News

Vote on November 4!

By: Jim Willshier, Director of Government Affairs

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”  — Thomas Jefferson

Yes, every election matters so showing up matters! This fall we have local elections for mayors, county commissioners, local legislative bodies, and school board members. These offices make decisions every day that affect you and those decisions will be made by someone that could be your neighbor, a parent at your child’s school or the person behind you in the grocery store.

If that isn’t enough reason to vote, there serious decisions to make about high-ranking judges in our courts. Every voter will be asked if they want to retain three of the current democrat Supreme justices. The three Democratic justices up for a retention vote are also a linchpin for the Democrats’ 5-2 court majority (Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht). Each of them has been on the bench for 10 years and it is now time for voters to decide whether they should retain their seats or be retired from the bench.

These yes-or-no retention elections are important and very confusing. The takeaway for the next 10 years is if a majority vote “no” to retention, the court can be remolded.

Retention elections are not to be partisan, and neither are the decisions those judges make on the bench. So, when voters go to the polls, they should not see a party next to the name, unlike other offices. These elections also don’t involve an opposing candidate since it’s a yes/no choice.

If voters deny retention for all three justices, the court will not immediately flip or change in any way. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro can appoint a temporary replacement for any rejected justice, subject to confirmation by two-thirds of the Senate. Elections for a permanent replacement do not occur until 2027 and that will be for a full 10-year term.

Some of the issues which gained attention by this court that will factor into voters’ minds are:

  • The court’s decision during the 2020 election to allow counties to accept mail ballots postmarked by Election Day
  • Throwing out a legislative redistricting map in 2018, as they deemed it partisan gerrymandering, only to then put in place the court’s own legislative district map, which has at least equal criticism for gerrymandering; and
  • Decisions about the lockdown of businesses during COVID-19.

We also have judges on the ballot for our Commonwealth Court and Superior Court, bodies which make major decisions that affect daily life in the legal system.

Commonwealth Court judges to research are:

  • Stella Tsai (D) -Incumbent
  • Matthew Wolford (R)

Superior Court/Court of Common Pleas

  • Brandon Neuman (D) – Incumbent
  • Maria Battista (R)
  • Daniel Wassmer (Liberal Party)

Please research the backgrounds on all the seats and the candidates so you can make an informed decision in November. One independent news source with information on candidates is:  https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09/pennsylvania-election-2025-commonwealth-superior-court-candidates-elections/.

Plan to vote, tell others to do the same and register by October 20. This is your last chance for the next 10 years to have a voice in which judges could decide your potential legal fate. Register to vote!