Get the Facts!! Rulings from the Current Justices Who Are Up for Retention
- Overturned a Commonwealth Court ruling which blocked rural and small schools from seeking equitable funding. This allowed the petitioners; six Pennsylvania school districts, the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, the NAACP-PA State Conference, and a group of public school parents, to successfully argue the case in Commonwealth Court.
- Stopped a voter ID law which would have required people who don’t have drivers licenses to go to a license center to get a picture ID, a move that makes voting harder for people who don’t own cars.
- Stopped efforts of Trump allies to throw out votes in Democratic Pennsylvania counties after the 2020 election
- Ruled that one of the most gerrymandered legislative maps in the country was unconstitutional, forcing the redrawing of the maps for the 2018 election.
- Ensured that Pennsylvania had fair election maps when legislative districts were redrawn after the 2020 census.
- Ruled that women have equal protection to healthcare ensuring freedom for reproductive healthcare.
- Ruled that the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees the right to healthy environment.
Outside Money Trying to Influence Our Judicial Elections
Once again outside money is flowing into Pennsylvania to influence our elections. Mailers started to arrive as early as September 20. Read more about these attempts in articles from Spotlight PA.
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National money starts flowing into critical Pa. Supreme Court retention races
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The group behind a misleading mailer targeting the Pa. Supreme Court retention elections
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A small group of donors dominated these high-profile Pa. races during the 2024 election
From the article: “The PACs in question have a tangled web of donors but nearly all the funds can be traced to Yass. Commonwealth Leaders Fund receives most of its money from Commonwealth Children’s Choice Fund, which in turn gets its money from another PAC: Students First. Nearly all of Students First’s donations over the past two years — $34 million — came from Yass.”
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom dedicated to high-quality investigative and public-service journalism.
Learn about the Supreme Court
Supreme Court Justice Christine Donohue explains the PA Supreme Court and some important decisions that have come down from this court.
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Judges Who Are Standing for Retention This Election
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Candidates Who Are on the Ballot This Election
Judge Stella Tsai is running for Judge of the Commonwealth Court. Stella is Highly Recommended by the PA Bar Association.
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Faith Zembower is running as our candidate for Register of Wills / Recorder of Deeds. Learn about Pennsylvania’s Highest Courts
Bedford County Democrats hosted an event to learn about Pennsylvania’s highest courts. Supreme Court Justice Justice Christine Donohue joined by zoom, and Commonwealth Court Judge Michael J. Wojcik visited us in person at Whispering Hollow Estate to explain
- how Pennsylvania’s higher courts operate,
- what they have done for us in their position as judges on these courts, and
- what you can do to keep them on the courts.
We have three videos from the event. (Links will open in a new window or tab.)
- View the entire event on YouTube.
- Commonwealth Court Judge Michael Wojcik explains the courts and implications of retention elections.
- Supreme Court Justice Christine Donohue explains the PA Supreme Court and some important decisions that have come down from this court.
Making Life Better in Bedford County
The Bedford County Democratic Party is dedicated to promoting quality of life, equal opportunity for every person, respect for individual freedoms, and equal justice under the law. We encourage and support candidates who align with these values.
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Volunteering at the Chestnut Ridge Wellness & Fitness Blood Drive
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Click the image for an interactive map of Federal Investments in Bedford County since the start of the Biden Administration.
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Attorney General Candidate Eugene DePasquale visited with Bedford County Democrats at the Horn O’Plenty Freshtaurant on Saturday, April 6. He also met with Bedford County Democrats on Zoom, Tuesday, April 9. All Bedford County Democrats were invited to attend and ask questions. You can click the video image at the right to view a recording of the meeting. Click the lower right of the small video to expand to full screen.
2023 Judge WINNERS
Supreme Court |
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WINNER!
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Superior Court |
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WINNER!
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WINNER!
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Commonwealth Court |
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WINNER!
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Democrat Judge Candidates Outperform Republicans in Qualification Ratings by the PA Bar Association
The Judicial Evaluation Commission of the Pennsylvania Bar Association evaluates the qualifications of judicial candidates before each election. They evaluate paper submissions from the candidates and conduct personal interviews. Candidates are then rated as highly qualified, qualified, or not recommended.
For the Supreme Court, Democrat candidate Dan McCaffrey and his Republican opponent both received highly qualified ratings.
We will elect two judges to the Superior Court. Democrats Jill Beck and Timika Lane both earned highly qualified ratings from the PA Bar. The two Republican opponents were rated qualified and not recommended for failure to participate.
