Supreme Court (Retentions)
In PA, judges are subject to retention votes every 10 years. Retention elections are non-partisan. The below candidates are endorsed by the PA Democratic Party.
-Christine L. Donohue
Justice Christine Donohue (Seat 2) is running for retention for judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Educated at East Stroudsburg University and later Dunquesne University School of Law, she has been a defender of Pennsylvanian state law since 2008. She is running for retention in PA’s 2025 election.
She was raised with the belief that integrity and public service go hand in hand – recounting an impressionable time in her youth where her father found an envelope containing thousands of dollars while they were out walking and turning it in instead of keeping it.
Christine Donohue has dedicated her life to ensuring justice and fairness for all Pennsylvanians. She has worked tirelessly to make the judicial system more transparent and accessible, focusing on protecting the rights of the vulnerable and promoting ethical standards in the legal profession.
-Kevin Dougherty
Justice Kevin Dougherty (Seat 4) is running for retention for judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He has held this position since 2015. Before his service to the state of Pennsylvania, he served the city of Philadelphia as a judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas for 15 years. Dougherty completed his education at the Antioch School of Law in Washington DC and Temple University in Pennsylvania.
Kevin Dougherty believes that public service is a privilege, and with it comes great responsibility and he brings that attitude in whichever position he is serving. In Philadelphia, Kevin Dougherty has focused on ensuring that the judicial system is just, efficient, and responsive to the needs of Pennsylvanians. He has advocated for reforms that protect children and families and has worked to make the courts more accessible to all.
-David N. Wecht
Justice David N. Wecht (Seat 3) is a Pennsylvanian judge running for retention on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Justice Wecht has held his current justice position since 2015, and before that he served on the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. He is educated at Yale University.
Baltimore-born, but Pittsburgh-raised, Dave Wecht is a strong defender of Democratic freedoms for every citizen of Pennsylvania. Throughout his career he has upheld the Pennsylvania Constitution’s “free and equal elections” clause and helped prevent gerrymandering, he has supported public education access for all, protected women’s access to privacy and healthcare choices and has looked after the rights of Pennsylvania’s consumers. As a nominee for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, David Wecht continues to demonstrate his commitment to upholding the law and serving the people of Pennsylvania. His extensive experience and dedication to public service make him a strong candidate for re-election on the Supreme Court.
Superior Court (Retention)
-Alice B. Dubow
Justice Alice B. Dubow is a judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court (Seat 5). She has held this position since she was elected in 2015 and is running for retention in 2025.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Justice Dubow has focused her efforts on promoting judicial integrity, protecting individual rights, and advocating for reforms that enhance the efficiency and fairness of the courts. Before holding her position at the Superior Court, she was a judge in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
Since being nominated for the Pennsylvania Superior Court, Alice Dubow has demonstrated her unwavering commitment to upholding the law and serving the people of Pennsylvania. Alice B. Dubow's dedication to public service has been a guiding principle throughout her career and so she makes an excellent candidate for re-election on Pennsylvania’s Superior Court.
Superior Court (Election)
-Brandon Neuman
Judge Brandon Neuman is in his 8th year on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. He is running for a vacant seat on the PA Superior Court, which currently has a balance of 8 Democrats and 6 Republicans.
Before being elected to the bench, Judge Neuman served four terms in the PA House of Representatives. He focused on law and justice as an elected representative, authoring legislation to end the backlog on rape kits. He also served on multiple House Commissions and Committees for judicial affairs, crime and sentencing. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Judge Neuman was a trial lawyer handling complex civil litigation and representing nursing home victims of abuse and neglect.
Judge Neuman lives in Washington County with his wife Carrie, their four children and their two dogs.
Commonwealth Court (Retention)
-Michael Wojcik
https://retainjudgewojcik.com/
Justice Michael Wojcik is a judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (Seat 5). He was elected to office in 2015 and is up for retention this year.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Juniata College and a JD law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from law school, Wojcik worked in private practice where he rose up through the ranks to make partner. In 2000, Wojcik became a part-time solicitor in Allegheny County. In fact, he liked it so much that he served as a full-time solicitor from 2004-2012 and continues to serve as the solicitor for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
Michael Wojcik's dedication to public service and his extensive experience in both the public and private spheres make him an exemplary candidate for the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
Commonwealth Court (Election)
-Stella Tsai
Judge Tsai currently serves on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. She has had this role since 2016 and is now running for a vacant seat on the Commonwealth Court (currently majority Republican, 5-3).
Judge Tsai is a first generation American born in Harrisburg to parents who came to the country for political and personal freedom. This gave her a deep respect for democracy and rule of law.
Starting her career as a litigator, Judge Tsai has significant experience before trial and appellate courts. She counts safeguarding of voting, civil and immigrant rights among her lifelong interests. She was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas in 2016, where she has presided over cases ranging from contested wills to medical malpractice. She believes in courts that operate with the highest level of accountability.
Welcome to the Pennsylvanians Abroad
State Team of Democrats Abroad!
We’re so glad you’re here!
Join our communities on Facebook (Pennsylvanians Abroad) and Instagram (@democratsabroadpa) or email us directly at [email protected].
Our votes from abroad can be the margin of victory in local, statewide and federal elections. The state & local elections of 2025 have so much at stake: the rule of law, voting rights, women’s health and reproductive rights, gerrymandering, LGBTQ+ equality, and more. Read on to find out how you can make a difference!
Get Involved
There are many opportunities to have an impact! Even if you don’t have a lot of time to spare - every little bit helps. From voter outreach and assistance to event planning and support, it’s certainly a year-round-job to defend overseas voters’ right to vote and to ensure that every overseas voter that wants to can vote in their respective elections. For those Federal overseas voters who may be bummed this year because they may not be able to vote in State/Local elections: don’t worry, Federal elections roll around again before you can realize it. And we need your help now more than ever preparing for it!
As a team we advocate for improved overseas voting procedures, provide specialized voter assistance to Pennsylvanians living abroad, run a study abroad outreach program, plan events with PA elected officials and candidates, and provide communications updates on issues back home. We are here as a one-stop shop to support overseas Pennsylvania voters and share ways to maximize impact on creating a better future for the Keystone state and the country.