2025 Pennsylvania elections

The 2025 Pennsylvania elections will take place on November 4, 2025 to hold judicial retention votes and fill numerous county, local and municipal offices. The necessary primary elections will be held on May 20, 2025. In addition, special elections for legislative vacancies could be held at various times in 2025.

Special elections

Pennsylvania Senate

36th district

State Senator Ryan Aument resigned effective December 31, 2024 to become state director for U.S. senator-elect Dave McCormick. ^[1] Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis has set the special election to replace Aument for March 25. ^[2] East Petersburg Mayor James Andrew Malone has received the Democratic Party nomination. ^[3] The Libertarian Party has nominated GIS analyst Zachary Moore. ^[4] The Republican Party has nominated Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons. ^[5]

2025 Pennsylvania Senate special election, District 36

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Josh Parsons
	Democratic	James Andrew Malone
	Libertarian	Zachary Moore
Total votes

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

35th district

State Representative Matt Gergely died on January 19, 2025. ^[6] A special election to fill his seat will take place on March 25. ^[7] The Allegheny County Republican Party has nominated White Oak council member Charles Davis. ^[8] The Democratic Party has nominated police officer Daniel E. Goughnour. ^[9] The Libertarian Party has nominated Adam Kitta. ^[10]

2025 Pennsylvania House of Representatives special election, District 35

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Daniel E. Goughnour
	Republican	Charles Davis
	Libertarian	Adam Kitta
Total votes

Judge of the Superior Court

2025 Pennsylvania Superior Court election

←  2023 November 4, 2025 2027 →

Judge before election Vacant Elected Judge TBD

There is one vacancy on the Superior Court, due to Justice Dan McCaffery's election to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2023.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Brandon Neuman, Judge of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas ^[11]

Endorsements

Brandon Neuman

Political parties

• Pennsylvania Democratic Party ^[12]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brandon Neuman
Total votes

Republican primary

Candidates

• Maria Battista, nominee for Superior Court in 2023 ^[13]
• Ann Marie Wheatcraft, president judge of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas ^[12]

Endorsements

Ann Marie Wheatcraft

Political parties

• Pennsylvania Republican Party ^[12]

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Maria Battista
	Republican	Ann Marie Wheatcraft
Total votes

Judge of the Commonwealth Court

2025 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court election

←  2023 November 4, 2025 2027 →

Judge before election Vacant Elected Judge TBD

One seat is up for election, after Judge Ellen Ceisler retired in December 2024.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Stella Tsai, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas ^[14]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stella Tsai
Total votes

Republican primary

Candidates

• Matthew Wolford, environmental attorney ^[15]
• Joshua Prince, gun rights attorney, candidate in 2023 ^[16]

Endorsements

Joshua Prince

Organizations

• Gun Owners of America ^[17]

Matthew Wolford

Political parties

• Pennsylvania Republican Party ^[12]

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joshua Prince
	Republican	Matthew Wolford
Total votes

Judicial retention

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht are due for retention votes. ^[18] These elections are expected to be much more heavily contested than previous judicial retention elections. All three justices up for retention are Democrats, and Republicans are targeting them in an attempt to regain control of the court. ^[19]

Justice Christine Donohue (D) retention, 2025

Choice	Votes	%
Result not yet known
Total votes	—	100.00

Justice Kevin Dougherty (D) retention, 2025

Choice	Votes	%
Result not yet known
Total votes	—	100.00

Justice David Wecht (D) retention, 2025

Choice	Votes	%
Result not yet known
Total votes	—	100.00

Superior Court

Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Alice B. Dubow is due for a retention vote. ^[18]

Judge Alice Dubow (D) retention, 2025

Choice	Votes	%
Result not yet known
Total votes	—	100.00

Commonwealth Court

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Michael H. Wojcik is due for a retention vote. ^[18]

