Pennsylvania voters retain three state Supreme Court judges

Voters chose to retain all three state Supreme Court justices on the ballot in today’s general election.

The races, which sailed under the radar for much of 2025 before steaming up in recent weeks, quickly became regarded as one of the most pivotal political moments in the commonwealth since 2024. Since all three jurists are Democrats, these Supreme Court retention races decided whether the Democrats would maintain a 5-2 majority in Pennsylvania’s highest court.

“I’m a happy man,” Justice Kevin Dougherty told the Philly Download at his victory party. 

"I don't if you know this, but we won," Dougherty said in speech to a crowd of supporters. He referenced a popular quote from legendary poet Maya Angelou. "I now know better, and Pennsylvania gave me 10 more years to do better."

Dougherty also promised more reform. He said neurodivergent Pennsylvanians must have equal access to the courts and that "we have to stop using our prisons as de facto mental health institutions."

For reproductive justice advocates, Tuesday's results prolonged abortion access in Pennsylvania, which has long been fragile. Currently, there is no law in Pennsylvania outright banning abortion or upholding it as a right. 

Statewide courts have been key deciders on abortion access, amid challenges to abortion care nationwide. Last year, for example, the state Supreme Court sent a case back to the Commonwealth Court that could overturn the limitations for Medicaid coverage for abortion, currently only permitted in Pennsylvania in instances of incest or rape. 

“We shouldn’t have two separate health systems in our state: One for poor people and ones who have the means,” said Signe Espinoza, the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania’s PAC. Espinoza measures that abortion bans in other states will affect Pennsylvania’s access to abortion and vice versa.  

“We’re not just seeing a ban on abortion but right now what we’re seeing is Trump and his friends defunding Planned Parenthood and 200 offices across the country will close,” said Espinoza. 

For State Representative Morgan Cephas, the court races have been crucial.

“This court has been a stop gap for extremist Republicans,” State Representative Morgan Cephas told the Philly Download. “They have stood up to election deniers and protected our right to do what we want with our bodies and education.”

All three state Supreme Court justices were recommended by the non-partisan Pennsylvania’s Bar Association. Justice Kevin Dougherty is a South Philly native who graduated from Temple University before attending Antioch Law school in Washington D.C. Justice Christine Donohue is native to Carbon County, and spent 27 years of her career as civil trial lawyer and litigator. Justice David Wecht, Baltimore-born but Pittsburgh-raised, is a Yale Law grad who served as a judge in Allegheny County's Court of Common Pleas from 2003 to 2012. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.