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Rania Major
Rania Major (Republican Party, Democratic Party) ran for election for judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in Pennsylvania. Major (Republican Party) lost in the general election on November 7, 2023. She lost in the Democratic primary on May 16, 2023. She advanced from the Republican primary on May 16, 2023.
Biography
Major earned a degree in political science and psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Major has practiced at her own firm since 1997.[1]
Elections
2023
See also: City elections in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2023)
General election
General election for Philadelphia Municipal Court (2 seats)
Barbara Thomson and Colleen McIntyre Osborne defeated Rania Major in the general election for Philadelphia Municipal Court on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Barbara Thomson (D) | 50.1 | 208,221 |
| ✔ |  | Colleen McIntyre Osborne (D)  | 39.0 | 162,250 |
| Rania Major (R) | 10.8 | 44,774 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 420 | ||
| Total votes: 415,665 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court (2 seats)
Barbara Thomson and Colleen McIntyre Osborne defeated Melissa Francis and Rania Major in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barbara Thomson | 41.4 | 126,504 |
| ✔ | | Colleen McIntyre Osborne | 29.1 | 88,841 |
| Melissa Francis | 15.2 | 46,476 | ||
| Rania Major | 14.1 | 43,218 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 511 | ||
| Total votes: 305,550 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joe Green (D)
- Caroline Turner (D)
- Qawi Abdul-Rahman (D)
- Cortez Patton (D)
- MK Feeney (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court (2 seats)
Rania Major advanced from the Republican primary for Philadelphia Municipal Court on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rania Major | 97.9 | 10,429 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.1 | 228 | ||
| Total votes: 10,657 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Major in this election.
2021
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judges Gary S. Glazer, James Murray Lynn, Arnold L. New, and Robert J. Rebstock filed to run for retention in 2021, but later withdrew.[2] As a result, eight seats on the court were up in the primary election, but 12 seats were up in the general election on November 2, 2021. The Democratic Party nominated candidates Monica Gibbs, Leanne Litwin, Mark Moore, and John Sabatina Jr. to run for the additional four seats in the general election.[3][4]
See also: City elections in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2021)
General election
General election for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (12 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Wendi Barish (D) | 8.9 | 154,312 | |
| ✔ | Nick Kamau (D) | 8.8 | 153,790 | |
| ✔ | Michele Hangley (D) | 8.7 | 151,677 | |
| ✔ |  | Chris Hall (D) | 8.7 | 150,829 |
| ✔ | Cateria McCabe (D) | 8.7 | 150,727 | |
| ✔ |  | Betsy Wahl (D) | 8.6 | 149,577 |
| ✔ |  | Mark Moore (D) | 8.2 | 142,964 |
| ✔ |  | Daniel Sulman (D) | 8.2 | 142,625 |
| ✔ | Craig Levin (D) | 8.1 | 141,424 | |
| ✔ | Monica Gibbs (D) | 8.0 | 139,573 | |
| ✔ |  | John Sabatina Jr. (D) | 7.6 | 132,348 |
| ✔ | Leanne Litwin (D) | 7.3 | 127,834 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 3,877 | ||
| Total votes: 1,741,557 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (12 seats)
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas on May 18, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nick Kamau | 9.5 | 103,129 | |
| ✔ | Wendi Barish | 9.3 | 100,441 | |
| ✔ | Cateria McCabe | 9.0 | 97,570 | |
| ✔ | | Betsy Wahl | 8.2 | 88,302 |
| ✔ | | Chris Hall | 8.0 | 86,610 |
| ✔ | Michele Hangley | 7.1 | 76,359 | |
| ✔ | Craig Levin | 6.9 | 74,215 | |
| ✔ | | Daniel Sulman | 6.8 | 73,017 |
 | Caroline Turner | 6.7 | 72,066 | |
| Mark Moore | 5.9 | 63,510 | |
 | Tamika Washington | 5.8 | 63,090 | |
| Terri Booker | 4.8 | 52,270 | ||
| John Padova Jr. | 4.7 | 50,506 | ||
| Maurice Houston | 2.8 | 29,864 | ||
| Rick Cataldi | 2.3 | 24,632 | ||
 | Patrick Moran | 2.3 | 24,305 | |
| Total votes: 1,079,886 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Peter Bryant (D)
- Christian DiCicco (D)
- Lopez T. Thompson (D)
- Sherrie Cohen (D)
- Rania Major (D)
2017
Pennsylvania held local judicial elections on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on May 16, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 7, 2017. Candidates and recently appointed judges of the Courts of Common Pleas must initially run in partisan elections. Subsequent terms are won through retention elections. Elections for the Magisterial District Courts are always partisan. Pennsylvania allows cross-filing for candidates running in partisan elections. Most candidates run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.[5]
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for nine open seats on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.[6]
| Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Stella Tsai Incumbent |
7.73% | 63,980 |
| Viktoria Kristiansson |
7.57% | 62,656 |
| Lucretia Clemons Incumbent |
5.68% | 47,015 |
| Deborah D. Cianfrani |
5.30% | 43,838 |
| Zac Shaffer |
4.79% | 39,633 |
| Deborah Canty |
4.74% | 39,239 |
| Shanese Johnson |
4.45% | 36,792 |
