Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

September 11, 2025

Elections are About Making Your Voice Heard

In the days following the recent 24th anniversary of 9/11 and the senseless tragedy that occurred in Utah, it’s important to remember some of our great nation’s most profound principles.

College campuses are meant to be bastions of free speech, intellectual battlegrounds where diverse ideas can be openly discussed. Historically, they have been hubs for free expression, from the civil rights movement to anti-war protests.

Regardless of your political party or if you agreed with him or not, Charlie Kirk is dead today because someone didn't like what he had to say. This should outrage every single one of us.  Politic violence is not the way. The senseless loss of life underscores the need for open discourse and to unite against hatred and violence in all its forms.

It is why, as Americans, we should embrace not only our right to speak, but to choose our elected leaders. This is why it is important to be aware of several deadlines prior to the upcoming election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

If you are not already registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Monday, Oct. 20. You can register in person at the Westmoreland County Election Bureau, on the first floor of the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg. It can be reached by calling 724-830- 3150.

However, visiting the courthouse is not necessary. If you visit the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website, vote.pa.gov, you can submit a registration form online. If you prefer, you can print the form from the website and mail it to the Westmoreland County Election Bureau, 2 N. Main St., Suite 109, Greensburg, PA 15601.

Has it been a while since you voted and want to verify your registration? Checking and updating your registration can also be done at vote.pa.gov.

The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 28. Once an application for a mail-in ballot has been reviewed by the county election bureau, a ballot will be sent to you and includes thorough instructions on how to complete the process and mail it to the Westmoreland County Election Office. The completed ballot must be received by the county on election day by 8 p.m.

Registered voters can request, receive, vote and submit their mail-in ballot all in one visit to Greensburg. To do so, contact the county election office at 724-830-3150 to make certain election ballots are ready. 

This year’s general election is particularly important because of state and countywide elections for judicial seats. Some races are to fill a vacant seat and others are retention races, meaning voters will determine if a particular judge should be retained for an additional term. Judges can face as many retention votes as possible before the mandatory retirement age of 75. If voters choose against retention, the governor can appoint a temporary replacement, subject to the approval of the state Senate. An election for a replacement is then held the next odd year.

In the courthouse in Harrisburg, where Pennsylvania’s Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts are housed, there are vacant seats in both the Commonwealth and Superior courts. 

In the Commonwealth Court, where Judge Michael Wojcik faces a retention vote, Democrat Stella Tsai and Republican Matthew Wolford are competing for an open seat.

A retention election for Judge Alice Dubow will also occur in the Superior Court where Republican candidate Maria Battista and Democratic candidate Brandon Neuman are seeking an open seat. 

There are no open seats on the Supreme Court, where three justices, Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David N. Wecht are up for retention votes. 

In the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas, seats held by judges Harry Smail Jr., Scott Mears and Tim Krieger are up for consideration. 

To learn more about recent judicial decisions in Pennsylvania, visit pacourts.us, choose “News and Statistics” and then “Cases of Public Interest.” To learn more about judicial elections, including retention elections, visit pacourts.us, choose “Read More” under “How do the Pennsylvania Courts operate,” then choose “How Judges are Elected.”  
 
Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Accepting Applications for January 2026 Class -The Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) is now accepting applications for its January 2026 class, and for the first time, prospective cadets can apply online through a simpler, faster process. There is no tuition cost to attend, and meals, housing, uniforms and school supplies are provided at no charge.

The KSCA is designed to give teens in jeopardy of not graduating on time or dropping out of school a second chance at obtaining their basic education and much more. Cadets learn leadership, self-discipline, job skills, health and hygiene, values of community service and civic duty, physical fitness, and responsibility to build a better life.

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program currently operates 37 Youth ChalleNGe sites in 29 states and territories. The program is both federally and state funded. More details can be found at pa.gov/ksca, where a new online eligibility checker helps applicants quickly confirm they qualify before completing the full application. Applicants can also request a mailed form by emailing RA-MVPACHALLENGE@pa.gov or calling 717-861-7767 or 717-861-8831.

Keeping Kids Safe in the Car - In recognition of September being Child Passenger Safety Month, parents and caregivers are reminded to ensure children are correctly buckled in the right seats for their age and size. 

State law requires children up to age 2 to be secured in a rear-facing car seat, while children under the age of 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. Parents are also reminded that due to potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends keeping a child in a car seat for as long as possible, provided the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements. For more information, visit pa.gov and search for Child Passenger Safety. 


Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper