Retention or Removal? How a Quiet Judicial Election Could Reshape Pennsylvania

What’s usually a low-profile election in Pennsylvania is drawing national attention this year, with the potential to transform the state’s legal landscape. On Nov. 4, three Democratic justices on the state Supreme Court—Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht—face retention votes that could influence rulings on abortion, redistricting and voting rights for years to come. Democrats currently hold a 5-2 majority, but Republicans see an opening: If even one justice is voted out, the balance could shift, setting up a new partisan election in 2027.

To help voters navigate the election, the nonpartisan group guides.vote has released a comprehensive ‘cheat sheet’ breaking down the justices’ records and leanings on key issues (also recapped below).

Kadida Kenner, CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project and voting rights activist, warned about recent attempts to steer court rulings for political ends. “It’s really important to ensure that our congressional districts and those maps are not gerrymandered politically or racially,” she told WHYY News. “And it’ll be the state courts to determine whether or not people have access to abortion in the Commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania is one of just eight states that elects Supreme Court justices through partisan elections. In contrast, 33 states and Washington, D.C., use merit-based selection for at least some of their judicial nominations, designed to evaluate judges on their qualifications rather than party affiliation or how they may vote in the future. These systems aim to insulate the judiciary from political influence.



https://msmagazine.com/2025/09/22/pennsylvania-supreme-court-election-christine-donohue-kevin-dougherty-david-wecht/