The novel year brings high stakes for policing and criminal justice across the commonwealth, as 18 counties will elect a district attorney and 32 will also hold sheriff elections.
Sheriffs and prosecutors play key roles in local criminal law systems and have wide discretion over many issues, from sentencing to terms of imprisonment. But criminal justice policy also relies on offices with broader powers, such as the state Supreme Court, and in 2025, three Democratic judges in Pennsylvania will seek votes to retain their seats.
After serving an initial 10-year term, lawyers seeking re-election do so through a “retention election” in which they are not affiliated with any political party. Retention is an apolitical method of re-electing Pennsylvania judges intended to maintain political neutrality by not requiring judges to engage in campaigns against other candidates.
Retaining judges is specifically intended to keep judges out of political quarrels while holding them accountable to voters based on their overall record and performance in office. The goal is to provide the public with a fair and impartial way to evaluate its judges.
In retention elections, judicial candidates do not participate in the spring primary elections. Their names do not appear on the ballot until the November general election. Voters are asked to vote “yes” or “no” on the re-election of each judge seeking retention. Candidates’ names appear in a separate place on the ballot from the names of candidates running for executive and legislative positions. No political affiliations were mentioned among the candidates who want to keep their position.
Judges Christine L. Donahue, Kevin M. Dougherty AND David N. Wecht are suitable for retention. The trio were elected in the 2015 local elections, with each receiving over 1 million votes.
Since 1968, when the state constitution was last updated, voters have rejected only one appellate judge’s bid for re-election in 2005. Former state Supreme Court justice Russell Nigro was not retained, largely due to voter frustration with state legislators voting to enhance their own and judges’ salaries.
If a judge loses the retention race, a special election is held to replace him in the next odd-numbered year (2027). The governor can appoint a replacement on an interim basis, but the selection must be approved by two-thirds of the state Senate.
District Attorney
The most high-profile criminal justice race in the commonwealth will take place in Philadelphia when surrounded by progressive Democrats Larry Krasner he is expected to seek re-election to a third term. It looks like at least one contender is entering the race Patrick Dugan. The longtime Philadelphia Municipal Court judge appears to have the support of politically influential construction unions.
Krasner’s criminal justice reform agenda has faced criticism throughout his term, including his impeachment in 2022 under the Republican-led Pennsylvania House.
Seventeen (17) other Pennsylvania counties will elect a district attorney: Armstrong, Blair, Bucks, Center, Elk, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lebanon, Potter, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Venango, Warren, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York.
While it’s still early in the process, it will be intriguing to see who can challenge the incumbents as 2023 has seen a lack of competition in most races, leading to many races where there was no opposition.
Sheriff
Thirty-two (32) counties will go to the polls to elect a sheriff, the chief law enforcement officer in the county: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Columbia, Cumberland, Delaware, Erie, Forest , Greene, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Perry, Pike, Schuykill, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango and Washington.
Other statewide elections this cycle include:
- Judge of the Supreme Court
- Judge of the Common Court
- Judge of the Common Court
- Municipal Court Judge (Philadelphia)
