Pennsylvania

Pa. primary election 2025: What to know about this year’s judicial races, and who’s running

Published

10 months ago

May 13, 2025

Pa. primary election 2025: What to know about this year’s judicial races, and who’s running

What questions do you have about the 2025 elections? What major issues do you want candidates to address? Let us know.

While the intensity of the 2024 election cycle may be in the rearview mirror, the May 2025 primary election will give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to vote in judicial elections.

Judiciary elections traditionally don’t get the same attention as races for governor and federal offices, but these elections carry significant implications for the state’s legal landscape, affecting decisions on civil rights, criminal justice and the state’s authority.

Pennsylvania is also one of only eight states that determine the makeup of its courts through partisan races, whereas in most states, the governor appoints justices or they are determined through nonpartisan elections.

The Pennsylvania judiciary is structured into three main appellate courts: Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and Supreme Court.

Commonwealth Court

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court is unique among American courts as it handles disputes specifically involving government and regulatory matters. Its jurisdiction includes appeals from state agency decisions, cases regarding election law, and lawsuits against state and local governments.

The court has handed down significant rulings in recent years, including a 2023 decision finding Pennsylvania’s education funding system unconstitutional for failing to serve poorer school districts. Last year, the court ruled that mail-in ballots should not be disqualified for missing dates — a decision later overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. More recently, the court ruled that communications between state lawmakers and lobbyists could remain confidential, impacting transparency in government.

The court currently comprises five Republican judges and three Democratic judges, with one seat left open by the retirement of Democrat Ellen Ceisler. Two candidates — Matthew Wolford and Joshua Prince — are vying for the Republican nomination, for which the primary will be held on May 20. The winner will likely face off against Democrat Stella Tsai in November.

Matthew Wolford

Matthew Wolford is an environmental law specialist based in Erie, where he runs a solo practice focused on regulatory challenges, property rights disputes, and defending clients against government enforcement actions. His background includes serving as an attorney for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and as a deputy state attorney general overseeing environmental crimes. Wolford also worked as a special prosecutor for both the state attorney general’s office and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Wolford was endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party.

Joshua Prince

Joshua Prince is a Berks County-based attorney specializing in gun rights litigation who has sued Harrisburg and the state over gun restrictions. Prince previously ran for Commonwealth Court in 2023, although he was not successful. His campaign is endorsed by conservative Republican lawmakers including U.S. Representative Ryan McKenzie, county sheriffs, and gun rights groups, including Firearms Owners Against Crime. Prince initially withdrew after he failed to get the state party endorsement but later reentered the race.

Stella Tsai

Tsai currently serves on the Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas, where she has presided over criminal, civil, family and orphans’ court cases since her appointment in 2016. Tsai’s background includes a stint as chair of administrative law in Philadelphia’s law department, where she oversaw child welfare and social services attorneys from 2000 to 2003. She later became a business litigation partner at Archer & Greiner, focusing on regulatory compliance, land use, and ethics.

Tsai has a long history of advocacy for voting rights, immigrant rights and civil rights. She previously served as president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania and held various roles within the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee.

Superior Court

The 15-judge Pennsylvania Superior Court is the primary appellate court for most criminal and civil matters with recent decisions highlighting its impact on issues such as the validity of criminal convictions and labor and civil cases.

For example, the court recently upheld a conviction for attempted murder against a man who appealed his case on the grounds that he changed his mind before going through with it. In January, the court upheld a $7 million medical malpractice verdict in a suit in which a patient accused a medical provider of failing to timely diagnose his cancer.

The court has one open seat following Justice Dan McCaffery’s election to the Supreme Court in 2023. Candidates vying for the open seat include two Republicans, Maria Battista and Ann Marie Wheatcraft, who will compete in the primary on May 20. The winner will likely face off against Brandon Neuman, the only Democrat running.

Maria Battista

Battista was a court nominee in 2023. She has since worked for The Judge Group, a professional services agency. A native of Knox, Pennsylvania, Battista has served as an assistant district attorney in both Venango and Franklin counties, and has held counsel positions in the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and State and was a contract specialist with the U.S. Department of Defense.

In addition to her law degree from Ohio Northern University, she holds a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh. Battista’s campaign emphasizes her extensive experience in civil, criminal, and administrative law, and her commitment to an “efficient, accountable, and transparent” judiciary.

