HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court race is attracting significant funding from various organizations and individuals, including labor unions, trial lawyers, and billionaires. This election is likely to impact major election-related cases in the battleground state.
According to the latest campaign finance reports filed on Friday, total spending in this race has exceeded $17 million. Democrat Dan McCaffery and Republican Carolyn Carluccio, along with their allies, are vying for an advantage leading up to the November 7th election.
The majority of spending, approximately $12 million, has occurred since September 18th. Labor unions, lawyers’ groups, trade associations, and wealthy donors have contributed to advertising efforts on television, the internet, and through mailers circulating across Pennsylvania.
Of the $17 million, more than $5 million has come from groups associated with two influential Republican billionaires.
While the election will not change the Democratic majority on the court, a victory for Carluccio could narrow the margin to 4-3, with Democrats still holding the majority.
Democrats have framed the contest as a de facto referendum on abortion rights following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The outcome of this election holds significance as it marks the end of nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections.
This low-turnout contest has drawn criticism from both candidates, who oppose the influence of special interest groups pouring money into the race.
McCaffery shared a video online, stating, “Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen billionaires and corporate interests spending millions of dollars in negative attack ads because they know what we stand for. We stand for middle-class values, we stand for working men and women all across Pennsylvania. We will not let this seat be bought.”
McCaffery has frequently criticized the U.S. Supreme Court, cautioning that it threatens abortion rights, labor rights, voting rights, and other federally protected rights by delegating decision-making power to state courts.
An area of focus for McCaffery and his supporters is questioning Carluccio’s commitment to protecting abortion rights in Pennsylvania.
Carluccio has consistently emphasized her impartiality and support for Pennsylvania state laws, including those allowing abortion up to 24 weeks.
In a TV ad, Carluccio responds to the attacks by stating, “My opponent is backed by special interests who are spending millions of dollars on lies about me. Here’s the truth: I will always stand for the law and your rights as Pennsylvanians. And I will fight every day for you.”
Carluccio has received endorsements from anti-abortion groups, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, and Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania.
Carluccio is a judge from Montgomery County, while McCaffery serves on the statewide appellate Superior Court in Philadelphia.
Recent campaign finance reports show that McCaffery’s campaign has gained a slight spending advantage.
Between September 19th and October 23rd, McCaffery’s campaign spent $2.3 million, while Carluccio’s spent nearly $3 million. Carluccio received $2.2 million from the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, a group that channels campaign funds from billionaire Jeffrey Yass, known for supporting school choice in Pennsylvania.
In total, the Commonwealth Leaders Fund has spent over $4 million to aid Carluccio’s campaign, according to financial disclosures.
Another group, Fair Courts America, primarily funded by billionaire Richard Uihlein from Illinois, has spent $735,000 on a TV ad attacking McCaffery. Fair Courts America previously spent millions supporting the losing GOP candidate in Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court race earlier this year.
Prominent business-sector groups such as the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and a large hospital and health system trade association are also financially supporting Carluccio.
Meanwhile, McCaffery has the backing of trial lawyer groups, labor unions, and other traditional Democratic allies, including Planned Parenthood.
Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness, an umbrella group, has reported spending more than $4 million, while the American Civil Liberties Union has spent over $1 million.
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