Top progressive leaders are hailing Democratic candidate Larry Krasners Tuesday night victory in the Philadelphia primary for district attorney. The race drew national interest as part of a growing trend of reform-minded candidates overtaking tough-on-crime prosecutors in what had historically been safe seats.

Though Krasner is a heavy favorite come November, the Democratic National Committee plans to watch the general election race closely and help the Pennsylvania Democratic Party as needed, highlighting the contrast between Krasner and Republican opponent Beth Grossman.

On Wednesday, Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders congratulated Krasner and wished him luck in the general election.

At a time when Attorney General [Jeff] Sessions is pushing the Department of Justice to restart the failed War on Drugs, it is refreshing to see voters choose a prosecutor who wants to treat addiction as an illness, not a crime, and move to end mass incarceration, Sanders said. Krasners primary victory is an important step forward in the fight to reform a very broken criminal justice system.

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez, a former civil rights attorney, said in a statement there was no better person to lead Philadelphias DA office.

[Larry Krasner will] fight for a fair and smart criminal justice system that keeps Philadelphias communities safe, push for accountable policing, and oppose the Trump administrations attacks on Philadelphias immigrant communities, Perez said in a statement.

Krasner earned about 38 percent of the vote in the seven-candidate primary. Joe Khan, the closest challenger, earned just over 20 percent of the vote.