| Mark B. Cohen |
4.41% | 36,461 |
| Vincent Furlong Incumbent |
4.34% | 35,904 |
| Jennifer Schultz | 4.14% | 34,224 |
| Daniel Sulman Incumbent | 4.11% | 33,984 |
| Leon Goodman | 4.03% | 33,338 |
| Wendi Barish | 3.85% | 31,831 |
| Henry McGregor Sias | 3.81% | 31,526 |
| Rania Major | 3.67% | 30,393 |
| John Macoretta | 3.60% | 29,829 |
| David Conroy | 3.44% | 28,453 |
| Brian McLaughlin | 3.17% | 26,214 |
| Crystal Powell | 2.99% | 24,756 |
| Vincent Melchiorre Incumbent | 2.94% | 24,360 |
| Lawrence Bozzelli | 2.88% | 23,862 |
| Danyl Patterson | 2.00% | 16,582 |
| Terri Booker | 1.71% | 14,176 |
| Leonard Deutchman | 1.52% | 12,590 |
| Mark Moore | 1.49% | 12,305 |
| Jon Marshall | 0.92% | 7,584 |
| William Rice | 0.72% | 5,985 |
| Total Votes | 827,510 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Primary Judge of the Court of Common Pleas," accessed May 16, 2017 | ||
2015
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2015
Pennsylvania's judicial elections included a primary on May 19, 2015, and a general election on November 3, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates was March 11, 2015.
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary.
2013
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013
Major ran unsuccessfully for election to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.[7] Major was defeated in the Democratic primary on May 21, 2013, receiving 1.4 percent of the vote.[8]
Bar Association rating
Major was rated as "not recommended" by the Philadelphia Bar Association.[9]
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The 439 judges of the court of common pleas are elected to 10-year terms in partisan elections. Candidates may cross-file with both political parties for the partisan primaries, which are followed by general elections where the primary winners from each party compete.[10][11] Judges must run in yes-no retention elections if they wish to continue serving after their first term. A separate part of the ballot is designated for these elections, and judges' names appear without respect to party affiliation.[10][12]
- The president judge of each Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas is chosen by either peer vote or seniority, depending on the size of the court. Statewide, all courts composed of more than seven individuals must select their chief judge by peer vote. Those with seven or fewer members select their chief by seniority.[10][13]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must:[10]
- have state residence for at least one year;
- be a district resident for at least one year (for common pleas judges);
- be a member of the state bar; and
- be under the age of 75.
While retirement at 75 is mandatory, judges may apply for senior judge status. Senior judges may serve as such until the last day of the calendar year in which they turn 78.[13]
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rania Major did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Rania Major did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2015
Judicial philosophy
| “ | I was raised to love my country and our Constitution. I believe that the Constitution is the greatest document that was ever written. To this very day, we are still interpreting it. One of my main reasons for wanting to become a judge is because, in my opinion, I do not see it being followed as often as it should. All people are to be treated equally. Often they are not. It is a judge’s function to make sure every individual’s due process and equal protection rights are enforced. Every case must be decided on its individual facts and evidence. Sometimes the applicable laws in a case are clear, while other times it is murky. In situations where it is clear, for example many procedural rules, the law must be followed no matter the outcome. In others, a judge must do his/her best to apply the existing law to the facts of the case. Sometimes cases may require a judge to broaden the law, carve out an exception or create new law. If that is the case, I will not be afraid to do what I believe is right.[14] | ” |
| —Rania Major, 2015[1] | ||
See also
2023 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Philadelphia Municipal Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rania Major campaign website
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY FILED BY INCUMBENT JUDGES FOR RETENTION IN 2021," accessed October 20, 2021
- ↑ Philadelphia 3.0, "‘MAGIC SEAT’ JUDGES AND THE BROKEN CHAIN OF PARTY ACCOUNTABILITY," September 10, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, "Municipal and Special Election Philadelphia County," November 2, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Candidate Database," accessed March 20, 2017
- ↑ The Public Record, "Will Ethnic Vote Help Judicial Hopeful?" April 4, 2013
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial Election Returns - 2013 Municipal Primary, Court of Common Pleas"
- ↑ The Inquirer, "Philadelphia Bar Association backs 10 judge candidates," April 04, 2013
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Ban Cross-filing As One Step," January 24, 1985
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "In Re: Nomination Papers of Marakay Rogers, Christina Valente and Carl J. Romanelli," November 7, 2006
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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
