It's generally not the headline on most voters' ballots, but in Pennsylvania in 2025, the retention of three state Supreme Court justices is drawing an unusual amount of attention — and cash.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, an estimated $9.1 million has poured into the race as of Oct. 30, most of it from outside groups.

But why is all that cash pouring into an election that may draw around 20% turnout? Much of it has to do with the ideological balance of the court.

"We're seeing a lot of the partisanship that you see at the national level has hit home here in Pennsylvania," said Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, a nonprofit civic group based in Philadelphia. "And races that were typically not supposed to be partisan, t

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