Judicial candidate garners 6,300 signatures despite being shunned by GOP state committee

By: Caroline Machiraju

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — Being an “endorsed” candidate of the Republican Party of Pa. (PA GOP) has its perks: between the red-carpet treatment at PA GOP-sponsored events, the committee manpower assigned to collect petition signatures; and the name-promotion on polling literature, it’s usually enough to entice voters, steering them away from a choice they’ll see on the ballot.

That choice is the MAGA-inspired challenger in the Commonwealth Court (CC) race, Joshua Prince, who was barred from voters at GOP-sponsored events; and he’s behind a real fight between the grassroots and the GOP’s groomed CC candidate Matthew Wolford – starting with the petition war.

Prince announced on social media this week that his signature count has surpassed 6,300 – well beyond the 1000-signature legally required. The petition signatures were due to be turned in by day’s end March 11^th at the Department of State.  (Statewide judicial candidates need a minimum of 1,000 signatures across the state, and at least 100 signatures from any 5 of Pa.’s 67 counties, to get on the May 20^th Primary ballot.)

Since being endorsed Feb. 8th, Wolford was invited to GOP-sponsored events across the state, while Prince was outright barred from PA GOP events, barricading him from would-be voters and petition signers. 

The PA GOP issued the order in a “friendly reminder” email, dated Feb. 22, from its new Executive Director, Eric Anderson: “Speaking opportunities and petition circulation at all party-sponsored events is reserved for endorsed candidates only.” Anderson said Wolford (and Ann Marie Wheatcraft) are the only statewide judicial candidates “permitted to speak” (and circulate petitions) with the party.

Meanwhile, Prince remains focused and is capitalizing on social media to stay connected to his grassroots. On his campaign Facebook page (Prince for Justice), he thanked a wide volunteer grassroots army across the state, for whom he credited obtaining the petition signatures, necessary to appear on the Primary ballot.

Conversely, Wolford, the PA GOP’s endorsed candidate, has a social media page, (Matt Wolford for Judge), showing minimal posts, including a few PA GOP-approved events, since the Feb. 8^th meeting. His website – mattwolfordforjudge.com – has still not launched, signaling a lack of steam in his campaign, despite the party’s endorsement.  (Typically, endorsements do yield enforced committee-person door-knocking duty and candidate name display on election day campaign literature, and mailings; so it remains to be seen if that will carry him to victory on May 20^th.)

Wolford won the Feb. 8^th PA GOP endorsement, but under a cloud of controversy, specifically allegations of lies, threats and briberysurrounding the endorsement votes. Prince initially agreed to withdraw, if he failed to clinch the endorsement that day, but after reflection & pleas from multiple PAGOP State Committee members and friends, he announced he is re-entering the race.

Harrisburg100 has reached out to the Wolford campaign to ask how many signatures he has received and will update this article when that information comes in. 

Nomination petitions were due 5 p.m. March 11^th, according to the Pa. Dept. of State website.  

In the Superior Court race, Wheatcraft of Chester County won the endorsement for Superior Court Judge, in the 3-candidate race. Paula A. Patrick of Philadelphia County has withdrawn, but challenging the endorsement result is Maria Battista.  

Battista has also signaled an impressive petition turnout – with more than 5,900 signatures obtained for her nomination filings with the Dept. of State., as shared on her Facebook page: Battista for Judge. Battista who failed to receive the GOP-endorsement by a 1-vote margin is also relying on grassroots support to succeed in the Primary Election on May 20^th. 

At the Feb. 8^th PA GOP Meeting, state Sen. Greg Rothman – Cumberland / Dauphin counties – was elected as the new PA GOP Chairman, along with Vice Chairwoman Bernie Comfort, who ran alongside him.