2017 Pennsylvania elections explained

Pennsylvania held statewide elections 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.[1]

Democrats selected McNeill's wife Jeanne McNeill as their nominee.[2] Republicans nominated David Molony and Libertarians nominated Samantha Dorney.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] Vazquez subsequently ran a write-in campaign, along with Green Party candidate Cheri Honkala.[7]

Following the special election, four elections officers were charged with interference after allegations of duress and voter intimidation were made.[8]

Justice of the Supreme Court

Election Name:2017 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:presidential
Ongoing:No
Previous Election:2015 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election
Previous Year:2015
Next Election:2021 Pennsylvania elections#Justice of the Supreme Court
Next Year:2021
Image1:3x4.svg
Nominee1:Sallie Mundy
Party1:Republican
Popular Vote1:1,090,485
Percentage1:52.3%
Nominee2:Dwayne Woodruff
Party2:Democratic
Popular Vote2:995,540
Percentage2:47.7%
Justice
Before Election:Sallie Mundy
Before Party:Republican
After Election:Sallie Mundy
After Party:Republican

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.[9] Justice Mundy ran for a full 10-year term.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Results

Judge of the Superior Court

Election Name:2017 Pennsylvania Superior Court election
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2015 Pennsylvania elections#Judge of the Superior Court
Previous Year:2015
Next Election:2019 Pennsylvania elections#Judge of the Superior Court
Next Year:2019
Seats For Election:4 seats of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Candidate1:Maria McLaughlin
Deborah Kunselman
Carolyn Nichols
Geoff Moulton
Party1:Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Last Election1:6
Seats1:3
Seat Change1: 1
Popular Vote1:3,991,975
Percentage1:52.16%
Party2:Pennsylvania Republican Party
Candidate2:Mary Murray
Craig Stedman
Emil Giordano
Wade Kagarise
Last Election2:9
Seats2:1
Seat Change2: 1
Popular Vote2:3,554,632
Percentage2:46.44%

Four seats of the Superior Court were up for election. Three seats were up for partisan election due to the retirement of Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen in September 2015 and the election of then-Judges Christine Donohue and David Wecht to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015. A fourth seat became vacant due to then–Judge Sallie Mundy's elevation to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in July 2016.

In 2016, Governor Tom Wolf appointed three judges to the Superior Court, Carl Solano, Lillian Harris Ransom, and Geoffrey Moulton.[12] The appointed judges filled the vacant seats of Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen, Justice Donohue, and Justice Wecht, respectively.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

Results

Third parties

Candidates

General election

Results

Judge of the Commonwealth Court

Election Name:2017 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court election
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2015 Pennsylvania elections#Judge of the Commonwealth Court
Previous Year:2015
Next Election:2021 Pennsylvania elections#Judge of the Commonwealth Court
Next Year:2021
Seats For Election:2 seats of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Candidate1:Ellen Ceisler
Irene Clark
Party1:Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Last Election1:7
Seats1:1
Popular Vote1:1,946,679
Percentage1:50.53%
Party2:Pennsylvania Republican Party
Candidate2:Christine Fizzano Cannon
Paul Lalley
Last Election2:2
Seats2:1
Popular Vote2:1,905,581
Percentage2:49.47%

Two seats were up for election. Judge Bernard McGinley retired from the court on January 31, 2016,[24] [25] and Judge Bonnie Brigace Leadbetter became a senior judge on January 31, 2016. Governor Tom Wolf appointed Joseph Cosgrove and Julia Hearthway to fill the vacant seats of Judge McGinley and Judge Leadbetter, respectively.[12] Incumbent Judge Joseph Cosgrove, a Democrat, ran for a full 10-year term, while Judge Julia Hearthway, a Republican, did not run for a full term, and vacated her seat on September 1, 2017.[26]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

Results

General election

Results

Judicial retention

Superior Court

Mayoral elections

Pittsburgh

See main article: 2017 Pittsburgh mayoral election.

Lancaster

See main article: 2017 Lancaster, Pennsylvania mayoral election.

Allentown

See main article: 2017 Allentown mayoral election.

