Judicial candidates Maria C. Battista and Matthew Wolford won their Republican primaries Tuesday, and they will be the party’s standard bearers for two appellate-level court openings in November.
In the battle for Superior Court, Battista defeated Chester County Common Pleas President Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft, who was the party’s endorsed candidate. Battista, from Clarion County, garnered 54 percent of the vote to Wheatcraft’s 46 percent.
Battista was the endorsed candidate when she ran in 2023.
Battista holds five degrees, including two undergraduate degrees, a master’s degree in education administration from Westminster College, and a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh.
She was working as a military lawyer but had to step down to run for office. She now works at the Judge Group. She has also taught criminal justice and communications at the college level.
Matt Wolford
Battista said she is “incredibly humbled and grateful” for people’s support and thanked all those who volunteered and worked for her campaign, including her sons.
“Ultimately, it was in God’s hands through his people. I will continue to work hard for all Pennsylvanians. This isn’t about a party or politics. It is about the people and ensuring that the people elect a judge who they can trust to do what is right with fairness, integrity and impartiality,” said Battista.
The Superior Court handles criminal and most civil appeals from Common Pleas Court cases. It also handles most cases involving children and families.
In the Commonwealth Court primary, Wolford defeated Josh Prince, 62 to 38 percent. Wolford, a solo practitioner based in Erie who specializes in environmental law, was the official party pick.
The Commonwealth Court rules on cases involving local governments and regulatory agencies, or when the state is sued.
Wolford believes in judicial restraint, interpreting laws as written, not legislating from the bench. He also says he’ll protect personal freedoms and private property rights as a “commonsense constitutionalist.”
Wolford has practiced law for 37 years. Before entering private practice, where he protected property owners’ rights through zoning and regulatory disputes, he worked for the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). He also served as a special prosecutor for the attorney general and the U.S. Attorney.
GOP Chairman Greg Rothman congratulated Battista and Wolford, who “ran campaigns focused on constitutional integrity and respect for the rule of law, values that will serve Pennsylvanians well on the bench.”
“Our party is stronger because of spirited, principled competition. We now go into the November election united against activist judges,” said Rothman.
Democrats Brandon Neuman and Stella Tsai ran unopposed for Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, respectively. Neuman, a former state representative, is now a Common Pleas Court judge in Washington County. Tsai is a Common Pleas Court judge in Philadelphia.
Also, in November, voters will be asked to retain three Democratic Supreme Court justices: Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht.
Superior Court Judge Alice Dubow will also be on the ballot for retention, and Commonwealth Court Judge Michael Wojcik will be. Both judges are Democrats.
