Elections were held in Pennsylvania on November 7, 2017, to fill judicial positions on the Supreme Court, Superior Court, and the Commonwealth Court, to allow judicial retention votes, and to fill numerous county, local and municipal offices.
The necessary primary elections were held in May 2017.
Special elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
133rd legislative district A special election for the 133rd legislative district took place on December 5, following the death of Democratic state representative Daniel McNeill.
Democrats selected McNeill's wife Jeanne McNeill as their nominee. Republicans nominated David Molony and Libertarians nominated Samantha Dorney.
197th legislative district Democratic state representative Leslie Acosta was re-elected during the 2016 elections, but later resigned after pleading guilty to charges of embezzlement. A special election for the 197th legislative district took place on March 21.
Republicans nominated Lucinda Little for the seat. Democrats originally nominated health clinic administrator Frederick Ramirez, but a Commonwealth Court ruling declared that Ramirez did not reside in the district and removed him from the ballot. Democrats attempted to replace Ramirez with Philadelphia Parking Authority auditor Emilio Vazquez, but the Court ruled (and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania confirmed) that the filing deadline had passed, preventing the substitution. Vazquez subsequently ran a write-in campaign, along with Green Party candidate Cheri Honkala.
Following the special election, four elections officers were charged with interference after allegations of duress and voter intimidation were made.
Justice of the Supreme Court
One seat was up for election after Justice Michael Eakin resigned on March 15, 2016. Republican Superior Court judge Sallie Updyke Mundy was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the seat vacated by Justice Eakin and was subsequently confirmed on June 27, 2016. Justice Mundy ran for a full 10-year term.
Republican primary Candidates Sallie Mundy, incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Dwayne Woodruff, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback
Results
General election Results
Judge of the Superior Court
Four seats of the Superior Court were up for election. A seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen in September 2015. Governor Wolf appointed Republican Carl Solano as the interim appointee. Solano did not run for a full term. Seat vacated by the elevation of Judge Christine Donohue to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015. Lillian Ransom, a Democrat, was appointed by Governor Wolf to fill the seat through the election. Ransom indicated she would not run for a full term. Third vacancy created by the elevation Judge David Wecht after being elected, along with Judge Donohue, to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015. Democrat Geoffrey Moulton was appointed by Governor Wolf to fill the seat, and ran for a full term. A fourth seat became vacant due to then–Judge Sallie Mundy's appointment to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in July 2016. The seat remained vacant through the election.
Democratic primary Candidates William Caye, Allegheny County prosecutor Deborah Kunselman, Judge of the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas Maria McLaughlin, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Carolyn Nichols, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr., incumbent Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Withdrawn Albert Flora Jr., criminal defense attorney Lillian Harris Ransom, incumbent Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Results
Republican primary Candidates Emil Giordano, Judge of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas Wade Kagarise, Judge of the Blair County Court of Common Pleas Mary Murray, Judge of the Allegheny County Magisterial District Court Paula Patrick, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Craig Stedman, Lancaster County district attorney
Withdrawn Carl Solano, incumbent Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Results
Third parties Candidates Jules Mermelstein (Green), attorney and former Upper Dublin Township commissioner (1992–2011)
General election Results
Judge of the Commonwealth Court
Two seats were up for election.
Judge Bernard McGinley retired from the court on January 31, 2016. Governor Wolf appointed Democrat Joseph Grove to fill the vacancy, who ran for a full term. Judge Bonnie Brigace Leadbetter became a senior judge on January 31, 2016. Julia Hearthway was appointed to fill the vacant seat. Judge Hearthway, a Republican, did not run for a full term, and vacated her seat on September 1, 2017.
Democratic primary Candidates Bryan Barbin, state representative W. Timothy Barry, municipal solicitor Ellen Ceisler, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Irene McLaughlin Clark, former Judge of the Pittsburgh Municipal Court Joseph Cosgrove, incumbent Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Todd Eagen, managing partner, Welby, Stoltenberg, Cimballa & Cook, LLC Results
Republican primary Candidates Christine Fizzano Cannon, Judge of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, former Delaware County commissioner (2007–2011) Paul Lalley, senior associate, Campbell Durrant, P.C
Declined Julia Hearthway, incumbent Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Results
General election Results
Judicial retention
Supreme Court
Superior Court
Mayoral elections
Pittsburgh
Lancaster
Allentown
Harrisburg
Ballot questions
References