Donna Long Brightbill wins Lebanon County judge race: unofficial results

Daniel Larlham Jr., Lebanon Daily News
·2 min read

It appears that Donna Long Brightbill is poised to become the next 52nd district court of common pleas judge, securing a majority of the votes on Tuesday's election.

With 60 out of 60 precincts reporting, Republican candidate Brightbill received the most with 16,919 votes in unofficial tallies.

Opponent Megan Ryland Tanner received 12,546 votes.

A total of 30,094 ballots were cast as of Tuesday night, with 6,776 mail-in ballots.

Donna Long Brightbill secured the most votes during Tuesday night's election, securing the 52nd district court of common pleas judge seat.
Donna Long Brightbill secured the most votes during Tuesday night's election, securing the 52nd district court of common pleas judge seat.

"I feel terrific. A lot of people worked very hard on this and I'm very appreciative," Brightbill said. "I worked very hard on this, and so I'm very grateful that the voterS of Lebanon County where able to see the work I have done over decades, the services I have performed for clients and municipalities, and it's very gratifying."

Brightbill has spent 31 of her 34 years practicing law as a partner with firm Long Brightbill, concentrating her practice in family, divorce, support, adoption and custody law. She was raised in Campbelltown, attended Palmyra Area High School, received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from Duquesne Law School.

Brightbill also worked as a part-time assistant district attorney under now Judge Bradford Charles for seven and half years.

She said that the only downside to her winning is that she will have to leave the law firm.

"I am sad that I will be leaving that office> I've been going to that building for 31 years."

Brightbill said in a previous interview that she initially decided to run for the seat because she has something to add to the court stemming from her working class background and believes that her experience with both civil and criminal court cases made her the best candidate for the position.

"I'm most looking forward to A, starting and B, seeing what I can do to help the court, what I can do in my role. Certainly I will have things to learn and I'm looking forward to starting that process. Learning and becoming the best that I can be."

She said that she is looking forward to her 10-year term as a judge.

Tanner was not immediately available for comment.

Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on X @djlarlham.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Donna Long Brightbill wins Lebanon County PA judge race