Pennsylvania voters approved the retention of three state Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, preserving Democrats’ 5-2 majority on the battleground state’s high court, according to NBC News projections.
Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht all won retention votes to remain on the bench, NBC News reported.
Dougherty and Wecht secured new 10-year terms, while Donohue will serve until 2027, when she reaches the state’s mandatory retirement age of 75.
Under Pennsylvania law, judges and justices must stand for retention every 10 years, facing a simple “yes” or “no” vote to continue serving.
Historically, few Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices have lost retention elections, but this year’s contests drew unusual attention given the state’s role in national politics and its upcoming 2026 and 2028 races.
Democrats and their allies spent heavily in the final weeks, pouring more than $13 million into TV advertising since October 1, compared to about $2.8 million spent by Republicans.
In one ad, the three justices appeared together, saying they “protected access to abortion and your right to vote, even when the powerful came after it.”
Governor Josh Shapiro, who faces re-election next year and is viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, appeared in a campaign ad supporting the justices.
Former President Barack Obama also urged Pennsylvanians to vote “yes” on retention, while President Donald Trump called on voters to “Vote ‘NO, NO, NO’ on Liberal Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht” in a Truth Social post on Sunday night.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has played a decisive role in major cases in recent years.
In 2018, the court struck down a Republican-drawn congressional map, and in 2022 it upheld the state’s mail-in voting law.
Last year, the Democratic majority overturned a precedent that upheld a ban on Medicaid coverage for abortions.
Had all three justices lost, the court would have been left deadlocked 2-2 through 2027, halting its ability to issue majority opinions and set statewide legal precedents.
“It would be disastrous,” Justice Wecht told NBC News ahead of the election.
After Tuesday’s results, Wecht said he celebrated quietly with his wife and daughter.
“I’m really honored that the people showed this confidence in me,” Wecht said. “I intend to serve the people with fidelity.”
In Minneapolis there was still no winner declared in the race for mayor of the city.
Mayor Jacob Frey struck a confident but cautious tone Tuesday night, telling supporters he was “well in the lead” after first-choice votes showed him ahead — though he stopped short of declaring victory.
State Sen. Omar Fateh, Frey’s main challenger, urged patience, reminding voters that the race isn’t over yet. Second-choice votes will be counted Wednesday to determine whether either candidate crosses the 50% threshold needed to win under the city’s ranked-choice voting system. If not, third-choice votes will come into play.
According to results from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, Frey secured roughly 42% of first-choice votes with all precincts reporting, giving him a 10-point edge over Fateh, who drew about 32% while campaigning on a more progressive platform for Minneapolis, the Sahan Journal reported.
“This city showed up once again,” Frey told supporters. “We got what appears to be record turnout, and I’ll tell you what — it looks damn good for us.”
Both Frey and Fateh are Democrats. Fateh initially received the endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, but the state organization later withdrew it after raising concerns about the endorsement process.
“Tonight, we stay patient,” Fateh told supporters at a watch party event. “We stay proud because this campaign has already changed the conversation for what Minneapolis can be.”
Fifteen candidates appeared on the ballot, though the race was widely viewed as a two-way contest between Frey and Fateh. Two other contenders — pastor DeWayne Davis and attorney Jazz Hampton — were considered long-shot challengers going into Election Day. According to unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, Davis received nearly 14% of first-choice votes, while Hampton garnered about 10%, the outlet reported.
