Local judicial races rarely attract attention, but partisan politics are playing a role in a Delaware County race this fall. In a move insiders say represents a bold shift in local politics, Delaware County Democrats are recommending that voters remove three Republican judges from the county Court of Common Pleas in November.

It’s rare for local party officials to get involved in judicial retention elections — in which voters decide every 10 years whether a sitting judge should remain on the bench. The Delaware County Democratic Committee is bucking a long-standing norm.

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A rare recommendation

Passed by a narrow 18-17 majority last Wednesday, the county Democrats’ decision not to support retention of three GOP judges from the Delaware County Court means the party will share that recommendation with voters ahead of the Nov. 7 general election.

Guiney said the party’s decision is not to criticize any individual decisions made by the judges. Those judges, Richard M. Cappelli, Barry C. Dozor, and William Chip Mackrides, have either run as or been endorsed by Republicans.