Harrisburg

See main article: 2017 Harrisburg mayoral election.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Engelkemier. Paul. 2017-09-18. Turzai Sets Date for Special Election to Replace McNeill. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170922042925/http://www.politicspa.com:80/turzai-sets-date-for-special-election-to-replace-mcneill/84648/ . 2017-09-22 . 2021-01-15. PoliticsPA.
  2. Web site: Engelkemier. Paul. 2017-10-03. Pa. Dems Announce Candidate for 133rd House District Special Election. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171009072624/http://www.politicspa.com:80/pa-dems-announce-candidate-for-133rd-house-district-special-election/84831/ . 2017-10-09 . 2021-01-15. PoliticsPA.
  3. Web site: Engelkemier. Paul. 2017-12-06. McNeill Wins Husband's Seat in Special Election. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171216093110/http://www.politicspa.com:80/mcneill-wins-husbands-seat-in-special-election/85652/ . 2017-12-16 . 2021-01-15. PoliticsPA.
  4. Web site: Sasko. Claire. 2016-12-09. Convicted State Rep. Leslie Acosta to Resign. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220233525/http://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/12/19/leslie-acosta-resignation/ . 2016-12-20 . 2021-01-14. Philadelphia Magazine.
  5. Web site: Scolforo. Mark. 2017-02-24. Too few flushes get legislative candidate thrown off ballot. 2021-01-15. Associated Press.
  6. Web site: Engelkemier. Paul. 2017-03-13. HD-197: Supreme Court Keeps Democratic Candidate Off the Ballot. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313185509/http://www.politicspa.com/hd-197-supreme-court-keeps-democratic-candidate-off-the-ballot/82120/ . 2017-03-13 . 2021-01-15. PoliticsPA.
  7. Web site: Brennan. Chris. 2017-03-03. North Philly feud costs Democrats a shot at a state House seat. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190722192233/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/North-Philly-feud-costs-Democrats-a-shot-at-a-state-House-seat.html . 2019-07-22 . 2021-01-15. Philadelphia Inquirer. en-US.
  8. Web site: Engelkemier. Paul. 2017-10-30. Four Charged With Interference in the 197th House District Special Election. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171102035202/http://www.politicspa.com:80/four-charged-with-interference-in-the-197th-house-district-special-election/85179/ . 2017-11-02 . 2021-01-15. PoliticsPA.
  9. Web site: Sallie Updyke Mundy appointed to Pennsylvania Supreme Court . . June 28, 2016 . July 22, 2016 . Mendicino, Anthony.
  10. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . PA GOP Caucus Straw Poll Results . Politics PA . February 2, 2017.
  11. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Supreme Court Candidate: Dwayne Woodruff . Politics PA . February 15, 2017.
  12. Web site: Field . Nick . PA-Gov: Wolf Names Supreme Court, Other Judicial Nominees . Politics PA . June 14, 2016.
  13. Web site: Field . Nick . Caye Announces Superior Court Candidacy . Politics PA . January 9, 2017.
  14. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Philly Judge McLaughlin Enters Superior Court Race . Politics PA . February 8, 2017.
  15. Web site: Field . Nick . Trio of Superior Court Candidates Emerge . Politics PA . January 12, 2017.
  16. Web site: Stephan . Hope . Appointed Superior Court judge launches campaign for full term . . January 19, 2017.
  17. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Statewide Candidates Get on the Ballot . Politics PA . March 8, 2017.
  18. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Giordano endorsed by PA United Steelworkers . Politics PA . August 31, 2017.
  19. Web site: Ray . Phil . Kagarise seeking Superior Court post . . November 20, 2016.
  20. Web site: Miller . Brittany . Judge announces candidacy for Pa. Superior Court . . January 4, 2017.
  21. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Superior Court Candidate: Paula Patrick . Politics PA . March 7, 2017.
  22. Web site: Robinson . Wesley . DA Craig Stedman mulling run for state Superior Court . . January 12, 2017.
  23. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Third Party Candidate Enters Race for Superior Court . Politics PA . August 15, 2017.
  24. Web site: Subsequent Commissioned Judge Biographies - Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Historical Society . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201207160052/http://www.pacchs.org/subsequent_bios.html . 2020-12-07 .
  25. Web site: Kenneth Roberto v. PA State Police . . April 27, 2016.
  26. Web site: William J. Green IV v. Thomas W. Wolf . . December 4, 2017.
  27. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Barbin Jumps into Commonwealth Court Race . Politics PA . February 6, 2017.
  28. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Judicial Hopefuls Make Last Minute Pitch Before Dems Endorsement . Politics PA . February 10, 2017.
  29. Web site: Field . Nick . Ceisler to Seek Seat on Commonwealth Court . Politics PA . January 5, 2017.
  30. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Clark Tosses Hat into Commonwealth Court Race . Politics PA . February 8, 2017.
  31. Web site: Cosgrove seeking full term on Commonwealth Court . . May 6, 2017.
  32. Web site: Candidate Spotlight – Todd Eagen – Commonwealth Court . PA Dems. 15 May 2017 .
  33. Web site: Engelkemier . Paul . Delco Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon Jumps into GOP Commonwealth Court Race . Politics PA . January 27, 2017.
  34. Web site: Field . Nick . Lalley Enters Commonwealth Court Race . Politics PA . December 13, 2016.

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