Larry Farnese
Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. (Democratic Party) (also known as Larry) is a judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. He assumed office on January 5, 2026. His current term ends on January 7, 2036.
Farnese (Democratic Party) ran for election for judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. He won in the general election on November 4, 2025.
Biography
Farnesse earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Villanova and his J.D. from Beasley School of Law, Temple University in 1994. His professional experience includes working as a practicing attorney for Buchanan, Ingersoll, and Rooney.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2025)
General election
General election for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (11 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sarah Jones (D) | 10.3 | 280,160 |
| ✔ |  | Kia Ghee (D) | 10.1 | 274,323 |
| ✔ |  | Will Braveman (D) | 10.1 | 274,195 |
| ✔ |  | Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. (D) | 10.1 | 273,978 |
| ✔ |  | Deborah Watson-Stokes (D) | 10.1 | 272,216 |
| ✔ | Irina Ehrlich (D) | 9.9 | 269,154 | |
| ✔ | Jennifer Santiago (D) | 8.2 | 221,310 | |
| ✔ | Brian Kisielewski (D)  | 8.1 | 219,493 | |
| ✔ | Leon King II (D) | 8.0 | 215,637 | |
| ✔ | Anthony Stefanski (D) | 7.9 | 212,663 | |
| ✔ | Joseph Russo (D) | 7.0 | 190,318 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 4,023 | ||
| Total votes: 2,707,470 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (11 seats)
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on May 20, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Will Braveman | 11.2 | 103,441 |
| ✔ | | Sarah Jones | 11.2 | 103,042 |
| ✔ | | Deborah Watson-Stokes | 11.0 | 100,952 |
| ✔ | | Kia Ghee | 10.7 | 98,632 |
| ✔ | Irina Ehrlich | 10.7 | 98,458 | |
| ✔ | | Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. | 10.7 | 98,327 |
| ✔ | Leon King II | 10.0 | 92,483 | |
| ✔ | Brian Kisielewski | 9.5 | 87,162 | |
| ✔ | Anthony Stefanski | 8.2 | 75,539 | |
 | Taniesha Henry | 6.6 | 61,041 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 1,484 | ||
| Total votes: 920,561 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Sherrie Cohen (D)
- Elliott Williams (D)
- Qawi Abdul-Rahman (D)
- Michael Parkinson (D)
- Mike Huff (D) (Unofficially withdrew)
Endorsements
Farnese received the following endorsements.
2020
See also: Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 1
Nikil Saval won election in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Nikil Saval (D) | 100.0 | 124,514 |
| Total votes: 124,514 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 1
Nikil Saval defeated incumbent Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 1 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nikil Saval | 56.9 | 35,747 |
| Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. | 43.1 | 27,025 | |
| Total votes: 62,772 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
2016
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
Incumbent Lawrence Farnese ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania State Senate District 1 general election.[2][3]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 1, General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Lawrence Farnese Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||
Incumbent Lawrence Farnese defeated John Morley in the Pennsylvania State Senate District 1 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 1, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Lawrence Farnese Incumbent |
74.26% | 37,647 | |
| Democratic | John Morley | 25.74% | 13,049 | |
| Total Votes | 50,696 | |||
2014
Farnese considered a bid for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in 2014 but did not run.[6]
2012
Farnese ran in the 2012 election for Pennsylvania Senate District 1. Farnese ran unchallenged in the Democratic primary on April 24 and defeated Alfonso Gambone (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. [7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Larry Farnese Incumbent |
82.4% | 95,612 | |
| Republican | Alfonso Gambone | 17.6% | 20,421 | |
| Total Votes | 116,033 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Farnese was elected to Pennsylvania State Senate District 1.[9] Farnese raised $1,041,793 for this campaign.[10]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| FARNESE, LAWRENCE M. JR. (D)
|
95,727 | |||
| MORLEY, JACK (R) | 22,698 | |||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
Vote buying scheme
On February 1, 2017, Sen. Farnese was acquitted by a federal jury of charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and violations of the Travel Act.[11] Prosecutors alleged that Farnese offered Ellen Chapman a bribe to gain her support in the 2011 election for Democratic ward leader of Philadelphia’s eighth ward. The scheme involved Farnese paying $6,000 towards a study-abroad program for Chapman’s daughter and in exchange, Chapman, who was a member of the eighth ward Democratic committee at the time, would use her position to support Farnese's candidacy for Democratic ward leader of the eighth ward. According to prosecutors, Chapman initially supported another candidate but switched her vote to Farnese.[12]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Farnese resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
State legislative tenure
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2024.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- CeaseFirePA — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gun safety.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- PA Chamber of Business and Industry — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2023.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- PA Chamber of Business and Industry — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2022.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- PA Chamber of Business and Industry — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The Institute for Legislative Analysis — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2021.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- PA Chamber of Business and Industry — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2020.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2019.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2018.
- Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Conservation Voters of PA — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Humane PA — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animals.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2017.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2016.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored based on their voting record for bills relating to civil liberties.
- Marijuana Policy Project — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to medical marijuana.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2015.
- ACLU of Pennsylvania — Legislators are scored based on their voting record for bills relating to civil liberties.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2014.
- Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club — Legislators are scored on their votes on LGBT issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2013.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2012.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2011.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Scorecard — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Farnese was assigned to the following committees:
- Banking & Insurance Committee
- Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Minority Chair
- Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Community, Economic & Recreational Development, Minority chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Farnese served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Communications & Technology, Minority Chair |
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Community, Economic & Recreational Development |
| • Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules & Executive Nominations |
| • Legislative Data Processing Center |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Farnese served on the following committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Communications & Technology, Minority Chair |
| • Appropriations |
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Judiciary |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Farnese served on these committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Communications & Technology, Chair |
| • Appropriations |
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Judiciary |
| • Law & Justice |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Farnese served on these committees:
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness, Democratic Ranking Member |
| • Appropriations |
| • Banking & Insurance |
| • Communications & Technology |
| • Education |
| • Labor & Industry |
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Larry Farnese," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Voter Services, "Candidate listing," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "November 8, 2016, official election results," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Secretary of State, "Election Information," accessed February 18, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2016 Presidential Primary," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ The Philly Post, "Farnese Weighs Bid for Lieutenant Governor," accessed June 13, 2013
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2012 General Primary," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2012 General Election," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2008 General Election," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on 2008 campaign contributions," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ 6abc.com, "State Sen. Larry Farnese acquitted in bribery case," February 1, 2017
- ↑ Philly.com, "U.S. charges State Sen. Farnese with bribery," accessed May 12, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas 2026-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Pennsylvania State Senate District 1 2009-2020 |
Succeeded by Nikil Saval (D) |
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
