DLCC announces six-figure investment in PA Supreme Court retention elections
How important is the upcoming retention vote on three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices?
Important enough that the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) will put its money behind a “yes” vote with a six-figure investment in the contests.
Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht are on the November ballot for retention to the Commonwealth’s highest court. A “yes” vote to retain each of member of the trio would keep a 5-2 liberal majority on the bench for the next ten years. A “no” vote on two or all three could possibly swing the direction of the court in future years.
An election for a replacement to serve a full ten-year term is then held in the next odd year, which means that if a judge isn’t retained this year, voters won’t pick a long-term replacement until 2027. The judges appointed as replacements traditionally don’t stand for full-term elections, though nothing actually prevents them from doing so.
The DLCC will send the money to Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness, a group created in 2023 with the goal of electing highly qualified candidates to statewide courts and to ensure voters have the necessary information to make an informed decision on the retention of Judges for these critical offices, DLCC spokesperson Samantha Paisley said.
A press release noted that if all three are successful, they will help secure the liberal majority on the court through the end of the decade and for redistricting in 2030. In addition to holding the power to rule on challenges to Pennsylvania’s congressional and legislative maps, the stakes are high for the future of voting and abortion rights.
Two years ago, the DLCC also made a six-figure investment to support Justice Daniel McCaffery’s successful bid.
“The DLCC is clear-eyed on the major implications that these Pennsylvania state supreme court races will have on Democratic legislators’ ability to deliver on their agenda in Harrisburg, as well as the redistricting process at the end of this decade,” said DLCC president Heather Williams. “Extremist Republicans have made it crystal clear they are willing to use the judiciary to keep themselves in power, and we will not stand back and allow them to undermine the voices of the voters in Pennsylvania or anywhere else. We’re proud to announce our six-figure investment today as we work to protect hard-won progress and defend the majority on this court.”
The Pennsylvania Bar Association, a nonpartisan trade group for lawyers that often evaluates judicial candidates’ qualifications, has recommended all three justices for new terms.
Steve Ulrich is the managing editor of PoliticsPA, where this article first appeared.
