1 upset stands out in mostly predictable Pennsylvania state, local judicial races

Battista had unsuccessfully run for the court before in 2023, gaining just 24% of the vote in the general election. This year, she picked up 54% of the primary vote.

Battista currently works for Judge Government Services, a consulting firm, and has previously served as assistant general counsel in both the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and State under administrations of both Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolf.

The Superior Court is a second appellate court and handles the vast majority of appeals arising from criminal and civil cases.

Battista will now face off against the lone Democratic candidate, Brandon P. Neuman, currently a judge on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas who served four terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He also earned a “highly recommended” rating from the bar association.

Municipal Court

In the Democratic primary election for Philadelphia Municipal Court, Amanda Davidson, Sherrie Cohen and Cortez Patton will move forward to the general election, after taking the top three spots in a five-way race. Davidson was the sole candidate rated “recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association and was endorsed by the Philadelphia Democratic Party and Working Families Party.

The Temple University law graduate is currently a trial attorney at Fine, Staud and Levy, where she represents clients in cases involving workplace injuries, car accidents and slip-and-falls. No Republicans ran for their party’s nomination.

Court of Common Pleas

Voters were instructed to select up to nine candidates for the Democratic nomination to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, out of a total of 10 who were on the ballot. Democrats chose Will Braveman, Irina Ehrlich, Larry Farnese, Kia Ghee, Sarah Jones, Leon A. King II, Brian Kisielewski, Anthony Stefanski and Deborah Watson-Stokes.

In a statement, the Philadelphia Bar Association was quick to note that all nine were “recommended” by its Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention.

“For the fourth election in a row, only judicial candidates for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas rated ‘recommended’” by the bar “won positions on November’s general election ballot,” the association announced.

No Republicans ran for their party’s nomination.