Midterm elections are typically banal affairs, featuring low turnout for typically uncontested races. 2015 was an exception to this rule, as many elections, including an unprecedented number of open seats for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, were hotly contested. Below are some highlights from those races.
• Democrats sweep state judicial positions: Democratic candidates for Supreme Court grabbed all three open seats. Judges Kevin Dougherty, of Philadelphia, and David Wecht and Christine Donaghue, of Allegheny County, won all three seats over their Republican opponents. This gives Democrats a 5-2 majority on the court. Democrats Alice Dubow and Mike Wojcik also won their state races for Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, respectively.
• Republicans get one more seat in the State Senate: Republican Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny & Washington) won the special election to replace Matthew Smith, who left to head the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.
• Kenney wins easily: To no one’s surprise, Jim Kenney won the Mayor of Philadelphia’s race with more than 85 percent of the vote.
• City Council gets a shakeup: At least four new members of Philadelphia City Council will take over the reins in 2016. Former State Rep. Cherelle Parker won the seat vacated by former Council member Marian Tasco. At-large seats were grabbed by Derek Green, Allan Domb, and Helen Gym. Some of the minority party seats will change as well, as incumbent Dennis O’Brien was narrowly defeated by David Oh and Al Taubenberger.
• Democrats sweep state judicial positions: Democratic candidates for Supreme Court grabbed all three open seats. Judges Kevin Dougherty, of Philadelphia, and David Wecht and Christine Donaghue, of Allegheny County, won all three seats over their Republican opponents. This gives Democrats a 5-2 majority on the court. Democrats Alice Dubow and Mike Wojcik also won their state races for Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, respectively.
• Republicans get one more seat in the State Senate: Republican Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny & Washington) won the special election to replace Matthew Smith, who left to head the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.
• Kenney wins easily: To no one’s surprise, Jim Kenney won the Mayor of Philadelphia’s race with more than 85 percent of the vote.
• City Council gets a shakeup: At least four new members of Philadelphia City Council will take over the reins in 2016. Former State Rep. Cherelle Parker won the seat vacated by former Council member Marian Tasco. At-large seats were grabbed by Derek Green, Allan Domb, and Helen Gym. Some of the minority party seats will change as well, as incumbent Dennis O’Brien was narrowly defeated by David Oh and Al Taubenberger.
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