2015 Pennsylvania elections
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elections were held in Pennsylvania 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.
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November 3, 2015
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The necessary primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.
Justice of the Supreme Court
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November 3, 2015
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3 seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 4 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.svg) County results: Democrats: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% >90% Republicans: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There were three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
- Justice Joan Orie Melvin resigned on May 1, 2013. Governor Tom Corbett nominated 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
Candidates
- Christine Donohue, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court[5]
- Kevin Dougherty, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas[6]
- John H. Foradora, President Judge of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas[7]
- Anne E. Lazarus, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court[8]
- David Wecht, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court[9]
- Dwayne Woodruff, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas[10]
Endorsements
Kevin Dougherty
Political parties
David Wecht
Political parties
Results
| 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
Candidates
- Cheryl Allen, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court[13]
- Ann Covey, Judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court[14]
- Michael George, President Judge of the Adams County Court of Common Pleas[15]
- Judith Olson, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court[16]
- Correale Stevens, incumbent Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court[2]
- Rebecca L. Warren, Montour County district attorney[17]
Withdrew
- Renee Cohn Jubelirer, Judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court[18]
Endorsements
Anne Covey
Political parties
Michael George
Political parties
Judy Olson
Political parties
Results
| 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
Endorsements
Christine Donohue (D)
Michael George (R)
Newspapers
Judy Olson (R)
David Wecht (D)
Results
| 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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November 3, 2015
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 County results Dubow: 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% Giordano: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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A seat was up for election due to the appointment of Judge Correale Stevens to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Governor Corbett appointed Patricia Jenkins to the vacancy through the 2015 election, who opted to not run for re-election.[25]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Robert J. Colville, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas[26]
- Alice Beck Dubow, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas[26]
Results
Dubow
- 50%–60%
- 60%–70%
- 70%–80%
- 80%–90%
Colville
- 50%–60%
- 60%–70%
- 70%–80%
- 80%–90%
| 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
Candidates
- Emil Giordano, Judge of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas[26]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Emil Giordano | 464,178 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 464,178 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| 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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November 3, 2015
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 County results Wojcik: 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% Lalley: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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There was one vacancy to fill on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, due to the mandatory retirement of President Judge Dan Pellegrini.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Todd Eagen, labor attorney[27]
- Michael Woljcik, former Allegheny County solicitor[28]
Results
Wojcik
- 50%–60%
- 60%–70%
- 70%–80%
- 80%–90%
Eagen
- 50%–60%
- 60%–70%
- 70%–80%
- 80%–90%
- 90%–100%
| 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
Candidates
- Paul Lalley, senior associate attorney at Campbell, Durant, Beatty, Palombo & Miller, Lalley firm[29]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Lalley | 475,657 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 475,657 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Results
| 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
There was one vacancy to fill in the Pennsylvania State Senate, in the 37th district, created by the resignation of Matthew H. Smith.
| 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 | ||||