For Commonwealth Court Democrat Matt Wolf and his Republican opponent received qualified ratings.
The Superior Court judges standing for retention, Democrat Jack A. Panella and Republican Victor P. Stabile, have both been recommended for retention by the PA Bar.
Read the Pennsylvania Bar Association Recommendations for Judges
The PA Bar Association has a rigorous process for evaluating the qualifications of judicial candidates. Our recommended candidates are also recommended or highly recommended by the PA Bar
Supreme Court | Superior Court | Commonwealth Court
The Field of Candidates for 2023 Begins to Form
County Commissioner Candidates Baughman / Wilt Announce |
Superior Court Candidate Jill Beck Talks with Bedford County Dems |
Bedford County Dems Summer Family Picnic & Chicken BBQ
4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 4 at Egolf Park, 2401 Egolf Road, Bedford, PA
Food, drinks, games for kids and adults, face painting by Jess Benton, and live music provided. RSVP to jleppert62@gmail.com or text 814-494-1028.
Protecting Womens’ Rights! | Protecting the Environment! | Protecting Voting!
Governor Josh Shapiro
Josh has a plan to grow Pennsylvania’s rural economy, invest in needed infrastructure, and ensure better access to broadband, healthcare, and jobs.
Josh will also invest in agricultural infrastructure and ensure that farmers have the financing and investments necessary for agricultural production and remain competitive and profitable. He’ll keep rural hospitals from closing by ensuring the financial viability and expand telehealth for rural communities that lack easy access to transportation. Josh will expand opportunities for good paying jobs in rural communities by increasing funding for rural apprenticeships, investing in workforce development initiatives, capping abandoned wells, fixing our sewer and stormwater systems, and repairing structurally deficient bridges and roads. |
Senator John FettermanRight-wing extremists have been passing laws aimed at banning abortions without exceptions for rape or incest and even putting women who seek abortions and doctors who perform them behind bars.
In the Senate, I will fight to expand voting rights and push for reforms that get big money out of politics and prevent politicians from picking their voters through partisan gerrymandering. I’ll make sure that long-promised investments in rural broadband and other critical infrastructure make their way to where they’re actually needed, because in this day and age, broadband internet access is almost as fundamental as electricity or running water. |
As your senator, I will vote to enshrine access to safe and legal abortion into federal law because deciding how and when to become a mother is a decision that should always be made by a woman and her doctor — not politicians. I will also stand up to attacks on Planned Parenthood, and fight to repeal the Hyde Amendment.More on Josh Shapiro
As a State Representative, Josh wrote and passed some of the toughest ethics laws in state history. Philadelphia Magazine wrote that Josh “has been a blast of oxygen in the smoke-choked back rooms of quid-pro-quo Harrisburg,” and his work earned him a national reputation as a bipartisan consensus builder.
Then, as Chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners, he led a fiscal and ethical turnaround, took early steps to combat the heroin epidemic, helped the first LGBT couples in Pennsylvania marry and fired Wall Street money managers to save retirees millions. His work on behalf of victims and for criminal justice reform as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has earned him the trust of law enforcement leaders from both parties.
Josh’s office’s release of an extensive grand jury report alleging the sexual abuse of children at the hands of 300 “predator priests” in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania garnered attention around the globe. More recently, Mr. Shapiro sued Pittsburgh-based health care giant UPMC for restricting access to its doctors and facilities as a result of its years-long battle with rival Highmark.
Josh Shapiro earned his law degree at night from Georgetown University, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. Josh was raised in Montgomery County, where he met his high school sweetheart, Lori, and where they are raising their four young children.
Josh talks about rural broadband, campaigning, working with Republicans, and Doug Mastriano at Egolf Park.
John Fetterman at the Horn’O Plenty in Bedford
Learn about PA courts and the Roles of Judges.
This Is Who We Are
Information about Mail In Voting.
The Pennsylvania Legislature passed Act 77 of 2019, and it was signed into law on October 31, 2019. The law created no excuse mail in voting for Pennsylvania voters. Previously, the only mail in voting available in Pennsylvania was absentee ballot voting where the voter needed to provide a reason they could not vote in person.
How does mail in voting work?
- You request a mail in ballot from the Pennsylvania Department of State or your County Elections Office. (More information is provided below.)
- If you request a mail in ballot, it will be sent to you in the mail.
