Some very big news today out of Pennsylvania:
With just weeks to go before the Nov. 2 election, and even as thousands of Pennsylvanians start casting their mail-in ballots, two of the major forces in progressive politics are reminding those voters — especially Democratic ones — of what’s at stake this campaign season.
In addition to voting for local school boards, township commissioners and borough councils, among other local offices, Keystone State voters also will be casting their ballots in county Courts of Common Pleas races, and in consequential elections for Pennsylvania’s three appellate courts.
It’s safe to say the results in these races are the canary in the coal mine for 2022, when Pennsylvanians will choose a replacement for retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who will be finishing up the constitutional maximum of two, four-year terms.
With an eye on that long game, both the Democratic National Committee and the political wing of Planned Parenthood are respectively out this week with six-figure campaigns to focus voters’ attention as they fill out their ballots at home or get ready to walk into the voting booth, the Capital-Star can exclusively report.
For Democrats, it’s hard to imagine two races that will command more immediate attention than next year’s fight for U.S. Senate and the Governor’s Office.
For the last seven years, Wolf, a former Planned Parenthood volunteer, has used his veto pen to block every piece of anti-abortion rights legislation that the Republican-controlled General Assembly has put on his desk. And emboldened by Texas’ deeply restrictive abortion law, Pennsylvania Republicans already are looking to the post-Wolf era.
Similarly, a Democratic win in the U.S. Senate is critical to Democrats’ preserving their slender majority in the upper chamber, and with it, control over future appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, where abortion rights are most definitely on the line.
But before those contests, Planned Parenthood wants voters to cast their ballots in this year’s appellate judicial races — the state Commonwealth, Superior, and Supreme Court — where the state-level battles over abortion rights will be waged.
High court justices elected as Democrats currently hold a 5-2 majority. And the open seat is currently held by a Republican, so the balance of power would not be materially affected by a potential GOP win in November. Even so, progressives aren’t leaving anything to chance.
In its new ads, put together in part by Rolling Lemon, a woman-owned, Harrisburg-based agency, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, the reproductive rights’ group’s political wing, hammers home the enormity of the judicial contests, as it tries to get “infrequent progressive voters” off the bench and into the polls.
The intent is to have them “make their voices heard in the 2021 election to protect abortion rights and reject judges supported by groups seeking Texas-style abortion bans,” the group said in a statement.
To do that, Planned Parenthood is featuring Kelsey Leigh, a Pittsburgh woman who had an abortion at 21 weeks when doctors discovered fetal abnormalities during a routine ultrasound that were not compatible with life. That year lawmakers were debating a 20-week ban that, if it were in place, would have forced Williams to bring her fetus to term, to horrific effect.
In the years since her experience, Leigh has emerged as a forceful voice for the abortion rights cause, and has lent her presence and retold her heartbreaking story on a number of occasions. She is a devastatingly effective messenger.
“Anti-abortion judges getting lifetime appointments to our highest courts is a long-term threat to the rights of all people in Pennsylvania to access the health care they need,” Signe Espinoza, the group’s executive director, said in a statement released to the Capital-Star. “Extremists seeking Texas-style abortion bans are currently backing judges on the ballot this year. Why? Because with Roe v. Wade under attack by [former President Donald] Trump’s Supreme Court, state courts could decide whether dangerous abortion bans like those moving through our legislature become law in Pennsylvania’s future.”
In its statement, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates said its six-figure campaign “will include digital advertising and direct mail to voters that support abortion rights but do not consistently vote in non-presidential elections.”
The campaign by the DNC similarly has its eye on the long game — but wants to start by getting voters motivated for next month’s municipal and statewide contests.
In a statement provided to the Capital-Star, the DNC said it’s pouring its energy and cash into mobilization efforts for races across the state, notably the race for Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where one seat is up for grabs, and four county-level races across the commonwealth.
The funds, the DNC said, come on top of preexisting efforts to help the state Democratic Party’s own organizing efforts, and also will “begin to build out crucial infrastructure in every corner of the state in advance of next year’s midterm elections,” the DNC said in its statement. The money also will pay for digital advertising to boost statewide turnout in these notoriously low-turnout contests.
