Overview
- Voters decide Nov. 4 whether Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht receive new 10-year terms on a court now 5–2 Democratic.
- The court’s future could influence election rules, congressional maps and abortion access, drawing heavy outside spending estimated from millions to tens of millions, including dark-money efforts.
- Any loss would let Gov. Josh Shapiro name a temporary replacement subject to the Republican-controlled Senate’s two-thirds threshold, raising the prospect of a prolonged 2–2 split until 2027.
- Early mail voting skews Democratic as both parties flood the airwaves and target undecided voters through ads and field programs.
- Retention defeats are uncommon in Pennsylvania, and voters will also decide high-profile races for Pittsburgh mayor and Philadelphia district attorney.