- If you prefer, you can go to the Bedford County Elections Office on the third floor of the Bedford County Courthouse Building at 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford. You can complete and submit your application in person, wait for it to be processed, and receive your mail in ballot in person.
- You get to safely and comfortably complete your ballot in the privacy of your own home.
- You place your ballot in a privacy envelope that is provided to protect your identity.
- You place the privacy envelope in a postage paid return envelope which includes your signature.
- You can return your ballot by mail or at a dropbox designated by your County Board of Elections. (Note: at this time the PA Legislature is attempting to remove the dropbox option.) In Bedford County the dropbox will be at the Bedford County Courthouse area, 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford. You cannot deposit ballots for others. The dropbox will be under video surveillance. YOU CANNOT RETURN YOUR MAIL IN BALLOT AT YOUR POLLING PLACE.
- The signature on your return envelope is checked against county records at the courthouse the same way it is checked when you vote in person.
- You can track your ballot at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/BallotTracking.aspx The site will tell you when your application was received, when your ballot is sent, and when your ballot has been received at the courthouse.
- Your vote will be counted at the courthouse in the presence of representatives of both parties.
- You can’t vote twice. If you receive a mail in ballot, you CANNOT vote at the polls. Those who requested a mail-in or absentee ballot WILL be listed in the poll book. However, it will note their mail-in or absentee status. If the status is “mail-in/absentee ballot sent,” voters may vote a provisional ballot at the polls. If the status is “mail-in/absentee ballot received”, the voter may not vote at the polls as their vote has already been cast.
How to Apply for a Mail In Ballot
- All eligible Pennsylvania voters can use mail in ballots. Since mail in voting is available to all registered Pennsylvania voters, absentee ballots are no longer necessary, but they are retained because absentee ballots are part of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
- In Pennsylvania, you must apply for a mail in ballot from the Department of State or your County Elections Office. Ballots are NOT automatically sent to everyone. Rumors that multiple ballots are being sent to the same person or dead people are false. Other organizations are permitted to send ballot applications, but the voter must submit the application and will receive only one ballot.
- If you’re a voter with a valid PA Driver’s License or PennDOT ID number, you may apply with the online form at the Department of State, https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/.
If you do not have a PA Driver’s License or PennDOT ID number, you will need a paper ballot application. You can download the application at the Department of State site or at https://www.bedfordcountypa.org/departments/elections/election_applications.php, or pick up an application in person at the Bedford County Elections Office, at 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA.
Once your application is completed, you can return it by mail or in person to your County Board of Elections.
Office of Elections and Voter Registration:
200 South Juliana Street
Bedford, PA 15522 - Whether you apply to the PA Department of State or your county elections office, your ballot will be sent to you by your county elections office.
Other Facts About Mail In Voting
- You can vote as soon as your receive your ballot in the mail.
- Your signature will be checked against courthouse records when your ballot is received. In Bedford County, voters are contacted directly if there appears to be a discrepancy between the signatures on the application and the voter registration file.
- Mail in ballots will be counted starting at 7:00 a.m. on election day at the courthouse. Representatives of the two major parties will be represented.
Fan Giveaway a Big Success
Last summer, Bedford County Democrats provided a total of 177 fans, at no cost, to seniors and families in need. Thanks to all who donated and Bedford True Value for making this possible.
Free Fans for Older Adults
Fall 2019 Municipal Election
The November 5, 2019 election will in
clude statewide races to fill two judge positions on the Superior Court, and many local elections. Of particular interest are the races for
County Commissioner
We have two candidates running for County Commissioner. Deb Baughman and Candi Bussard.
- Deb Baughman
- Candi Bussard – Candi is the candidate for the second Democratic spot for commissioner. Candi represents local Democratic values, and is our endorsed write in candidate.
County Auditor
- Karen Williams – Karen is the incumbent minority auditor for Bedford County. She has a degree in business from California University and has served in this position for many years.
Superior Court
- Judge Dan McCaffery – rated highly qualified by the PA Bar Association, also endorsed by PA Democratic State Committee
- Amanda Green Hawkins – also endorsed by PA Democratic State Committee
Bedford County Democrats’ & Helen B. Hughes Federation of Democratic Women’s Spring Fling
The event will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Bedford Elks County Club and will include live music provided by local artist, Diana Lee, an appetizing menu of hors d’oeuvres from Chef Nicole, a cash bar, and a silent auction.
Tickets are available from Valerie Pawuk, 327-6383 or Chris Smith, 494-3187.