Next month’s elections also will mark the first time the national party will put its expanded “I Will Vote” initiative to work in the Keystone State. It includes statewide analytics and polling look-up tools for voters.
In a statement, DNC Chairperson Jaime Harrison said the national party is “invested in ensuring help for Democrats to win in these crucial races. Pennsylvania Democrats have fielded a diverse and visionary group of candidates, and we’re excited to help them make history on November 2.” With that kind of mobilization and cash in play, this year might well be the year that these races finally shed the dread “off-year” election tag.
Here’s some info on Supreme Court Justice Maria McLaughlin (D. PA):
Maria McLaughlin (Democrat)
Bio: A West Philadelphia native who graduated from Penn State University and Delaware Law School at Widener University. Served on Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas and has experience in family law and children’s rights. Has been seated on Pennsylvania’s Superior Court since 2017. Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Voting rights: Endorsed by The Philadelphia Inquirer in part because of recent actions taken by Republicans in an attempt to gain access to Pennsylvania voters’ private information, including driver’s license and partial social security numbers. The paper’s editorial board says she is the better choice in protecting voters’ privacy rights.
Guns & criminal justice: The PA Working Families Party made their first-ever judicial endorsements this year, backing McLaughin with an emphasis on criminal justice reform. In 2021, wrote opinion denying appeal for a man seeking a shorter sentence after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a case where defendant’s 4-year-old stepdaughter accidentally shot herself with the defendant's gun.
Women’s rights: In a dissenting opinion, said a sexual assault conviction shouldn’t have been thrown out since accused recorded the “encounter with the victim in case there was any question of the voluntariness of the intercourse.” Endorsed by Planned Parenthood PAC.
Endorsements: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, U.S. Reps. Conor Lamb and Mike Doyle, Allegheny County Exec. Rich Fitzgerald, Steel City Stonewall Democrats, Clean Water Action, SEIU, United Mine Workers, AFL-CIO of PA, Teamsters, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, PA State Correctional Officers, PA National Organization for Women, etc.
It’s not just the Supreme Court that we need to get votes out for. Kudos for U.S. Senate candidate, Rep. Conor Lamb (D. PA-17) for this:
Democracy For America is also focused on helping Pennsylvania elect more Democratic judges:
Conservatives are focused on the long game and the nature of power.
It's why they're hellbent on packing the courts at all levels across the nation with judges that will reshape the legal system for generations to come.
Just look at Pennsylvania, with crucial judicial elections just 15 days away, multiple conservative groups like the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and the Fraternal Order of Police are rushing to get out the vote for far right-wing judges.
Make no mistake about it, these far-right judges will come after a woman’s right to choose, weaken our right to vote, and reinforce our broken criminal justice system that disproportionately targets people of color.
We must fight back to make sure that does not happen.
With just a little over two weeks to go until polls close, the most important contribution you can make right now is to join dozens of DFA members across the nation as we Text Out The Vote to Establish Justice. RSVP to text voters now!!
Can’t text with us? Will you consider pitching in just $5 or more to help DFA keep up the fight and fund our Establish Justice initiative?
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Since these judges oversee extremely important cases on election laws and voting rights, Republicans know that if they can control the judiciary in Pennsylvania, they can control an important swing state that will determine who has power in the Senate in 2022 and which party wins the presidency in 2024.
So, with Republicans putting a huge amount of time, energy, and resources into packing the courts and undermining our democracy, we cannot hold back as we work to GOTV in these crucial elections.
Sign up here to Text Out The Vote with DFA. We need all hands on deck to get folks out to vote.
If you can’t text with us, will you donate $20 or more to DFA now to help us reach 300 voters?
Thank you for everything you’re doing to win.
—Nelson
Nelson Pierce
Grassroots Powerbuilder
Democracy for America
Click here to RSVP.
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Speaking of fundraising and investments, here’s a look at who’s leading the pack in next year’s two biggest election in Pennsylvania. First, the U.S. Senate race:
John Fetterman’s campaign war chest is dwarfing the coffers of his opponents early in the race for U.S. Senate.
Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s Democratic lieutenant governor and former Braddock mayor, has outraised and outspent every other candidate in the crowded field vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, records show.
From Jan. 1 through mid-October, Fetterman raised nearly $9.3 million — at least triple and up to more than 10 times what more than two dozen fellow candidates have raked in thus far, according to forms filed with the Federal Election Commission.
“That’s a pretty significant difference,” said G. Terry Madonna, senior fellow-in-residence at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. “That puts pressure on the other candidates to raise more money.”
Fetterman’s campaign said the $2.7 million raised in the third quarter of the year came from more than 94,000 individuals — including 24,000 first-time donors. Nearly 70% of those donors were individuals who contributed less than $200, according to an analysis by OpenSecrets, a Washington-based nonprofit that tracks campaign finances and lobbying.
Fetterman has $4.2 million cash on hand even after spending $5.1 million, with less than seven months to go before the May 17 primary.
With $2.6 million in contributions, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, has raised the next largest amount among Democrats, followed by Montgomery County Commissioner Valerie Arkoosh ($2.1 million), Philadelphia state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta ($1.2 million), emergency room physician Dr. Kevin Baumlin ($580,000) and Philadelphia state Sen. Sharif Street ($366,000).
On the GOP side, Jeff Bartos, a Lower Merion real estate developer who vied unsuccessfully against Fetterman in the race for lieutenant governor in 2018, has raised a total of $2.8 million, records show. Trump-backed Sean Parnell, the Army Ranger and Fox News commentator of Cranberry who challenged Lamb for the House last year, picked up momentum in the third quarter and has raised a year-to-date total of $1.68 million. Parnell has nearly $1.1 million on hand, records show. Corporate finance professor and Fox news commentator Kathy Barnette has a total of $809,000.
Republican challenger Carla Sands has nearly $3.6 million in her campaign accounts and $3.2 million in cash — including loaning herself $3.1 million, the latest records show.
None of Fetterman’s campaign money comes from self-financing, according to the FEC records.
Second, the Governor race:
The lone Democratic candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, has just over $10 million on hand in his campaign account ahead of next year’s election, his campaign said.
Mr. Shapiro’s campaign finances have been a hot topic of speculation by insiders, given his reputation as a formidable fundraiser. The disclosures come three months before the Jan. 31 deadline for gubernatorial campaigns to report year-end finances to the state.
Mr. Shapiro, considered the likely Democratic nominee to succeed Gov. Tom Wolf, has raised a little over $9 million this year, his campaign said. It began the year with $2.7 million in the bank and has spent about $1.6 million, with no debts or loans, the campaign said.
The most cash a gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania has carried into an election year was $12.5 million by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell in 2006.
Democracy and Health are on the ballot this year (Pennsylvania Supreme Court Elections) and next year and we need to get ready to keep Pennsylvania Blue. Let’s help Shapiro give him an early momentum boost. Click below to donate and get involved with Shapiro and his fellow Pennsylvania Democrats campaigns and organizations:
Governor
Josh Shapiro for Governor
U.S. Senate
Conor Lamb
John Fetterman
Val Arkoosh
Malcolm Kenyatta
Pennsylvania Courts
Maria McLaughlin for Supreme Court
Timika Lane for Superior Court
David Spurgeon for Commonwealth Court
Lori Dumas for Commonwealth Court
Maraleen Shields for Court of Common Pleas Judge
Lt. Governor
Brian Sims for Lt. Governor
Mayor
Ed Gainey for Pittsburgh Mayor
District Attorney
Larry Krasner for Philadelphia District Attorney
Pennsylvania Organizations
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee
Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee
Fair Districts PA
Draw the Lines PA
Committee of Seventy
Congress:
Chris DeLuzio for Congress
Eugene DePasquale for Congress
Jerry Dickinson for Congress
Matt Cartwright
Susan Wild
Chrissy Houlahan
Madeleine Dean
Dwight Evans
Mike Doyle
Mary Gay Scanlon