Ann Marie Wheatcraft

Wheatcraft is the president judge of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, on which she has served since 2012.

As a judge, Wheatcraft has presided over a variety of cases encompassing criminal, civil, family and dependency courts. She helped develop and supervise Chester County’s treatment courts, which address issues related to drug addiction, mental health, and veterans’ affairs. She also implemented the introduction of comfort dogs into courtrooms to help ease the stress of vulnerable participants, particularly children.

Before her judicial appointment, Wheatcraft served as Assistant District Attorney in Chester County for 10 years. She is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Trial Court Professionals and serves on its executive board. Her academic credentials include an undergraduate degree from Penn State University, and she received her law degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law.

Brandon Neuman

Neuman has served as a judge on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas since 2018, overseeing civil court proceedings as well as the county’s veteran’s specialty court. His judicial experience also includes presiding over criminal and family law cases, reflecting a broad understanding of the legal system.

In a notable 2024 ruling, Neuman ordered Washington County to notify voters if their mail ballots contained errors that could prevent them from being counted, a decision that was upheld by successive higher courts.

Before his tenure on the bench, Neuman represented Washington County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017. There he worked for passage of a 2015 law aimed at expediting the processing of rape kits, a response to a significant backlog that had hindered justice for survivors across the state.

Neuman’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a juris doctor from Duquesne University School of Law. Before entering public service, he practiced law in complex civil litigation and advocated for victims of nursing home neglect and abuse.

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Pennsylvania

3 dead in apparent murder-suicide spanning from Pennsylvania to Illinois, police say

Published

3 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

3 dead in apparent murder-suicide spanning from Pennsylvania to Illinois, police say

Madeline Bartos,

Jennifer Borrasso

Updated on: March 5, 2026 / 2:16 AM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

Two women are dead in Pennsylvania and a man is dead in Illinois after an apparent murder-suicide, police said on Wednesday.

According to a report from the Pennsylvania State Police, the investigation began in Hillside, Illinois, when police there were dispatched after a man reported two women dead in Jackson Township, Pennsylvania. Police said that when officers got to Hillside, about 15 miles west of Chicago, they found that the man had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

After identifying him, troopers said Hillside officers contacted police from Jackson Township to request a welfare check at the man’s home on Dior Drive, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Map shows distance from Hillside, Illinois, to Zelienople, Pennsylvania

KDKA

Police said officers used forced entry to get into the home and found two women dead from apparent gunshot wounds. It’s believed the two women were family members of the man who died by suicide in Illinois, investigators said.

Pennsylvania State Police said they’ve assumed control of the case and are “actively investigating” what happened surrounding the three deaths.

Police didn’t release any names, saying the process of formal identification and notification of next of kin hasn’t been completed. Sources told KDKA that the victims were a husband, wife and their daughter.

“At this time, investigators believe there is no ongoing threat to the public, and law enforcement is not searching for any additional individuals in connection with this incident,” police wrote in the public information release report. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation.”

State police didn’t release any other details on Wednesday but said more information will be made public when it’s available.

“My first reaction was shocked because this is such a close-knit neighborhood, and to think something that horrible could happen here is very tragic because they were such a good family,” neighbor Danielle Sporer said on Wednesday.

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Pennsylvania

Top Pennsylvania 2027 quarterback enrolls into Coatesville (Pa.)

Published

15 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Top Pennsylvania 2027 quarterback enrolls into Coatesville (Pa.)

One of the top 2027 Pennsylvania high school quarterbacks from the 2025 season has announced that he’s leaving for a new home.

Per an announcement by Class of 2027 signal caller Mikal Shank Jr., the quarterback has left Harrisburg (Pa.) and is now at Coatesville (Pa.) for his senior season. Shank Jr. last season started 14 games for the Cougars and is arguably one of the state’s top returning players behind center heading into the 2026 campaign.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Is Pennsylvania the most wrestling-centric state in the country? Does the Keystone State have the most talent? Or even the top talent? Is it harder to win a state title there than anywhere else?

These all are terrific questions, and the answers may vary depending on who you ask and where they’re from, much like our nation’s great pizza debate, where the answers will vary by region.

What we do know for sure, is that Pennsylvania is well-represented in the 2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings, but with the 2026 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships on the horizon, where do the competitors rank amongst their peers?

