A good night to be a Democrat in the Keystone State

The polls for the 2025 municipal election are closed and the initial vote count has been released. Military/overseas and provisional ballots are yet to be counted, but winners have been proclaimed and concessions have been made.

And yes, it was a good night to be wearing blue.

PA Supreme Court retention

The question was “Yes” or “No.” 

“Yes” turned out to be the correct answer. 

Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht received another 10-year appointment to the state’s highest court in one of the nation’s most-closely watched contests. The trio all pulled in more than 60 percent of the vote to earn retention to the court in a contest that Democrats state and nationwide celebrated.

“Tonight, folks across our Commonwealth sent a resounding message by voting to retain all three Supreme Court Justices who will continue to defend the rule of law, safeguard our elections, and protect our constitutional rights,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro in a statement. “Here in the birthplace of democracy, the good people of Pennsylvania will always stand for freedom.”

Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair Eugene DePasquale said, “On the first election night of the new era of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, the voters of our Commonwealth delivered a resounding message by standing up for our freedoms and rejecting Trump’s chaos.

“In the face of wealthy special interests pushing rampant misinformation and a dangerous agenda, Pennsylvania voters retained all three Supreme Court justices – protecting our freedoms and rejecting MAGA billionaires’ efforts to buy the Court.

“Tonight was a major step in building a Pennsylvania Democratic Party that can win back voters that have been left behind and who are ready to elect leaders who will work every day to get stuff done for them. With the leadership of Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, the party is committed to building on this momentum and winning all across Pennsylvania in 2026.”

PA Superior Court

Democrat Brandon Neuman defeated Republican Maria Battista, 55.3% – 42.7%. The Washington County Court of Common Pleas judge was also a member of the state House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017. Justice Alice Beck Dubow also won her retention vote with 62%.

PA Commonwealth Court

Democrat Stella Tsai defeated Republican Matt Wolford, 56.1% to 43.9%, to close the GOP majority on the nine-member body to 5-4. Justice Michael H. Wojcik won his retention vote with 62%.

Pittsburgh mayoral

Democrat Corey O’Connor easily defeated Republican Tony Moreno, 85.2% to 12.6%. The Allegheny County Controller is the son of late Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O’Connor.

Philadelphia district attorney

Incumbent Democrat Larry Krasner easily defeated Patrick Dugan, 74.8% to 25.1%, to earn his third term in office.

Other mayoral contests

Democrats swept the five biggest mayoral races in the Commonwealth.

• Allentown (Matt Tuerk d. Ed Zucal, 72-28%)
• Erie (Daria Devlin d. Matthew Thomas, 75-24%)
• Harrisburg (Wanda Williams d. Dan Miller, 57-42%)
• Lancaster (Jaime Arroyo d. Tony Dastra, 84-11%)
• Scranton (Paige Cognetti (57%) d. Trish Beynon, (21.1%) and Gene Barrett (20.9%))

County executive contests

A good night for Democrats in three county executive races. 

• Erie (Christina Vogel d. Brenton Davis, 62-38%)
• Lehigh (Josh Siegel d. Roger MacLean, 61-39%)
• Northampton (Tara Zrinski d. Tom Giovanni, 59-41%)

Steve Ulrich is managing editor of Politics PA where this article originally appeared.