November's judicial retention election is the most expensive in Pa. history
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Spending on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court retention election is breaking records. A new analysis estimates that candidates and outside groups have put $8 million into the race so far.
Judicial races for open seats in Pennsylvania have become more expensive over the last decade, but retention elections are a simple “yes” or “no” vote. There are no candidates, per se, just sitting judges seeking another 10-year term, and they normally have to do very little to win.
In 50 years of retention elections, only one Supreme Court justice has lost. That’s why the money being poured in by Citizens for Term Limits, associated with the conservative Commonwealth Partners, attracted attention.
The group launched a highly unusual campaign to urge a “no” vote on retention, with an advertisement that said, “This fall you can defend democracy and force an election for a new Supreme Court.”
https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/pa-supreme-court-2025-retention-election-spending-breaks-records