2003 Pennsylvania elections

Elections were held in Pennsylvania on November 4, 2003. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2003. ^[1]

2003 Pennsylvania elections

←  2002 November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) 2004  →

Justice of the Supreme Court

2003 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election

←  2001 November 4, 2003 2007  →

Candidate Max Baer Joan Orie Melvin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,284,846 1,192,952 Percentage 51.85% 48.15%

County results Baer:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Melvin:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Elected Justice Max Baer Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Cheryl Allen, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
• Max Baer, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
• James M. DeLeon, Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court
• John W. Herron
• James Murray Lynn, Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Results

Primary results by county

  Baer

•   20%–30%
•   30%–40%
•   40%–50%
•   50%–60%
•   60%–70%

  Allen

•   30%–40%
•   40%–50%

  Herron

•   20%–30%

  DeLeon

•   30%–40%

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Max Baer	349,920	46.93
	Democratic	Cheryl Allen	181,118	24.29
	Democratic	John W. Herron	88,515	11.87
	Democratic	James M. DeLeon	79,578	10.67
	Democratic	James Murray Lynn	46,504	6.24
Total votes			745,635	100.00

Republican primary

Candidate

• Joan Orie Melvin, Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joan Orie Melvin	581,909	100.00
Total votes			581,909	100.00

General election

Results

Pennsylvania Justice of the Supreme Court Election, 2003 ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Max Baer	1,284,846	51.85
	Republican	Joan Orie Melvin	1,192,952	48.15
Total votes			2,477,798	100.00

Judge of the Superior Court

2003 Pennsylvania Superior Court election

←  2001 November 4, 2003 2007  →
3 seats of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Majority party Minority party   Candidate Seamus McCaffery Jack A. Panella John Driscoll Susan Gantman Grainger Bowman Palmer Dolbin Party Democratic Republican Seats won 2 1 Popular vote 3,407,826 3,121,708 Percentage 52.19% 47.81%
County results Democrat:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Republican:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mark I. Bernstein
• Robert S. Blasi
• John J. Driscoll
• William Manfredi
• Seamus McCaffery, Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court
• Jack A. Panella, Judge of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas
• Claude A. Lord Shields

Results

Democratic primary results (vote for 3) ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack A. Panella	317,213	20.32
	Democratic	John J. Driscoll	309,432	19.82
	Democratic	Seamus McCaffery	272,572	17.46
	Democratic	Claude A. Lord Shields	181,879	11.65
	Democratic	Mark I. Bernstein	179,871	11.52
	Democratic	William Manfredi	160,030	10.25
	Democratic	Robert S. Blasi	140,190	8.98
Total votes			1,561,187	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Grainger Bowman
• Palmer Dolbin
• Susan Gantman, lawyer at Cozen O'Connor
• Jacqueline Shogan

Results

Republican primary results (vote for 3) ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Grainger Bowman	437,853	27.65
	Republican	Susan Gantman	434,025	27.40
	Republican	Palmer Dolbin	368,910	23.29
	Republican	Jacqueline Shogan	343,000	21.66
Total votes			1,583,788	100.00

General election

Results

Justice of the Superior Court election, 2003 ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Seamus McCaffery	1,141,420	17.48
	Democratic	Jack A. Panella	1,140,891	17.47
	Republican	Susan Gantman	1,125,543	17.24
	Democratic	John Driscoll	1,125,515	17.24
	Republican	Grainger Bowman	1,017,132	15.58
	Republican	Palmer Dolbin	979,033	14.99
Total votes			6,529,534	100.00

Ballot questions

Amending The Right Of Persons Accused Of A Crime To Meet The Witnesses Against Them Face To Face

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,239,356	68.20
No	578,031	31.81
Total votes	1,817,387	100.00
Source: PA Department of State

Amendment results by county

Yes:

•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

Authorizing The General Assembly To Enact Laws Regarding The Way That Children May Testify In Criminal Proceedings

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,494,261	80.57
No	360,283	19.43
Total votes	1,854,544	100.00
Source: PA Department of State

Referendum results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%

References

1. Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information Archived 2008-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
2. "2003 Municipal Primary - Official Returns". Pennsylvania Department of State . Retrieved June 11, 2025.
3. "2003 Municipal Election - Official Returns". Pennsylvania Department of State . Retrieved June 11, 2025.