Judge Michael Wojcik (D) retention, 2025

Choice	Votes	%
Result not yet known
Total votes	—	100.00

Municipal elections

Luzerne County

Main article: Luzerne County Council elections § 2025 county council election

Philadelphia

District Attorney

Democratic primary

Declared

• Patrick Dugan, former Philadelphia Municipal Court judge and candidate for Pennsylvania Superior Court in 2023 ^[20]
• Larry Krasner, incumbent Philadelphia District Attorney (2018-present) ^[21]

Endorsements

Patrick Dugan

Labor unions

• Philadelphia Building Trades and Construction Council ^[22]
• Teamsters ^[21]
• Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters ^[21]

Larry Krasner

State legislators

• Anthony Williams, state senator from the 8th district (1999-present) ^[23]

Local officials

• Kenyatta Johnson, president of the Philadelphia City Council (2024-present), member from the 2nd district (2012-present) ^[23]

Declined to endorse

Parties

• Philadelphia Democratic Party ^[22]

Pittsburgh

Main article: 2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election

Allentown

Main article: 2025 Allentown mayoral election

Harrisburg

Main article: 2025 Harrisburg mayoral election

References

1. "Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons running for state Senate". WGAL-TV. December 26, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
2. Cole, John (January 8, 2024). "Campaigns & Elections Government & Politics Special Pa. Senate election to replace Aument set for March 25". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
3. Lindenmuth, Kaylee (January 18, 2025). "Democrats nominate East Petersburg mayor to run for 36th Senate seat". WHTM-TV. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
4. Lindenmuth, Kaylee (January 17, 2025). "Libertarian Party announces nomination for 36th Senate special election". WHTM-TV. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
5. White, Jaxon (January 25, 2025). "Republicans choose Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons to run in 36th Senate District special election". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
6. Riese, Tom (January 20, 2025). "Democratic state Rep. Matt Gergely dies, weeks after medical emergency". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
7. Hall, Peter (January 21, 2025). "Special election set March 25 for Rep. Matt Gergely's Allegheny County state House seat". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
8. Bohnel, Steve (February 1, 2025). "White Oak council member announces he's seeking former Rep. Matt Gergely's seat in state House". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
9. "Ballots set for special election to replace Matt Gergely in Pa. House". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
10. "UNOFFICIAL LIST OF CANDIDATES SPECIAL ELECTION REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 35th Legislative District Held March 25, 2025" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of State. February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
11. Jones, Mike (January 15, 2025). "Washington County judge running for state Superior Court". The Herald-Standard .
12. Rellahan, Mike (February 11, 2025). "Wheatcraft gets nod from Pa. GOP to seek seat on Superior Court". The Mercury. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
13. Battista, Maria (February 20, 2024). "I am running for Superior Court". Facebook. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
14. "Election 2025: PA Democratic Judicial Candidates Forum 01/10/25" (video). youtube.com. PCNTV. January 17, 2025.
15. "Prince Earns Third Consecutive Straw Poll Win at Central Caucus". PrinceforJustice. January 18, 2025.
16. "Thousands Rally Behind Joshua Prince for Republican Primary Ballot Nomination; Contest Announced". Prince for Justice. March 10, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
17. Finnell, Val (January 9, 2025). "GOA Endorses Josh Prince for Commonwealth Court". Gun Owners of America. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
18. "DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY TRACKING FOR 2025 INCUMBENT RETENTION JUDGES" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of State. January 3, 2024. p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
19. Levy, Marc; Bauer, Scott (January 26, 2025). "Battlegrounds Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are back in the spotlight with high-stakes court elections". AP News. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
20. Davis, Phil (January 15, 2025). "Former Philly judge announces run for district attorney, setting up likely Democratic primary challenge". WHYY-FM. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
21. Hurley, Amanda; Cole, Jeff (February 19, 2025). "Philly DA Larry Krasner launches re-election campaign for third term". Fox 29 Philadelphia. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
22. Orso, Anna (January 23, 2025). "Philadelphia's Democratic Party won't endorse in this year's DA race, snubbing Larry Krasner". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
23. Cerino, Marco (February 18, 2025). "Philly DA Krasner leans on record, anti-Trump rhetoric in campaign launch". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved February 28, 2025.