Buying Time 2017– Pennsylvania
This page features Pennsylvania Supreme Court television advertisements from the 2017 election cycle.
Two candidates competed in a partisan election for one spot on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the 2017 election, and two justices faced retention elections. Candidates for the competitive election first ran unopposed in the May 16 primary and advanced to the November 7 general election. Initially an appointee, Justice Sallie Mundy (R) had to stand for a partisan election to serve her first full term. She defeated Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff (D). Chief Justice Thomas Saylor (R) and Justice Debra Todd (D) both won their retention elections.
Estimated Total Spending: $1,154,400
- Estimated spending by Sallie Mundy: $895,440
- Estimated spending by Debra Todd: $216,660
- Estimated spending by Pennsylvania Democratic Party: $19,160
- Estimated spending by Dwayne Woodruff: $23,140
*Spending figures last updated on November 7, 2017
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October 16 - Bipartisan Support 15
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In this ad, Sallie Mundy describes herself as “not your typical Republican,” and reflects on her bipartisan support.
Sponsor: Sallie Mundy
Estimated Spending: $299,830
October 16 – Middle Class Values 15
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In this ad, Sallie Mundy describes her experience “fighting for middle class values as a lawyer and a judge.”
Sponsor: Sallie Mundy
Estimated Spending: $238,890
October 16 – Pitt Grad 15
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In this ad, Sallie Mundy says she is a proud graduate of Pitt, and describes her law enforcement and middle class support.
Sponsor: Sallie Mundy
Estimated Spending: $98,520
October 25 – Retain
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In this ad, Debra Todd’s daughter says Todd “protects our children, safeguards our seniors, and promotes justice for veterans,” and Todd is promoted for “speaking out on sexual assault.”
Sponsor: Debra Todd
Estimated Spending: $216,660
October 29 – Fight Back 15
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This ad asks voters if they are “angry about Donald Trump,” notes that “Trump opposes equal pay for women,” and encourages voters to “fight back.”
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Estimated Spending: $4,880
October 29 – Protect Our Rights 15
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This ad asks voters if they are “angry about Donald Trump,” and encourages voters to “vote for judges to protect our rights.”
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Estimated Spending: $6,280
October 29 – Threatens Our Civil Rights 15
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This ad asks voters if they are “angry about Donald Trump,” and encourages voters to “end Trump a message. Vote for the Democrats.”
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Estimated Spending: $8,000
November 2 – The Right Calls
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In this ad, Judge Dwayne Woodruff references his football career, explaining, “On the field, my team could always count on me to make the right decisions… Know that you can count on me too.”
Sponsor: Dwayne Woodruff
Estimated Spending: $23,140
November 2– Better Choice
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This ad attacks Dwayne Woodruff, alleging “nepotism” and that Woodruff “attempt[ed] to mislead voters,” concluding that Woodruff is “wrong on ethics, wrong for the supreme court.”
Sponsor: Sallie Mundy
Estimated Spending: $258,200
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.