Buying Time 2013 – Pennsylvania
Two justices are seeking re-election in Pennsylvania in 2013. The Brennan Center tracks news and TV ads from these state Supreme Court races.
Two justices sought reelection in Pennsylvania in 2013. Chief Justice Ron Castille and Justice Max Baer both stood for retention on November 5, 2013. While Pennsylvania retention races are traditionally low-key affairs, a conservative group, the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, issued a press release on October 31st urging Pennsylvanians to vote against both justices. The PAC opposed Castille and Baer because they did not uphold the state’s voter ID law in a 2012 ruling. Chief Justice Castille, a Republican, and Justice Baer, a Democrat, were endorsed by both parties, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association also rated each justice as “Recommend for Retention.”
Castille and Baer won their retention races with 69 and 71 percent of the vote, respectively.
Estimated Total Spending: $205,490*
- Estimated spending by Justice Castille: $47,250
- Estimated spending by Justice Baer: $158,240
*See methodology below: Numbers are subject to change based on updated estimates from Kantar Media/CMAG. After these numbers were originally posted in November 2013, CMAG released an updated estimate of TV spending with numbers that were lower than previously calculated. These figures were last updated on March 26, 2014.
Advertisements
November 2 – From the Battlefield 15 Rev
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This ad by Justice Castille highlights his experience from the military to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Estimated Spending: $9,280
November 2 – From the Battlefield 15
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This ad by Justice Castille says he has “shown bravery in public service.”
Estimated Spending: $37,970
October 31 – Protecting Children
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This ad by Justice Baer highlights his work protecting children.
Estimated Spending: $158,240
News
Nick Field, Tea Party Group Urges Ouster of Supreme Court Judges, PoliticsPA, October 31, 2013.
Group Urges 'No’ Vote on Retention of PA Supreme Court Justices Ron Castille and Max Baer, Independence Hall Tea Party PAC, October 31, 2013 (located at bottom of homepage).
Eric Boehm, Castille, Baer win retention to PA Supreme Court despite grassroots opposition, watchdog.org, November 6, 2013.
Eric Epstein, Disorder in the Court”: Top Ten Reasons Not to Retain Supreme Court Chief Justice Castille, Rock the Capital, November 4, 2013.
Paula Reed Ward and Timothy McNulty, Pa. judges worrying shutdown may imperil re-election chances, Pittsburg Post-Gazette.
Brad Bumsted, Pa. judges don’t expect to feel ire of voters, TribLIVE.com, October 27, 2013.
Methodology
All data on ad airings and spending on ads are calculated and prepared by Kantar Media/CMAG, which captures satellite data in the nation’s largest media markets. CMAG’s estimates do not reflect ad agency commissions or the costs of producing advertisements, nor do they reflect the cost of ad buys on local cable channels. Cost estimates are revised by Kantar Media/CMAG when it receives updated data, resulting in some fluctuations in the reported ad spending.