Democrats selected McNeill's wife Jeanne McNeill as their nominee.[2] Republicans nominated David Molony, and Libertarians nominated Samantha Dorney.[3]
Democratic State Representative Leslie Acosta was re-elected during the 2016 elections, but later resigned after pleading guilty to charges of embezzlement.[4] A special election for the 197th legislative district took place on March 21.
Republicans nominated Lucinda Little for the seat. Democrats originally nominated health clinic administrator Frederick Ramirez, but a Commonwealth Court ruling declared Ramirez did not reside in the district and removed him from the ballot.[5] Democrats attempted to replace Ramirez with Philadelphia Parking Authority auditor Emilio Vazquez, but the Court ruled (and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania confirmed) that the filing deadline had passed, preventing the substitution.[6] Vazquez subsequently ran a write-in campaign, along with Green Party candidate Cheri Honkala.[7]
After the special election, four elections officers would be charged with interference after allegations of duress and voter intimidation were alleged.[8]
One vacancy occurred after Justice J. Michael Eakin left the court in 2016.
Primary
Republican Superior Court judge Sallie Updyke Mundy was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the seat vacated by Justice Eakin and confirmed on June 27, 2016.[9] She ran for a full 10-year term in 2017 and was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Government
Yes
