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2015 Pennsylvania elections

Pennsylvania held statewide elections on November 3, 2015, to fill judicial positions (including three seats on the Supreme Court), to fill a vacancy in the Pennsylvania State Senate, to allow judicial retention votes, and to fill numerous county, local and municipal offices.

The necessary primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.

Justice of the Supreme Court

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2015 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election
 
← 2009 November 3, 2015 2017 →
3 seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
4 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
     
Candidate Kevin Dougherty
David Wecht
Christine Donohue 		Judith F. Olson
Michael George
Anne Covey
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 3 4
Seats before 2 2
Seats won 3 0
Seats after 5 2
Seat change   3  
Popular vote 3,237,329[a] 2,502,380[a]
Percentage 55.0% 42.5%
 
County results:

Democrats:      <50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%

Republicans:      <50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%
Main article: Pennsylvania Supreme Court election, 2015

There were three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Justice Joan Orie Melvin resigned on May 1, 2013. Governor Tom Corbett nominated then-Superior Court Judge Correale Stevens as an interim appointee.[1] Justice Stevens indicated he would run for a full term.[2] The second vacancy was caused by the resignation of Justice Seamus McCaffery on October 27, 2014. The third vacancy was due to the mandatory retirement of Chief Justice Ronald Castille on December 31, 2014.[3]

Judge Paul Panepinto, a registered Republican, of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, ran in the general election as an Independent candidate.[4]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results (vote for 3)[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Wecht 379,819 22.02%
Democratic Kevin Dougherty 368,629 21.37%
Democratic Christine Donohue 368,247 21.35%
Democratic Anne Lazarus 289,726 16.79%
Democratic Dwayne Woodruff 200,193 11.60%
Democratic John H. Foradora 118,561 6.87%
Total votes 1,725,175 100.0%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Withdrew
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  • Renee Cohn Jubelirer, Judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court[17]

Results

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Republican primary results (vote for 3)[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Judith Olson 303,735 22.00%
Republican Michael George 302,778 21.93%
Republican Anne Covey 285,007 20.64%
Republican Cheryl Allen 183,273 13.27%
Republican Rebecca L. Warren 159,450 11.55%
Republican Correale Stevens (incumbent) 146,528 10.61%
Total votes 1,380,771 100.0%

General election

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2015 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election (vote for 3)[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin Dougherty 1,088,716 18.50%
Democratic David Wecht 1,079,452 18.34%
Democratic Christine Donohue 1,069,161 18.17%
Republican Judith Olson 895,741 15.22%
Republican Michael George 803,748 13.66%
Republican Anne Covey 802,891 13.64%
Independent Paul Panepinto[b] 145,190 2.47%
Total votes 5,884,899 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican
Democratic gain from Republican
Democratic hold

Judge of the Superior Court

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2015 Pennsylvania Superior Court election
 
← 2013 November 3, 2015 2017 →
     
Nominee Alice B. Dubow Emil Giordano
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,058,753 933,691
Percentage 53.1% 46.9%
Judge before election

Patricia Jenkins
Republican

Elected Judge

Alice Dubow
Democratic

Judge Patricia Jenkins, opted to not run for re-election, after being initially appointed by Governor Tom Corbett to replace then-Judge Correale Stevens, who was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.[19]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alice Dubow 389,282 58.75%
Democratic Robert J. Colville 273,346 41.25%
Total votes 662,628 100.0%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Emil Giordano 464,178 100.0%
Total votes 464,178 100.0%

General election

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Results

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2015 Pennsylvania Superior Court election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alice Dubow 1,058,753 53.14%
Republican Emil Giordano 933,691 46.86%
Total votes 1,992,444 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

Judge of the Commonwealth Court

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2015 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court election
 
← 2011 November 3, 2015 2017 →
     
Nominee Michael Wojcik Paul Lalley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,060,314 946,079
Percentage 52.8% 47.2%
Judge before election

