. Pagliarulo
Upcoming ElectionPerkins faces independent Joe Pagliarulo; no Republican is on the ballot.
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Perkins wins Norfolk DA Democratic primary
Latest ElectionDjuna Perkins leads the field of seven candidates after preliminary results in the primary to replace Michael Morrissey.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
Larry Krasner in Philadelphia (2017)
Larry Krasner, a civil rights attorney with no prosecutorial experience, won the Philadelphia DA race on a platform of ending mass incarceration and holding police accountable. He defeated a longtime incumbent in the primary.
Krasner won the primary and general, reshaping the office within months.
His election became a touchstone for the progressive prosecutor movement, showing that voters can reward candidates who promise to reduce prosecutions.
Both Krasner and Perkins capitalized on public frustration with a sitting DA's handling of police-related cases. The parallel highlights the national shift toward prosecutor accountability.
Rachael Rollins in Suffolk County (2018)
Rachael Rollins, a former federal prosecutor and civil rights lawyer, won a seven-candidate Democratic primary for Suffolk County District Attorney, unseating the establishment-backed candidate. She ran on a reform platform focused on reducing incarceration.
Rollins went on to win the general election easily, becoming the county's first Black DA.
Her tenure exemplified the national 'progressive prosecutor' movement, shifting priorities away from low-level drug offenses.
Like Rollins, Perkins is a former prosecutor running on reform after a long-incumbent DA steps down. The Suffolk race shows how a crowded primary can give a reformer a path in a Democratic county.