If you follow high school wrestling, you’ve probably already heard many of the names, whether it was at past PIAA events, national tournaments, international competition, college recruiting news or signings, etc.

Now, here they are listed by weight class in FloWrestling’s latest Pennsylvania-only rankings.

Among the most recognizable are Bishop McCort senior Bo Bassett (152 pounds), his brother and teammate Melvin Miller (172 pounds) and Adam Waters (189 pounds) from rival school Faith Christian Academy.

As you get ready to see who takes home the titles at the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships, set for March 5-7 at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, here’s a look at where everyone falls in the pecking order:

What Are The Weight Classes For High School Wrestling In Pennsylvania?

Boys: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
Girls: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA State Championships

As of Feb. 22, 2026

Boys

Girls

When Are The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-7, live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

The first girls wrestling champions in PIAA action were determined in 2024.

The road back to GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, began with regional competition across 12 sites (eight boys, four girls) in February (Feb. 20-21; Feb. 22; Feb. 27-28; Feb. 28)

Among the highlights at the 2025 event was Bassett winning his second individual PIAA state championship and helping Bishop McCort to a Class AA runner-up finish behind Faith Christian.

Read more: 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets

How To Watch The 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships

Live coverage of the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, click here for spectator and ticket information.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule & Brackets

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships:

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down:

All Times Eastern

Wednesday, March 4

4-7 p.m. – Media registration
4-7 p.m. – School registration (AA/Girls/AAA)
4-7 p.m. – Qualifying wrestlers’ workout (AA/Girls/AAA) (six mats)
6 p.m. – Officials’ meeting

Thursday, March 5 (Session 1)

7:30 a.m. – Media registration
7:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
7:30 a.m. – Late school registration (AA)
7:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
8 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
9 a.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AA), six mats (52/104 matches)
12:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (AA), six mats
12:30 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
12:30 p.m. – Late school registration (Girls)
12:45 p.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
1 p.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
2 p.m. – First round (Girls), six mats (104 matches)
3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
3 p.m. – Late school registration (AAA)
3:15 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
4:30 p.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AAA), six mats (52/104 matches)
8 p.m. – First-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)

Friday, March 6 (Session 2/Session 3)

6:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
6:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
7 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
8 a.m. – Quarterfinals (AA), three mats (52 matches)
8 a.m. – Second-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:15 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
10:30 a.m. – Third-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:30 a.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
11:45 a.m. – Quarterfinals (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
12:45 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
1 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinals (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
4:45 p.m. – Third-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
6:15 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
7 p.m. – Semifinals (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (26/26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Fourth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Third-round consolations (Girls), two mats (26 matches)

Saturday, March 7 (Session 4/Session 5)

8 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:15 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:45 a.m. – Skin condition check, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9 a.m. – Weigh-in, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9:30 a.m. – Fifth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9:30 a.m. – Fourth-round consolations (Girls), 2 mats (26 matches)
11:30 a.m. – Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (39/39/39 matches)
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
3:40 p.m. – Parade of Champions (AA/Girls/AAA)
4 p.m. – Championship Finals (AA/Girls/AAA), 1/1/1 mats (13/13/13 matches)

When Was The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships took place Feb. 6-7 at the 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and included 20 teams that survived the preliminary and first round of the tournament, which was held Feb. 3 at host schools across the state.

The advancing teams made their way to Johnstown for two more days of intense competition, with the 1st Summit Arena hosting the quarterfinals through the championship matches.

In Pennsylvania this year, there were 475 schools participating in boys wrestling.

They were divided into two classifications – 228 schools in AA and 247 schools in AAA – which are further split into 12 districts. Class AA is for schools with 1-308 male enrollees, and Class AAA wrestling includes schools with 309-9999 male students.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships Schedule & Brackets

Did You Know: PIAA Wrestling Has A Long History

The first state wrestling championships in Keystone State happened in 1938, while the girls were added to the action in 2024. The PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships debuted in 1999.

There are 14 four-time individual state champions in Pennsylvania. Another 30 have won three times.

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

FULL DUAL: Bishop McCort vs. Faith Christian | 2026 PIAA AA Team State Finals

Faith Christian has been dominant in team wrestling in Pennsylvania, and Bishop McCort keeps falling just short.

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform.

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.