Dan Pellegrini
Democratic

Elected Judge

Michael Wojcik
Democratic

There was one vacancy to fill on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, due to the mandatory retirement of President Judge Dan Pellegrini.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wojcik 331,601 53.35%
Democratic R. Todd Eagen 290,008 46.65%
Total votes 621,609 100.0%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Paul Lalley, senior associate attorney at Campbell, Durant, Beatty, Palombo & Miller, Lalley firm[23]

Results

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Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Lalley 475,657 100.0%
Total votes 475,657 100.0%

General election

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Results

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2015 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court election[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Wojcik 1,060,314 52.85%
Republican Paul Lalley 946,079 47.15%
Total votes 2,006,393 100.0%
Democratic hold

37th Senatorial District Special Election

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There was one vacancy to fill in the Pennsylvania State Senate, in the 37th district, created by the resignation of Matthew H. Smith.

Pennsylvania Senate, District 37 special election, 2015[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Guy Reschenthaler 30,565 55.1
Democratic Heather Arnet 24,888 44.9
Total votes 55,453 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Voters selected up to three candidates, so vote totals are inflated.
  2. ^ Appeared on ballot under the "Independent Judicial Alliance" party designation.

References

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  1. ^ "6/28/13 - Executive Nominations - Report From Committee" (PDF). Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations - PA General Assembly Senate.
  2. ^ a b Jackson, Kent (January 28, 2015). "Stevens announces run for Supreme Court". The Citizens' Voice.
  3. ^ Becker Kane, Jenna. "The Pennsylvania 2015 State Supreme Court Election in Comparative Perspective". Temple University.
  4. ^ Brennan, Chris (July 31, 2015). "Paul Panepinto running as independent for high court". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. ^ Field, Nick (December 11, 2014). "Donohue Seeks Dem Endorsement for PA Supreme Court". Politics PA.
  6. ^ Field, Nick (February 17, 2015). "Dougherty Formally Announces Candidacy for Supreme Court". Politics PA.
  7. ^ Cassidy, Matt (March 3, 2015). "Judge Foradora Announces Supreme Court Candidacy". Politics PA.
  8. ^ Field, Nick (November 20, 2014). "Lazarus Announces Bid for PA Supreme Court Seat". Politics PA.
  9. ^ Daniels, Melissa (May 19, 2015). "Six judges nominated to vie for three seats on Pa. Supreme Court". Trib Live.
  10. ^ "Judges with Pittsburgh ties enter race for Pa. Supreme Court". Trib Live. November 24, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "2015 Municipal Primary". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  12. ^ Field, Nick (December 8, 2014). "Superior Court Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen Seeks Spot on PA Supreme Court". Politics PA.
  13. ^ "Supreme Court candidate Covey campaigns in Erie". Erie Times-News. April 17, 2015.
  14. ^ Field, Nick (January 14, 2015). "Michael George Joins Race for PA Supreme Court". Politics PA.
  15. ^ Beatty, Brigid (February 6, 2015). "Judicial candidate vows to restore faith in system". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  16. ^ "Warren expected PBA 'not-recommended' snub". The Danville News. January 29, 2015.
  17. ^ Fields, Nick (January 8, 2015). "Cohn Jubelirer Declares Candidacy for PA Supreme Court Seat". Politics PA.
  18. ^ a b c "2015 Municipal Election". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  19. ^ "Delco Judge Jenkins Nominated to Superior Court". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. November 20, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c Belculfine, Lexi (May 19, 2015). "Philadelphia judge beats Colville for Superior Court nomination". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  21. ^ Addy, Jason (May 11, 2015). "Eagen Cites Family History in First TV Ad (VIDEO)". Politics PA.
  22. ^ Fucci, Ryan (December 5, 2014). "Michael Wojcik Declares Candidacy for Judge of Commonwealth Court".
  23. ^ Strum, Lora (December 9, 2014). "Lalley Formally Announces Bid for Commonwealth Court". Politics PA.
  24. ^ "2015 General Election Results". Allegheny County Elections Division. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  25. ^ "2015 General Election". Washington County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
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