Executive Summary

Recent 2025 polling indicates a historic shift in Pennsylvania’s stance on capital punishment, with support falling to a record low of 29%. Driven by concerns over government fallibility and the risk of executing the innocent, a bipartisan coalition in the General Assembly is now moving to formally abolish the death penalty through House Bills 888 and 99.

Bipartisan Action: The Push to Repeal Pennsylvania’s Death Penalty

New data from Susquehanna Polling and Research shows that public sentiment in Pennsylvania has shifted decisively against capital punishment. This change is fueling a renewed, bipartisan effort in Harrisburg to formally abolish the practice.

• Record Low Support: Only 29% of voters now support the death penalty, a sharp drop from 42% in 2015.
• Widespread Distrust in Government: Over half of Pennsylvanians (51%) do not trust the government to apply the death penalty fairly or without bias.
• Bipartisan Skepticism: Doubts about the system’s integrity are shared across the aisle, with 60% of Democrats and 40% of Republicans expressing little to no trust in its administration.
• The “Innocence” Factor: The leading reason for opposing the death penalty is the risk of executing an innocent person, a concern cited by 45% of respondents.
• A Failed Policy: The push for repeal comes as the Commonwealth marks 26 years without an execution, while more than 200 death sentences have been overturned due to legal errors since the 1970s.
• Legislative Momentum: House Bill 888, introduced by Rep. Russ Diamond (R), and House Bill 99, reintroduced by Rep. Chris Rabb (D), provide a bipartisan path to abolishing the death penalty in the Commonwealth.Rabb has introduced legislation to repeal the death penalty in every legislative session since taking office in 2017. 

“Capital punishment perpetuates a cycle of violence that devalues human life and undermines our efforts to build a culture of life and hope. Abolishing the death penalty aligns with pro-life values by affirming that the state should not take life as punishment, even in response to the gravest of crimes.” — Representative Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon “Data shows an overwhelmingly majority of Pennsylvanians recognize the death penalty is a failed policy rooted in vengeance, not justice. It has cost taxpayers millions, taken innocent lives, and done nothing to make our communities safer. Our justice system is far too flawed to justify a punishment that cannot be undone. One innocent life taken at the hands of the state is one too many.” — Representative Christopher Rabb, D-Philadelphia

What’s Next for Repeal Efforts?

The path toward abolition now moves into the hands of the House Judiciary Committee, where these key milestones are expected:

• Committee Review: Both HB 888 and HB 99 are currently under review by the Judiciary Committee. They must pass a committee vote before they can be considered by the full House of Representatives.
• Executive Support: Governor Josh Shapiro has already called for the abolition of capital punishment and maintains a moratorium on execution warrants, indicating he is ready to sign a repeal bill into law.