Bernadette Comfort: Two judicial candidates who raise the bar
This November, Pennsylvania voters will have the opportunity to elect two judges to our state’s appellate courts. And if Republicans want to win, we need to show up for the May 20th primary as well.
Judicial elections are often overlooked, but they are critical. These are ten-year terms. The decisions made by these judges will impact Pennsylvania for years to come. That’s why we need to take the primary seriously.
Fortunately, there are two standout candidates on the Republican ballot this May: Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft for Superior Court and Matt Wolford for Commonwealth Court.
Judge Wheatcraft and Matt Wolford are the only statewide judicial candidates endorsed by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. Not only are they principled conservatives with long records of public service, but they’re also the only Republican candidates who have been rated “Highly Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
That’s not an easy rating to receive. The Bar Association doesn’t hand out gold stars to just anyone. The Bar is known for its rigorous standards. They base their evaluations on four key pillars: integrity, legal ability, temperament, and experience. That means both of our endorsed candidates have been vetted by nonpartisan legal professionals and recognized as top-tier candidates for the bench. It’s a clear, independent validation of the high standards both candidates bring to the race.
Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft has served as a Common Pleas judge in Chester County for over a decade, where she’s earned a reputation for fairness, humility, and unwavering respect for the Constitution. As a former prosecutor, she brings both legal expertise and real-world understanding to the courtroom. She’s worked with victims, law enforcement, families, and defendants, and she understands the stakes of every decision from the bench. Judge Wheatcraft knows what it takes to keep our communities safe and to protect our individual rights and freedoms.
Matt Wolford has dedicated his entire career to upholding the law and serving Pennsylvanians. As an attorney and former solicitor, he has handled some of the most complex cases across multiple areas of law, always with integrity and a commitment to fairness. He understands how decisions made in the courtroom affect the daily lives of Pennsylvanians, whether they are taxpayers, small business owners, or working families. His deep respect for the Constitution and his practical, common-sense judicial philosophy are exactly what we need on the Commonwealth Court.
These aren’t just polished resumes, they reflect real service, real values, and real results for the people of Pennsylvania. Judge Wheatcraft and Matt Wolford bring real experience, legal excellence, and judicial temperament that’s already been tested and proven. Their conservative principles aren’t campaign slogans; they are foundational to how they’ve served throughout their careers.
Let’s be clear: Republicans can’t afford to lose these races to liberal, activist judges. Our courts matter, now more than ever. Whether it’s protecting parental rights, standing up for law enforcement, ensuring election integrity, or guarding our constitutional freedoms, we need judges who will apply the law faithfully, not rewrite it from the bench.
They are the most qualified, the most respected, and the most electable Republicans in these races. Selecting qualified nominees at the May primary is the first step to putting conservative judges on the courts in November.
Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft and Matt Wolford offer exactly what Pennsylvanians should want in our courts: experience, integrity, and proven principles.
Bernadette “Bernie” Comfort is the Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. Bernie has nearly two decades of experience working to promote and elect Republican candidates throughout Pennsylvania.
