The retention election could change the party balance of the Commonwealth’s Supreme Court.
In November, three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices will be up for retention on voters’ ballots. Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht, all Democrats, will appear on the ballot where voters can decide whether to retain them or oust them.
Should they lose their seats, a partisan race will take place to elect new justices.
The court currently has five liberal justices and two conservative. Should two or three of the justices fail to be retained in the upcoming election this November, the balance of the court could change.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has announced a six-figure investment in the retention elections.
The money will be sent to Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness, according to DLCC spokesperson Samantha Paisley. The group conducts voter education initiatives for certain candidates, such as the Democratic justices up for retention in November.
“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… We’re proud to announce our six-figure investment today as we work to protect hard-won progress and defend the majority of this court,” said DLCC president Heather Williams.
Redistricting is at stake following the 2030 census, when Pennsylvania will redraw its state and congressional legislative maps.
In the past, the Supreme Court has become involved in redistricting. In 2018, it issued a landmark opinion saying a partisan gerrymander had taken place. In 2022, it allowed Democratic plaintiffs to redraw maps when the General Assembly and the governor could not agree on maps.
With three Democratic justices up for retention, the future balance of the court could change and influence redistricting in the Commonwealth following the next census.