Petition Party Tuesday, February 26
The BC Dems will hold a petition party starting at 5:30 Tuesday, January 26 at the lower level of the American Legion. park behind the building for direct access.
Enjoy food and fellowship from 5:30-7:00. We will have soups and bread from the Horn O’Plenty Farm to Table Restaruant, an artisanal cheese platter from Hidden Hills Dairy, and homemade cookies and brownies from The Bird’s Nest Cafe,
Candidates and/or surrogates will be there with their petitions. We will have a notary present as well.
The monthy business meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m.
Local Candidates Who Will Have Petitions Available
- Deb Baughman, County Commissioner
- Brandi Hershey, Judge, Court of Common Pleas
We will also have petitions available for the following Superior Court Candidates.
- Attorney Amanda Green Hawkins
- Judge Daniel McCaffrey
They are working to get on the ballot for the three Superior Court openings that will be on the ballot in 2019.
The current Superior Court Justices whose terms end in 2020:
- Anne Lazarus (D)
- Judith Olson (R)
- Paula Ott (R)
PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro will headline BC Dems fall gathering, September 26.
Pennsylvania Attorney General, Josh Shapiro will headline the fall gathering of the Bedford County Democrats on Thursday, September 26. The event will be held at Whispering Hollow Estate, which is a 5 mile drive from Pleasantville or a 10 mile drive from Schellsburg. You can find more detailed directions farther down the page.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with heavy hors d’ouvres and an open bar. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. with local candidates Karen Williams and Deb Baughman speaking. State Representative Scott Conklin will follow Baughman and Attorney General Shapiro will keynote the program. Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased in advance or ordered for pick up at the door. Email davepopp@embarqmail.com to order your ticket.
As a State Representative, Josh wrote and passed some of the toughest ethics laws in state history. Philadelphia Magazine wrote that Josh “has been a blast of oxygen in the smoke-choked back rooms of quid-pro-quo Harrisburg,” and his work earned him a national reputation as a bipartisan consensus builder.
Then, as Chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners, he led a fiscal and ethical turnaround, took early steps to combat the heroin epidemic, helped the first LGBT couples in Pennsylvania marry and fired Wall Street money managers to save retirees millions. His work on behalf of victims and for criminal justice reform as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has earned him the trust of law enforcement leaders from both parties.
According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “In the two years since he took office, Mr. Shapiro has levied his influence to scale that grand institutional tower. His office’s release of an extensive grand jury report alleging the sexual abuse of children at the hands of 300 “predator priests” in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania garnered attention around the globe. More recently, Mr. Shapiro sued Pittsburgh-based health care giant UPMC for restricting access to its doctors and facilities as a result of its years-long battle with rival Highmark.
On the street corner, Mr. Shapiro says his office has arrested five drug dealers per day on average, and increased the arrests of doctors for illegally diverting prescription drugs. As for the White House? Mr. Shapiro, a Democrat, has sued President Donald Trump’s administration nearly two dozen times. (https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/02/25/Pennsylvania-attorney-general-Josh-Shapiro-embraces-high-level-battles-upmc/stories/201902230023).
Josh Shapiro earned his law degree at night from Georgetown University, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. Josh was raised in Montgomery County, where he met his high school sweetheart, Lori, and where they are raising their four young children.
Directions to Whispering Hollow Estate
Click this link to open a printable pdf of these directions.
Traveling through Schellsburg and Route 96 North
Take Route 30 to the intersection in Schellsburg
Turn onto Route 96 North and travel 7.5 miles.
Fan Giveaway a Big Success
Bedford County Democrats provided a total of 177 fans, at no cost, to seniors and families in need. Thanks to all who donated and Bedford True Value for making this possible.
Free Fans for Older Adults
Spring Primary Election
All of the following candidates have been nominated to run in the Fall election.
- Deb Baughman
- Candi Bussard – Candi is running as a write in candidate for the second Democratic spot for commissioner. Candi represents local Democratic values, and is our endorsed write in candidate.
County Auditor
- Karen Williams – Karen is the incumbent minority auditor for Bedford County. She has a degree in business from California University and has served in this position for many years.
Superior Court
- Judge Dan McCaffery – rated highly qualified by the PA Bar Association, also endorsed by PA Democratic State Committee
- Amanda Green Hawkins – also endorsed by PA Democratic State Committee
Click here to open a printable pdf of the sample ballot.
We are all stronger together! 