Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) is backing liberal justices in the high-stakes state Supreme Court elections.
In an ad that debuted Tuesday, Shapiro urged Pennsylvanians to vote to retain liberal Justices Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue, and David Wecht.
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“Here in Pennsylvania, the threats to our freedoms are very real,” Shapiro said, urging voters to vote to retain the three justices.
“They’ve proven we can count on them to protect a woman’s access to abortion and birth control — and stand up for all our freedoms,” he added. “Vote ‘yes’ for a Supreme Court that protects us.”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections are unique, as the three liberal justices face no opponents. If voted out, their seats will become vacant. If Republicans can oust the three, the state Supreme Court would be split 2-2 ideologically. The next Supreme Court race will be held in 2027.
Shapiro could appoint interim judges in the meantime, but his appointments would need approval from the state Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.
The odds are stacked against Republicans — retention votes are notoriously tilted in favor, with only one Supreme Court justice voted out in Pennsylvania history. Nevertheless, Republicans are confident they can pull it off.
“We’ve only seen one of these justices knocked out because of retention,” Pennsylvania GOP communications director James Markley told CNN. “So in November, when we knock off all three, it’ll be a pretty big deal.”
The election has drawn comparisons with the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court justice race, which drew national attention. Eugene DePasquale, the new chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, told the outlet that this race is much bigger.
“This is the most pivotal judicial retention in our state’s history,” DePasquale said. “For the people that thought the Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this year was important, this one is that on steroids.”
The state Supreme Court has the final say on matters of redistricting and voter integrity, short only of the U.S. Supreme Court. This means the state Supreme Court elections will shape the 2026 midterm elections, the 2028 presidential election, and, likewise, the political future of the country. The court’s liberal majority granted the Democrats victories on matters of mail-in deadlines, provisional ballots, and signature matching.
Despite the importance of the elections, attention is nowhere near that given to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, during which $100 million was poured into opposing campaigns. Though the total falls far short, Republicans and Democrats are pouring money into flyers, campaign ads, and get-out-the-vote efforts. The DNC announced a six-figure investment into the race at the end of September.
Spending figures aren’t public, but the liberal justices are backed by groups including Planned Parenthood and labor unions. Those against the justices include groups backed by billionaire Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvania’s wealthiest man. The removal campaign is focusing on messages that appeal to Democrats, such as defending democracy.
“This fall, you can defend democracy and force an election for a new Supreme Court,” one ad played in Philadelphia says.
CONSERVATIVES TURN TO PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT AFTER WISCONSIN LOSS
Republicans have focused on lamenting the 10-year Supreme Court terms, arguing it is harmful for democracy to have judges serve that long in a state court.
“Our chair has something he loves to say all the time: Saquon Barkley is possibly the best player in the NFL, and not even he gets a 10-year contract,” Markley told CNN.