Larry Farnese, a litigator, law professor and former member of the Pennsylvania Senate, is running in the 2023 Democratic Primary to serve on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas!

Larry represented the First Senatorial District in the Pennsylvania Senate from 2008 until 2020. The district he served included some of Philadelphia’s most unique and vibrant neighborhoods, from Port Richmond to Fairmount Park to the Navy Yard, including South Philadelphia, Center City, and the River Wards.

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In the state Senate, Larry served as Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and was a vocal and effective advocate for public safety. 

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He worked to reduce gun violence, ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, close the Florida Loophole, increase the penalty for illegally carrying a concealed weapon, and combat the straw purchases of illegal handguns. He also fought successful for funding to restore the Philadelphia Police Mounted Unit and worked closely with local officials and community leaders to improve the oversight of neighborhood nuisance bars.

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Larry is a passionate, outspoken supporter of equality and anti-discrimination legislation for all Pennsylvanians, and represented the Commonwealth's most diverse LGBT community in the Pennsylvania Senate. He was a member of the state’s LGBT Caucus, and sponsored and co-sponsored a number of pro-equality bills that would end bullying in schools and in our neighborhoods; prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and accommodations because of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression; expand the state’s hate crime laws; and exempt couples in domestic partnerships from paying inheritance taxes on the transfer of property after the death of one of the partners.

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In 2013, he was chosen as the Italian Museum of Philadelphia’s Italian-American of the Year and has become widely recognized as a defender of neighborhood associations thanks to his legislation protecting them against frivolous lawsuits.

In addition, Larry served as Democratic Caucus Secretary, and as a member of the Banking and Insurance, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and Rules and Executive Nominations committees, and was a champion for economic development for the City of Philadelphia in Harrisburg, bringing home millions of dollars to create jobs and support our City's cultural institutions.

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Larry earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Villanova University and graduated from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 1994. Larry currently serves on the board of Casa Farnese, the first affordable senior housing complex in Philadelphia that was founded in 1966 by his grandfather.

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Larry lives in Center City Philadelphia.