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.
By Anna Orso, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 19, 2026, 3:45 p.m.
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.”
“I don’t care. You’re talking about me,” Boyer said. “It’s a free society.”
The two briefly argued over whether Krasner eats macaroni and cheese (he says he does) before City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. intervened 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?”
