The is the first time the PA WFP is making endorsements in judicial races ahead of the primary on May 18th

Philadelphia, PA: The Pennsylvania Working Families Party has announced its endorsement of Superior Court Judge Maria McLaughlin of Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She runs unopposed for the Democratic nomination but faces three Republicans for the seat in the general. McLaughlin is part of PAWFP’s first slate of judicial endorsements in races across Pennsylvania ahead of the primary on May 18th.

“PAWFP has decided to come out early in our support of Judge Maria because of her years in family court. She knows what it means to rule in cases whose outcomes deeply impact working families,” said Nicolas O’Rourke, Organizing Director for PA WFP. “This year, the Pennsylvania Working Families Party is focused on making sure we’re laying the groundwork for a more level playing field when it comes to criminal justice. That’s why this year for the first time ever we’re making judicial endorsements. That’s why we’re excited to endorse her and this slate of candidates for court seats up and down the Commonwealth.”

“I come from humble beginnings rooted in working-class values. I am well aware of the hard work and sacrifices of working families, said Judge Maria McLaughlin. I worked 3 jobs to put myself through school and became the first in my family to attend college. As a single mom for many years, I understand firsthand the challenges parents face trying to balance the demands of a job and the needs of your children. I am proud to run with the support of everyday working families as your candidate for PA Supreme Court, something as a young girl I never dreamed possible.”

For the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, the Party has endorsed Chris Hall, Michele Hangley, Cateria McCabe, Wendi Barish, Betsy Wahl, and Caroline Turner. They’ve also endorsed Lori Dumas for Commonwealth Court, Timika Lane for State Superior Court, Lisa Middleman for Allegheny Court of Common Pleas, Greg Yorgey-Girdy and Michael Lambert for Philadelphia Municipal Court. 

“I am pleased to be endorsed by the WFP,” said Cateria McCabe. “They share my values regarding justice, compassion, honesty, and family. Furthermore, the WFP fights for the disenfranchised. Effective advocacy helps eliminate the need for community service. The playing field can be leveled for everyday working people.”

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Working Families Party in my campaign for Superior Court,” said Judge Timika Lane. “The endorsement of the WFP reflects support from a coalition of activists and voters who represent the diversity of Pennsylvania across generational, racial, and gender lines. It is personally important to me to have such broad support because I believe that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, and as a Superior Court Judge I will ensure that I treat everyone who comes before me fairly and with respect, just as I do on the Court of Common Pleas.”

“As one of the original labor organizers of the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, I am so excited to have the endorsement and support of the Working Families Party. Protecting working families means a justice system committed to public safety through treatment and innovative problem solving, not just closing cases,” said Lisa Middleman.

“As the grandson, son, and father of public school union teachers, I am grateful and truly humbled to receive the PA Working Families Party’s support. Having fought for environmental and criminal justice reform, I have long admired their work of fighting to bring true justice to the criminal justice system,” said Chris Hall.

Pennsylvania Working Families Party is a progressive grassroots political party building a multiracial, multigenerational, and feminist movement of and for working people. Last year, PAWFP recruited over 5,600 volunteer shifts, sent nearly 2.5 million texts, made nearly 1.4 million dials, and had conversations with over 80,000 voters to get out the vote in the general election. In 2019, WFP made history by electing Kendra Brooks to the Philadelphia City Council in the first city-wide victory for a third party in modern history. 

Nationally the Working Families Party led a $2.5 million voter mobilization effort in Georgia to elect Raphael Warnock to the Senate, helped elect WFP champions Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones in heavily contested Congressional races, drove a wave of victories for progressives in Rhode Island, shook up the New Mexico Democratic establishment with progressive victories under the banner of “No Corporate Dems,” elected a diverse slate of progressives in Delaware, and helped create the most progressive NY state legislature in decades by winning thirty-three state legislative primaries.