You’ve probably heard about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s retention vote. And how it will be one of the most watched races in the country.
Voting takes place on the back of the ballot.
The first page of the ballot includes two other statewide contests that will result in fresh judges being appointed to the Superior Courts and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In the seventh episode of our series previewing the 2025 general election, we focus on the vacancy on the nine-member Commonwealth Court – one of two intermediate appellate courts in the state – and focus on cases where state or local governments are involved.
The current composition of the Commonwealth Court consists of five justices elected as Republicans and three others as Democrats. While its decisions can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, the Commonwealth Court has issued landmark rulings. In 2023, he ruled that the state’s public education funding formula was unconstitutional, setting off an ongoing battle on Capitol Hill over how best to fund struggling school districts. Judges serve 10-year terms before they are eligible for retention.
Democrats are competing in the contest Stella Tsai against Republicans Matt Wolford.
Stella Tsai
Tsai is a first-generation American who was appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 2016. She won the election and stayed on as judge for 10 years the following year. Since then, she has worked in several departments, presiding over cases involving medical malpractice, election challenges, child welfare, and trust and estate disputes. AND
Party: Democratic
Domicile: Philadelphia
Education: J.D., University of Pennsylvania; BA in Political Science, Pennsylvania State University
Current profession: Judge of the Orphans’ Court Division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Related experience: A former private practice attorney who focused on regulatory compliance and land operate, a member of the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board, overseeing child welfare and social services cases at the City of Philadelphia Law School, and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Supporting/recommending people: “Highly Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, supported by several labor and education unions and Democratic Party leaders.
Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram
Fundraising (reported on 15/09/25):
Total collected: $249,835
Total spent: $209,677.19
Matt Wolford
Wolford has been running the law firm since 1999, after working in the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Environmental Protection. He currently works for private sector clients such as landowners seeking advice on oil and gas leasing and energy companies needing assistance with environmental compliance.
Party: Republican
Domicile: Erie County
Education: J.D., Temple University; B.A., English, Penn State University
Current profession: Individual practice in the private sector
Related experience: Deputy Attorney General for Environmental Crimes in the State AG’s Office, Regional Counsel for the State Department of Environmental Protection, and longtime individual specialist in environmental consulting and litigation.
Supporting/recommending people: “Highly Recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Wolford is supported by America’s gun owners, law enforcement groups, state GOP leaders and the conservative Latino AP.
Cufflinks: Website | Facebook
Fundraising (reported on 15/09/25):
Total collected: $317,563.15 and $208,134.99 in in-kind donations, most of which were in the form of advertisements provided by the state Republican Party.
Total spent: $270,464.89
