Voters will choose Pennsylvania’s newest state Supreme Court justice during the general election on Nov. 7 —  a position that holds considerable power over the interpretation of the law in the commonwealth and one that will determine the balance of the court in coming years. 

Democrat Daniel McCaffery and Republican Carolyn Carluccio are looking to round out the seven-member court, which has the last word on legal questions about everything from election policy to abortion, the latter being looked to as a key issue in this race.

Spotlight PA has a complete guide on everything you need to know on the candidates running for the position: Pa. election 2023: A complete guide to the candidates for state Supreme Court.

THE CONTEXT: From Spotlight PA: 

This year’s race will not change partisan control of the court, which currently has a 4-2 majority of judges elected as Democrats, with one vacancy after the September 2022 death of former Chief Justice Max Baer.

But that majority could fade quickly, said Democratic political operative J.J. Abbott, as all four incumbent Democratic justices will either face retention or reach their mandatory retirement age by 2027.

“Republicans could in theory very quickly take back control of the court and hold it through 2030, giving them control of the redistricting process,” Abbott told Spotlight PA, referencing the redrawing of state legislative and congressional maps that happens once per decade.