Pennsylvania is among a handful of states that hold partisan elections for judicial seats. But after a judge is elected to the bench, the partisanship is meant to stop. That’s why, in November’s election,

Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to retain three Democratic Supreme Court justices in November as Republicans target the court's controversial COVID-19 and election decisions.

On Nov. 4, Philadelphia voters will weigh in on a so far sleepy race for district attorney, a contest for city controller, and judicial races in the state’s Superior and Commonwealth Courts, as well as Philadelphia’s Common Pleas Court and Municipal Courts.

On Nov. 4, Pennsylvania voters will choose who they want to lead the local governments that most closely impact their daily lives.

In order for Republicans to flip the court, they need voters to unseat at least two of the three justices ahead of the next court election in 2027.

Not only is Pennsylvania a critical swing state, it has also found itself at the center of high-stakes election litigation. In 2020, for example, the state's high court extended the mail-in ballot deadline, allowing thousands more ballots to be counted in that year's presidential race.

For most of us, accustomed to elections as being a contest between candidates from opposing political parties, the notion of a retention election seems odd, almost foreign. So the idea that there are a number of Pennsylvania judges, both in the appellate courts and lower courts up for retention might need some explanation.

She played FLOTUS on "The West Wing" and won hearts in "Grease," now Stockard Channing is doing the voiceover for a new ad campaign for Pa. Democrats, urging voters to vote yes on judicial retention ballot measure.

House Republicans are hoping to drum up support for a bill that would pressure the Department of State to cooperate with a lawsuit from the federal Department of Justice over a request for voter information.

But this year, the spotlight is shining brightly on the most consequential of these races, which will determine whether three justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will remain on the bench. While these judicial retention votes usually attract little public interest,