Pennsylvania held statewide elections on November 7, 2017, to fill judicial positions on the Supreme Court , Superior Court , and the Commonwealth Court , to allow judicial retention votes , and to fill numerous county, local and municipal offices.
The necessary primary elections were held in May 2017.
Special elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
133rd legislative district A special election for the 133rd legislative district took place on December 5, following the death of Democratic state representative Daniel McNeill .[ 1]
Democrats selected McNeill's wife Jeanne McNeill as their nominee.[ 2] [ 3]
197th legislative district Democratic state representative Leslie Acosta was re-elected during the 2016 elections , but later resigned after pleading guilty to charges of embezzlement.[ 4] 197th legislative district took place on March 21.
Republicans nominated Lucinda Little for the seat. Democrats originally nominated health clinic administrator Frederick Ramirez, but a Commonwealth Court ruling declared that Ramirez did not reside in the district and removed him from the ballot.[ 5] Philadelphia Parking Authority auditor Emilio Vazquez , but the Court ruled (and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania confirmed) that the filing deadline had passed, preventing the substitution.[ 6] Green Party candidate Cheri Honkala .[ 7]
Following the special election, four elections officers were charged with interference after allegations of duress and voter intimidation were made.[ 8]
Justice of the Supreme Court 2017 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election
Mundy: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%Woodruff: 50–60% 60–70% 80–90%
One seat was up for election after Justice Michael Eakin resigned on March 15, 2016. Republican Superior Court judge Sallie Updyke Mundy was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the seat vacated by Justice Eakin and was subsequently confirmed on June 27, 2016.[ 9]
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Results
Judge of the Superior Court 2017 Pennsylvania Superior Court election
Majority party
Minority party
Candidate
Maria McLaughlin Deborah Kunselman Carolyn Nichols Mary Murray
Party
Democratic
Republican
Last election
6
9
Seats won
3
1
Seat change
Popular vote
3,991,975
3,554,632
Percentage
52.16%
46.44%
Four seats of the Superior Court were up for election. Three seats were up for partisan election due to the retirement of Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen in September 2015 and the election of then-Judges Christine Donohue and David Wecht to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015. A fourth seat became vacant due to then–Judge Sallie Mundy's elevation to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in July 2016.
In 2016, Governor Tom Wolf appointed three judges to the Superior Court, Carl Solano, Lillian Harris Ransom, and Geoffrey Moulton.[ 14]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Withdrawn Albert Flora Jr., criminal defense attorney[ 16]
Lillian Harris Ransom, incumbent Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania[ 16]
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Withdrawn Carl Solano, incumbent Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania[ 16]
Results
Third parties
Candidates
General election
Results
Judge of the Commonwealth Court 2017 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court election
Majority party
Minority party
Candidate
Ellen Ceisler Christine Fizzano Cannon
Party
Democratic
Republican
Last election
7
2
Seats won
1
1
Seat change
Popular vote
1,946,679
1,905,581
Percentage
50.53%
49.47%
Two seats were up for election. Judge Bernard McGinley retired from the court on January 31, 2016,[ 26] [ 27] Tom Wolf appointed Joseph Cosgrove and Julia Hearthway to fill the vacant seats of Judge McGinley and Judge Leadbetter, respectively.[ 14] [ 28]
Democratic primary
Candidates Bryan Barbin , state representative [ 29] W. Timothy Barry, municipal solicitor [ 30]
Ellen Ceisler, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas [ 31]
Irene McLaughlin Clark, former Judge of the Pittsburgh Municipal Court [ 32]
Joseph Cosgrove, incumbent Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania [ 33]
Todd Eagen, managing partner , Welby, Stoltenberg, Cimballa & Cook, LLC[ 34]
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Declined Julia Hearthway, incumbent Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania[ 33]
Results
General election
Results
Judicial retention
Supreme Court
Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor (R) Retention, 2017
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,074,905
68.25
No
500,162
31.75
Justice Debra Todd (D) Retention, 2017
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,121,007
70.83
No
461,751
29.17
Superior Court
Judge Jacqueline Shogan (R) Retention, 2017
