2015 Pennsylvania elections

Pennsylvania held statewide elections on November 3, 2015, to fill judicial positions (including three seats on the Supreme Court), to fill a vacancy in the Pennsylvania State Senate, to allow judicial retention votes, and to fill numerous county, local and municipal offices.

The necessary primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.

Justice of the Supreme Court
There were three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Justice Joan Orie Melvin resigned on May 1, 2013. Governor Tom Corbett nominated then-Superior Court Judge Correale Stevens as an interim appointee. Justice Stevens indicated he would run for a full term. The second vacancy was caused by the resignation of Justice Seamus McCaffery on October 27, 2014. The third vacancy was due to the mandatory retirement of Chief Justice Ronald Castille on December 31, 2014.

Judge Paul Panepinto, a registered Republican, of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, ran in the general election as an Independent candidate.

Candidates

 * Christine Donohue, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court
 * Kevin Dougherty, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
 * John H. Foradora, President Judge of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas
 * Anne E. Lazarus, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court
 * David Wecht, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court
 * Dwayne Woodruff, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Candidates

 * Cheryl Allen, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court
 * Ann Covey, Judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
 * Michael George, President Judge of the Adams County Court of Common Pleas
 * Judith Olson, Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court
 * Correale Stevens, incumbent Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
 * Rebecca L. Warren, Montour County district attorney

Withdrew

 * Renee Cohn Jubelirer, Judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court

Judge of the Superior Court
Judge Patricia Jenkins, opted to not run for re-election, after being initially appointed by Governor Tom Corbett to replace then-Judge Correale Stevens, who was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Candidates

 * Robert J. Colville, Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
 * Alice Dubow, Judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas

Candidates

 * Emil Giordano, Judge of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas

Judge of the Commonwealth Court
There was one vacancy to fill on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, due to the mandatory retirement of President Judge Dan Pellegrini.

Candidates

 * Todd Eagen, labor attorney
 * Michael Woljcik, former Allegheny County solicitor

Candidates

 * Paul Lalley, senior associate attorney at Campbell, Durant, Beatty, Palombo & Miller, Lalley firm

37th Senatorial District Special Election
There was one vacancy to fill in the Pennsylvania State Senate, in the 37th district, created by the resignation of Matthew H. Smith.