Elections to choose new state and local representatives are approaching. On November 7th, citizens will vote for candidates seeking a position on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or a mandate in the Mayor’s Office of Philadelphia and the City Council.
In the case of Philadelphia, citizens will also have the opportunity to elect the city controller, register of wills, sheriff, municipal commissioners, and judges. Among the judges, representatives for judicial offices throughout the state will be elected, with 10 for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and two for the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Political positions are not the only thing citizens will choose on the ballot. They will also encounter a question that they must answer, which is related to creating an Office for People with Disabilities.
Mayor’s Office of Philadelphia
For the Mayor’s Office of Philadelphia, the two competing candidates are:
- Cherelle Parker (Democrat)
Parker represented the ninth district, encompassing the northwest and northeast neighborhoods, in the city council for two terms. If elected, she would be the first female mayor of the city. Her campaign focuses on revitalizing middle-class neighborhoods, education, creating economic opportunities, cleanliness, sustainability, and security.
- David Oh (Republican)
Oh served for three terms as an At-Large member of the city council and was the first Asian American in the institution. In the event of becoming the first Republican to hold the city’s highest office in 70 years, his priorities include safety, investing in public schools and jobs, economic prosperity, fiscal responsibility, and tax reform.
Philadelphia City Council
In theory, all 10 district seats on the council are up for election, but eight candidates are running unopposed.
- District 1: Mark Squilla, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 2: Kenyatta Johnson, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 3: Jamie Gauthier, Democrat, and Jabari Jones, West is Best.
- District 4: Curtis Jones, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 5: Jeffery Young, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 6: Mike Driscoll, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 7: Quetcy Lozada, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 8: Cindy Bass, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 9: Anthony Phillips, Democrat. Uncontested race.
- District 10: Gary Masino, Democrat, and Brian O’Neill, Republican.
Additionally, the seven at-large council seats are up for election. Citizens can vote for only 5, as two will go to a non-majority party.
At-Large Democrats
- Isaiah Thomas.
- Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
- Rue Landau.
- Nina Ahmad.
- James Harrity.
At-Large Republicans
- Drew Murray.
- James Hasher.
At-Large Working Families Party
- Kendra Brooks.
- Nicolas O’Rourke.
City Commissioners
The city commissioners are a bipartisan three-member board responsible for elections and voter registration.
- Omar Sabir, Democrat
- Lisa Deeley, Democrat
- Seth Bluestein, Republican
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City Controller
The controller is the individual responsible for conducting audits and analyses of the city’s financial operations. This position will be elected after Rebecca Rhynhart stepped down from the role in November 2022 to run for mayor.
- Christy Brady, Democrat
- Aaron Bashir, Republican
Register of Wills
The Register of Wills issues marriage licenses, validates wills, and provides assistance when a resident passes away.
- Juan Sabatina, Democrat
- Linwood Holland, Republican
Sheriff
The Office of the Sheriff of Philadelphia provides security in all municipal courtrooms, manages all property foreclosures ordered by the First Judicial Court, handles evictions, and issues protection orders.
- Rochelle Bilal, Democrat
- Mark Lavelle, Republican
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is a body composed of seven justices. There is one vacant seat for a 10-year term.
- Daniel McCaffery, Democrat
- Carolyn Carluccio, Republican
Superior Court
The Pennsylvania Superior Court handles criminal and civil appeals in the county courts of common pleas before a case can move to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Of the three judges who typically review cases, two will be elected for 10-year terms.
- Jill Beck, Democrat
- Timila Lane, Democrat
- Harry F. Small. Jr, Republican
- Maria Battista, Republican
Superior Court: Retention
In Pennsylvania, all judges, from magisterial to the Supreme Court, are elected through partisan elections for 10-year terms. After that time, citizens vote on whether they should serve another term. This year, citizens across the state will decide if they want to retain two incumbent judges on the Superior Court:
- Jack Panella, Democrat
- Vic Stabile, Republican
Commonwealth Court
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is the state’s intermediate appellate court. It deals with issues related to state and local governments and regulatory agencies. It is composed of nine judges who serve ten-year terms: three Democrats, five Republicans, and one vacant seat, which citizens will vote to fill between:
- Matt Wolf, Democrat
- Megan Martin, Republican
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas are the trial courts that handle civil and criminal cases, including child custody, family matters, and juvenile justice cases. Voters will choose 13 judges.
- Kay Kyungsun Yu, Democrat
- Jessica Brown, Democrat
- Chesley Lightsey, Democrat
- John R. Padova, Jr., Democrat
- Natasha Taylor Smith, Democrat
- Samantha Williams, Democrat
- James Eisenhower, Democrat
- Brian McLaughlin, Democrat
- Tamika Washington, Democrat
- Damaris García, Democrat
- Elvin Peter Ross III, Democrat
- Rajinderpal Sandher, Democrat
- Caroline Turner, Democrat
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Municipal Court is the lowest level of the judicial system, handling eviction proceedings, small claims, and debts up to $12,000.
- Colleen McIntyre Osborne, Democrat
- Barbara Thomson, Democrat
- Rania Major, Republican
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