📖 Today’s #PoliticsPA Guide. What to look for in Shapiro’s state budget speech. Inside the money race for a congressional seat in Philadelphia. Southwestern Pennsylvania Republicans clash with State Party over Bartolotta. Just in time for the Super Bowl: KegChup
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Money (that’s what I want). The Beatles
Weather in Pennsylvania
☁️ Pittsburg | Mostly overcast, 31
☁️ Harrisburg | Cloudy 34
🌤️ Philadelphia | Partly clear, 34
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (28-21) | Los Angeles Clippers 128-113 | Tuesday in Golden State
🏒 Flyers (24/20/10) | Tuesday vs. Washington
🏒 Penguins (28/15/11) | Ottawa 2-3 | Tuesday at the NY Islanders
📅 What are we watching?. The governor delivers his annual budget speech at 11:30 a.m
🔈 What we hear. “Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans Find Rare Common Ground – defending Punxsutawney Phil from animal rights activists.
📕 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here. Has this email been sent to you? Subscribe for free. Send tips or press releases to [email protected].
The most vital story
1. What to watch for during Shapiro’s state budget speech
“Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to propose a $53.3 billion state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year on Tuesday, just three months after resolving a bitter, 135-day budget impasse that forced schools, counties and nonprofits to borrow to stay afloat.
Shapiro, a Democrat up for re-election this year and potentially up for higher office, will deliver his fourth annual budget speech before a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where he plans to unveil an wide-ranging $1 billion housing and infrastructure plan to encourage modern housing developments with an overall focus on affordability in the state. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
New poll shows good approval rating for Governor Shapiro’s position. “A quarterly Morning Consult poll released Monday shows the Democratic governor has a 62% approval rating among registered voters and a 27% disapproval rating. Eleven percent of voters didn’t know or had no opinion. ” | PennLive
A LinkedIn co-founder who visited Jeffrey Epstein Properties made a huge donation to Governor Shapiro. “LinkedIn co-founder and billionaire Reid Hoffman, who newly released emails show traveled to Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, donated more than $1.5 million to Governor Josh Shapiro between 2021 and 2023.” | PennLive
Smucker sues LNP | LancasterOnline claims the editorial team defamed him. “U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker has filed a defamation lawsuit against LNP Media Group, publisher of LNP | LancasterOnline, claiming that an editorial printed on October 8 damaged his reputation; he is seeking more than $250,000 in damages.” | LNP
Country
2. PA-03: Inside the money race for a congressional seat in Philadelphia
“State Senator Sharif Street maintained its financial advantage. Doctors Unfortunately, Stanford AND David Oxman they began to finance their campaigns themselves. AND State Representative Chris Rabb AND Morgan Cephas They’re tiny on cash, but maybe someone will get lend a hand soon.
The crowded Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District is starting to come into focus after candidates filed modern campaign finance reports this weekend. The submissions cover the last three months of 2025 and provide insight into the candidates’ resources as the campaign intensifies.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
PA-07: Lehigh Valley congressional candidates raised $1.5 million, modern campaign finance reports show. “The latest round of campaign finance reports show that fundraising heavyweights in the Lehigh Valley congressional race through the end of 2025 continued to financially distance themselves from the rest.” | LehighValley News
PA-10: Stelson almost beat Perry in 2024. Still outperforms him as she prepares for a rematch. “Democrat Janelle Stelson outperformed U.S. Rep. Scott Perry for the second quarter in a row in her bid to flip a central Pennsylvania district that could take control of the House in November.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Shapiro has become increasingly critical of ICE in Minneapolis. Some emphasize that he still cooperates with the agency. “The governor has spoken out repeatedly about ICE during his national book tour, but he faces pressure to do more on the issue in Pennsylvania.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Calls to reject ICE escalate across Palestine amid national outrage over deadly tactics. “From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, local governments and law enforcement agencies are reevaluating their contracts with federal immigration authorities.” | PennLive
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Southwest PA Republicans clash with Party-State over Bartolotta
“A nasty intraparty squabble involving Republican committees in two southwestern Pennsylvania counties, state party leadership and labor Senator Bartolotta’s Chamber has not calmed down as the statewide GOP meeting approaches.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Elsewhere
Bucks County Democrats want to limit the number of AP Senate candidates. Straw Poll ends in failure. “The Bucks County Democratic Committee held an informal vote last weekend aimed at limiting the number of primary candidates for state Senate seats. However, the move sparked a backlash from some party officials that has resulted in all three candidates planning to run.” | Bucks County Courier Times
Ask the experts: Revitalizing downtown Harrisburg. “We talked with state and local leaders about Harrisburg’s economic challenges, developing a downtown revitalization plan and coordinated efforts to attract new investment to the capital.” | City and state
ICE buys $87 million warehouse in Berks County as it plans to expand immigration detention centers across the U.S.. “The Trump Administration Quietly Purchased a Nearly 520,000-Square-Foot Warehouse in Berks County as It Plans to Turn Such Facilities into Immigration Detention Centers Across the U.S.” | PA reflector
The feds are buying a Schuylkill County warehouse to house detained immigrants. “The federal government has officially purchased the former Big Lots warehouse in Schuylkill County for more than $119.5 million, according to a deed filed Monday.” | WVIA
Oakmont is considering banning ICE post-arrest settlements. “Oakmont officials are considering barring formal agreements with federal immigration agents after ICE detained a local immigrant whose family and Pennsylvania officials have legal status.” | Axios Pittsburgh
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Heinz enters Super Bowl snack culture with an groundbreaking ketchup keg
“Heinz hopes ketchup will be as important as beer during the Super Bowl with KegChup, a 19.5-inch barrel that dispenses 114 ounces of the condiment. The barrel is based on NielsenIQ data that shows 84% of consumers prepare their own snacks on game day, and the big game is the second-biggest culinary celebration of the year. KegChup is intended to ensure consumers don’t run out of ketchup and potentially ruin their viewing party Marketing diving
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