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1h ago

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Balance on the Line as Three Justices Face Nov. 4 Retention Votes

Any vacancy would require a gubernatorial appointee to clear a two‑thirds vote in the Republican-run Senate.

FILE - A sign on a door at The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is pictured at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
A sign is posted in opposition to retaining Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices in the November election, in Berwyn, Pa., Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A sign is posted in support of retaining Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices in the November election, in Berwyn, Pa., Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Overview

  • Democratic Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht are on statewide retention ballots that will determine whether they serve new 10-year terms.
  • The court currently has a 5–2 Democratic majority, and failed retentions could lead to temporary appointments by Gov. Josh Shapiro that would need Senate confirmation, risking prolonged vacancies and even a 2–2 split until 2027.
  • As of Friday, more than 524,000 of roughly 1.1 million requested absentee ballots had been cast statewide, about 62% by Democrats and 26% by Republicans, according to the Associated Press.
  • The court’s prominence stems from recent rulings, including a 2020 decision allowing certain late-arriving ballots to count and a 2018 decision striking down the state’s congressional map.
  • Voters will also decide high-profile municipal contests, including Pittsburgh’s mayoral race between Corey O’Connor and Tony Moreno and Philadelphia’s district attorney race between Larry Krasner and Pat Dugan.