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,073,774
69.31
No
475,429
30.69
Mayoral elections
Pittsburgh
Lancaster
Allentown
Harrisburg
Ballot questions
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Amending the Homestead Property Tax Assessment Exclusion
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
963,324
53.99
No
821,002
46.01
Amendment results by county 80–90%
70–80%
60–70%
50–60%
References
^ Engelkemier, Paul (September 18, 2017). "Turzai Sets Date for Special Election to Replace McNeill" . PoliticsPA . Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (October 3, 2017). "Pa. Dems Announce Candidate for 133rd House District Special Election" . PoliticsPA . Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (December 6, 2017). "McNeill Wins Husband's Seat in Special Election" . PoliticsPA . Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Sasko, Claire (December 9, 2016). "Convicted State Rep. Leslie Acosta to Resign" . Philadelphia Magazine . Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2021 . ^ Scolforo, Mark (February 24, 2017). "Too few flushes get legislative candidate thrown off ballot" . Associated Press . Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (March 13, 2017). "HD-197: Supreme Court Keeps Democratic Candidate Off the Ballot" . PoliticsPA . Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Brennan, Chris (March 3, 2017). "North Philly feud costs Democrats a shot at a state House seat" . Philadelphia Inquirer Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (October 30, 2017). "Four Charged With Interference in the 197th House District Special Election" . PoliticsPA . Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021 . ^ Mendicino, Anthony (June 28, 2016). "Sallie Updyke Mundy appointed to Pennsylvania Supreme Court" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved July 22, 2016 . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (February 2, 2017). "PA GOP Caucus Straw Poll Results" . Politics PA . ^ a b c d e f "2017 Municipal Primary Official Results" . Pennsylvania Department of State .^ Engelkemier, Paul (February 15, 2017). "Supreme Court Candidate: Dwayne Woodruff" . Politics PA . ^ a b c d e f "2017 Pennsylvania Elections - Summary Results" . Pennsylvania Department of State . November 7, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2021 .^ a b Field, Nick (June 14, 2016). "PA-Gov: Wolf Names Supreme Court, Other Judicial Nominees" . Politics PA . ^ Field, Nick (January 9, 2017). "Caye Announces Superior Court Candidacy" . Politics PA . ^ a b c d Engelkemier, Paul (March 8, 2017). "Statewide Candidates Get on the Ballot" . Politics PA . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (February 8, 2017). "Philly Judge McLaughlin Enters Superior Court Race" . Politics PA . ^ Field, Nick (January 12, 2017). "Trio of Superior Court Candidates Emerge" . Politics PA . ^ Stephan, Hope (January 19, 2017). "Appointed Superior Court judge launches campaign for full term" . The Patriot-News ^ Engelkemier, Paul (August 31, 2017). "Giordano endorsed by PA United Steelworkers" . Politics PA . ^ Ray, Phil (November 20, 2016). "Kagarise seeking Superior Court post" . Altoona Mirror ^ Miller, Brittany (January 4, 2017). "Judge announces candidacy for Pa. Superior Court" . The Patriot-News ^ Engelkemier, Paul (March 7, 2017). "Superior Court Candidate: Paula Patrick" . Politics PA . ^ Robinson, Wesley (January 12, 2017). "DA Craig Stedman mulling run for state Superior Court" . The Patriot-News ^ Engelkemier, Paul (August 15, 2017). "Third Party Candidate Enters Race for Superior Court" . Politics PA . ^ "Subsequent Commissioned Judge Biographies - Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Historical Society" . Archived from the original on December 7, 2020.^ "Kenneth Roberto v. PA State Police" (PDF) . Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ^ "William J. Green IV v. Thomas W. Wolf" (PDF) . Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ^ Engelkemier, Paul (February 6, 2017). "Barbin Jumps into Commonwealth Court Race" . Politics PA . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (February 10, 2017). "Judicial Hopefuls Make Last Minute Pitch Before Dems Endorsement" . Politics PA . ^ Field, Nick (January 5, 2017). "Ceisler to Seek Seat on Commonwealth Court" . Politics PA . ^ Engelkemier, Paul (February 8, 2017). "Clark Tosses Hat into Commonwealth Court Race" . Politics PA . ^ a b "Cosgrove seeking full term on Commonwealth Court" . Times Leader ^ "Candidate Spotlight – Todd Eagen – Commonwealth Court" . PA Dems ^ Engelkemier, Paul (January 27, 2017). "Delco Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon Jumps into GOP Commonwealth Court Race" . Politics PA . ^ Field, Nick (December 13, 2016). "Lalley Enters Commonwealth Court Race" . Politics PA .
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