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 that 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]
Following the special election, four elections officers were charged with interference after allegations of duress and voter intimidation were made.[8]
One seat was up for election after Justice Michael Eakin resigned on March 15, 2016. Republican Superior Court judge Sallie Updyke Mundy was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the seat vacated by Justice Eakin and was subsequently confirmed on June 27, 2016.[9] Justice Mundy ran for a full 10-year term.
Four seats of the Superior Court were up for election. Three seats were up for partisan election due to the retirement of Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen in September 2015 and the election of then-Judges Christine Donohue and David Wecht to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015. A fourth seat became vacant due to then–Judge Sallie Mundy's elevation to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in July 2016.
In 2016, Governor Tom Wolf appointed three judges to the Superior Court, Carl Solano, Lillian Harris Ransom, and Geoffrey Moulton.[14] The appointed judges filled the vacant seats of Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen, Justice Donohue, and Justice Wecht, respectively.
Two seats were up for election. Judge Bernard McGinley retired from the court on January 31, 2016,[26][27] and Judge Bonnie Brigace Leadbetter became a senior judge on January 31, 2016. Governor Tom Wolf appointed Joseph Cosgrove and Julia Hearthway to fill the vacant seats of Judge McGinley and Judge Leadbetter, respectively.[14] Incumbent Judge Joseph Cosgrove, a Democrat, ran for a full 10-year term, while Judge Julia Hearthway, a Republican, did not run for a full term, and vacated her seat on September 1, 2017.[28]
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Amending the Homestead Property Tax Assessment Exclusion
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
963,324
53.99
No
821,002
46.01
Total votes
1,784,326
100.00
Source: PA Department of State
Referencesedit
^Engelkemier, Paul (September 18, 2017). "Turzai Sets Date for Special Election to Replace McNeill". PoliticsPA. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Engelkemier, Paul (October 3, 2017). "Pa. Dems Announce Candidate for 133rd House District Special Election". PoliticsPA. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Engelkemier, Paul (December 6, 2017). "McNeill Wins Husband's Seat in Special Election". PoliticsPA. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Sasko, Claire (December 9, 2016). "Convicted State Rep. Leslie Acosta to Resign". Philadelphia Magazine. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
^Scolforo, Mark (February 24, 2017). "Too few flushes get legislative candidate thrown off ballot". Associated Press. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Engelkemier, Paul (March 13, 2017). "HD-197: Supreme Court Keeps Democratic Candidate Off the Ballot". PoliticsPA. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Brennan, Chris (March 3, 2017). "North Philly feud costs Democrats a shot at a state House seat". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Engelkemier, Paul (October 30, 2017). "Four Charged With Interference in the 197th House District Special Election". PoliticsPA. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^Mendicino, Anthony (June 28, 2016). "Sallie Updyke Mundy appointed to Pennsylvania Supreme Court". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 22, 2016.