Yesterday’s Straw Poll Sent a Message. Now, Let’s Send One Back.

I appreciated the opportunity to meet with so many State Committee members at yesterday’s Southeast Caucus. I welcomed the tough questions because they matter. This race is about more than a title; it is about the integrity of our courts, the future of our party, and the direction of our state. The questions asked yesterday were not just about politics. They were about principles. They were about trust. Who do we entrust with decisions that affect real people and real lives? That is the question before us. That is why I am in this race.

Yesterday’s Southeast Caucus straw poll vote resulted in a 71 to 7 outcome in favor of my opponent. This result was largely driven by Montgomery, Bucks, and Philadelphia Counties voting as a bloc. However, to fully understand the implications, we must recognize that counties are not monolithic entities—they are made up of diverse districts, each with its own unique concerns, priorities, and challenges. When large counties vote uniformly, it risks overshadowing the voices of smaller districts, effectively reducing the influence of those with differing perspectives.

While such outcomes may align with the mechanics of a simple majority, they can conflict with the broader democratic principles that underpin our Republic—principles designed to protect minority voices and ensure that diverse viewpoints are represented. When the will of the majority is used to suppress dissent, it erodes the integrity of our electoral process, creating the illusion of unanimity where real differences exist.

Yet, I remain steadfast. Change does not happen overnight. It begins with conversations that challenge assumptions, with questions that force us to think critically about fairness and representation. It requires the courage to think independently, to reject complacency, and to demand better—not just for ourselves, but for every voice that deserves to be heard. Most importantly, it demands that we look beyond the immediate results and focus on the bigger picture: a system that values every district, every voter, and every idea. 

Consider this: In the most recent presidential election, Kamala Harris won in nearly every county represented at yesterday’s Southeast Caucus. That was not an accident. It was the result of strategy, discipline, and organization. The opposition has a plan. Do we? Ask yourself, “What will it take to change that? And more importantly, who is willing to do the work to make it happen?”

When newly registered Republican voters (who were told their vote counted) ask what you did when it mattered, what will you say? Will you defend a system that resists accountability, attempts to eviscerate the principles of our Republic to ensure the power of a few, and resigns itself to blue strongholds? Or will you stand for something better?

If we want a strong party and a judiciary that upholds the law with integrity, we must be intentional about whom we trust with that responsibility. Not just for a term, but for the long haul (I say this sincerely, knowing that I have the potential to serve Pennsylvanians for over three terms).  

Yet, I am not running to simply hold office. I am running to serve, to preserve, and to build a judiciary that reflects our highest values. I seek to restore the public’s faith in the judiciary that has been eroded by political, non-judicial decisions. This, too, will not occur overnight, which is why I am forward-thinking, and I am asking you to do the same.

Now, pause for a moment. Picture a case before the Commonwealth Court that matters to you. Your business’ ability to stay open during a pandemic. A workers’ compensation case. Your grandson’s educational case. A decision that will impact your life, your livelihood, or your family’s future. Who do you trust to hear the story? Who do you trust to apply the law fairly? Who do you trust to make the right call—not swayed by favors or political cronyism, but by the law and the Constitution as they are written?

I would put forth to you that that person is me.

Yesterday’s straw poll vote does not change my commitment. It strengthens it. It reinforces my determination to meet with more of you, answer more of your questions, and ensure that you have the information you need to decide for yourself.

So let’s talk. Not in a crowded room. Not when others are watching. Let’s sit down. Ask me the tough questions when others are not around. Find the answers for yourself, when your voice can be heard, not just counted in a bloc.

Yours in Truth, Liberty and Justice,

Josh Prince Esq.

Candidate for the Commonwealth Court of PA