In miniature, this is one of the most closely watched contests in the country in the 2025 election cycle. Will the three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices remain on the bench for another 10 years? Yes or no.
In the Commonwealth, judges at every statewide level – supreme, senior and commonwealth – must appear before voters every 10 years for retention. Only once in state history has a statewide judge lost his or her vote to retain his or her position – a Supreme Court justice Russell Nigro in 2005.
For Democrats Christina Donohue, Kevin DoughertyAND David Wechtthe challenge of gaining another 10-year term on the state’s highest court may be the most complex any serving justice has faced.
The trio were elected to the Court in 2015 and make up three-fifths of the 5-2 Democratic majority. It should be noted that all three were elected Democrats, but the ballot states maintained no party affiliation next to their name.
Over the past decade, Donohue, Dougherty and Wecht have overseen and intervened in congressional redistricting and Wecht; allowed consideration of a case questioning the state system of financing education; sustained mediation efforts on Covid-19; and supported state voting laws against a number of conservative challenges, most notably those related to Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign.
And conservatives are trying to make the most of their opportunity to retaliate.
Spending in the race is heading north of the $15 million threshold, including $2 million from Pennsylvania’s richest man, Jeffrey Yass. In response, Democrats outstripped GOP interests by a nearly 4-to-1 margin in an attempt to blunt Republican fliers and ads.
President Donald Trump he even called for a vote, telling Pennsylvanians that they “can restore the rule of law and stand up for the Constitution” by voting “NO, NO, NO” on “Liberal Justices Donohue, Doughertym and Wecht.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also spoke out, saying that “we have an opportunity to stand up for our fundamental freedoms by voting YES to retain Supreme Court justices.”
Turnout in local elections is not expected to be high. While nearly 7 in 10 Pennsylvanians have cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election, only 25% to 30% are expected to do the same in an election that won’t have as much spice.
This is one of the problems all three face during the arrest process.
The second concern is that campaigning may be complex for judges seeking retention because Code of judicial conduct establishes strict rules about what they can do to maintain their impartiality. While they are allowed to talk about their approach to the law, they are not allowed to discuss specific cases before them or say definitively how they ruled on a given case.
Finally, the issue of judicial retention is on the back of 67 county ballots, and election officials note that voters have a habit of not turning over the ballot to see “page 2.”
“Local elections such as this year are important because during them voters choose local officials who make decisions that affect their daily lives,” he added. Commonwealth Secretary Al Schmidt he said.
Christina Donohue
A Schuylkill County native who came to Pittsburgh for law school, Donohue may be best known as the author of the book a 2024 decision suggesting that the state constitution could guarantee the right to abortionand that the state’s Medicaid program would have to cover the entire procedure. (The case has now returned to the lower court). While winning a retention case typically entitles a judge to a 10-year term, Donohue will have to step down in 2027, when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Domicile: Allegheny County
Education: B.A., East Stroudsburg University, J.D., University School of Law
Current profession: Judge of the Supreme Court
Related Experience: Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, member and chairman of the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, judge of the Court of Judicial Discipline, lawyer in private practice for 27 years
Supporting/recommending people: Recommended for retention by the State Bar Association and supported by trial lawyer groups, labor unions and an array of progressive and democratic leaders and organizations.
Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | Blue
Fundraising (reported on 20/10/25):
Total collected: $798,722.13 (plus $1,111,672.05 in donated media purchases and other support from Vote Yes for Fair and Independent Courts, an employee retention group supported by trial attorneys, labor unions and other supporters)
Total spent: $628,879.61
Kevin Dougherty
Of the three judges on the stand, Dougherty is the only one from outside Allegheny County and the only one who was the first not to serve on the appellate court, coming to the Supreme Court straight from the Court of Common Pleas. He has long demonstrated interest in the relationship between the criminal justice system and behavioral health issues, and notable recent decisions include a case in which upheld a homeowner’s right to post anti-racist signs directed at a neighbor. Opponents of his detention tried to take advantage of the legal difficulties of his brother, a former leader of the powerful Philadelphia Union, convicted of bribery and embezzlement.
Domicile: Philadelphia County
Education: B.A. Temple University, J.D. Antioch School of Law
Current profession: Judge of the Supreme Court
Related Experience: A former Assistant District Attorney and Common Pleas Judge in Philadelphia County, where he served as a Supervisory and Administrative Judge in the Family and Trial Divisions. He also worked in private practice.
Supporting/recommending people: Recommended for retention by the State Bar Association and supported by trial lawyer groups, labor unions and an array of progressive and democratic leaders and organizations.
Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | Blue
Fundraising (reported on 20/10/25):
Total collected: $2,249,282.86 (plus $1,482,761.74 in donated utility purchases and other support from the Electrical Workers Union, the state Democratic Party and Vote Yes for Fair and Independent Courts, a pro-worker retention group supported by trial attorneys, unions and other supporters)
Total spent: $1,783,937.51
David Wecht
Wecht was once best known as the son of the Allegheny County coroner and chief medical examiner Dr. Cyril H. Wechtwhose statements regarding the death of figures such as John F. Kennedy granted national fame. But after rising to the position of county politician, Wecht carved out his own reputation on the state’s highest court. While Wecht is known for his ability to write fierce dissents, he also falsified several landmark majority decisions, including the decision upholding the city Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave Law.
Domicile: Allegheny County
Education: B.A. Yale College, J.D. Yale School of Law
Current profession: State Supreme Court Justice
Related Experience: He previously served as a Superior Court judge and as a judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Previously elected as Recorder of Wills and Clerk of the Allegheny County Orphans’ Court. A former law partner and associate in private practice, he has held a number of teaching positions in higher education.
Supporting/recommending people: Recommended for retention by the State Bar Association and supported by trial lawyer groups, labor unions and an array of progressive and democratic leaders and organizations.
Cufflinks: Website | Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | Blue
Fundraising (reported on 20/10/25):
Total collected: $1,135,165.63 (plus $650.11 previously raised and (plus $1,436,404.92 in media purchases in the form of donations and other support from the state Democratic Party and Vote Yes for Fair and Independent Courts, a group advocating for keeping people on the job, supported by trial attorneys, labor unions and other supporters)
Total spent: $600,058.17
Behind the fireside chat for voting
