🍂Hello November. This is the 126th day of the state budget impasse and the 34th day of the federal government shutdown.
🗞️ In today’s PoliticsPA Guide. Voters discouraged by polarization, advertising barrage during Supreme Court elections in PA. Is a PA budget agreement imminent? Pittsburgh at a crossroads. Fast, casual meals cause pain.
🎶 Your morning pick-me-up. Everyone wants to rule the world. Tears of fear
Weather in Pennsylvania
☀️ Franklin Park | Mostly clear, 55
☀️ Milroy | Mostly clear, 62
☁️ Birdsboro | Mostly murky, 62
Sports PA
🏈 Steelers (5-3) | Indianapolis 27-20 | Sun in the Los Angeles Chargers
🏈 Eagles (6-2) | Sun in Green Bay
🏈 Pitt (7-2) | Stanford 35-20 | November 15 vs. Notre Dame
🏈 Temple (5-4) | East Carolina 14-45 | I was in the army
🏈 Penn State (3-5) | Ohio State 14-38 | Saturday vs. Indiana
⚽ Union | Chicago 3-0 | MLS semifinals November 22-23
🏀 Sixers (5-1) | Boston 108-109 | Brooklyn 129-105 | Tuesday in Chicago
🏒 Penguins (8-3-2) | Winnipeg 2-5 | Monday in Toronto
🏒 Flyers (6-5-1) | Toronto 2-5 | Calgary 1-2 | Tuesday in Montreal
📰 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here. Has this email been sent to you? Subscribe for free.
The most critical story
1. Voters discouraged by polarization, advertising frenzy during PA Supreme Court elections
“Lifelong resident of Lebanon County John Tice has seen polarizing TV and digital ads trying to sway voters on the fate of three state Supreme Court justices on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Republican Party-aligned groups argue that the judges up for retention this year, all elected as Democrats in 2015, are “radical” and have allowed their political loyalties to influence their rulings. GOP Urges Pennsylvanians to Vote No to Remove Judges.
Meanwhile, Democrats have come to the justices’ defense with direct mail and ads urging “yes” votes on judicial retention issues, emphasizing that keeping them on the bench is critical to maintaining a judiciary that will uphold abortion access and voting rights.
Tice, a 69-year-old Republican, said none of the messages got his votes.” (LNP)
Elsewhere
Five things we’re watching ahead of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections. “The high-stakes election over whether Judges Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht should remain on the bench is the biggest race in Pennsylvania’s November elections.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Pennsylvania Supreme Court faces key election as judge warns gridlock would be ‘catastrophic’. “David Wecht, one of three Democratic judges who were up for retention on Tuesday, told NBC News that it is “extremely difficult to work with a court that is understaffed.”NBC News)
Democrats feared Republican efforts to remove PA Supreme Court justices. They spent significantly more on the race. “The three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices on this year’s ballot and the Democratic groups supporting them appear to have raised and spent exponentially more money than the Republican-backed groups trying to oust them.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
This Republican mega-donor is changing local elections in Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania’s richest man has poured millions into statewide campaigns, turning typically sleepy elections into competitive races. Jeffrey Yass, co-founder of trading firm Susquehanna International Group, was the sixth-largest donor to federal races in 2024, spending $100 million on Republican candidates. But what makes Yass unique is his focus on local races — including a $34 million donation to Pennsylvania’s Student First PAC.” (known)
Country
2. All the major players in the AP budget impasse met in person this week. Will there be an agreement?
“Governor Josh Shapiro and leaders of all four legislative caucuses met in person several days this week in the face of a four-month budget impasse that is causing increasingly dire consequences across Pennsylvania.
The state spending plan was scheduled to be unveiled on June 30, but that date passed without a final agreement. Since then, closed-door negotiations between leaders have been relentless. Without a budget, the state cannot send billions of dollars to contractors, districts, nonprofits and schools to fund critical services.” (PA reflector)
Elsewhere
Shapiro is taking action to support Pennsylvanians who rely on SNAP. “As hours ticked by on possible funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced two state-led actions to support the Commonwealth’s Charitable Food Network and the two million Pennsylvanians who rely on SNAP.” (PolitykaPA)
‘Nobody knew what the hell we stood for’: Democrats soften democracy message for ’25. “In Tuesday’s election, leading Democrats are moving away from campaigning in favor of the idea of saving democracy, even as President Trump becomes increasingly bold in his power grabs.” (Axles)
A Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania is hearing a case challenging Medicaid limits on abortion. “A lawsuit that could invalidate Pennsylvania’s restrictions on Medicaid coverage for abortions will return to court this week. Two questions before the Commonwealth Court: Does the abortion insurance ban violate the state’s Equal Rights Amendment? And does the state constitution protect the right to reproductive freedom?” (THAT’S ALL)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. O’Connor and Moreno fight for mayor of Pittsburgh as the city stands at a crossroads
“Pittsburgh voters will go to the polls on Tuesday for what may seem like a tranquil election after an intense 2024 presidential race, but it will decide who leads a city facing a turning point unlike any other in decades.
Pennsylvania’s second-largest city is grappling with shrinking revenue streams, an aging fleet and an affordable housing crisis, even as it boasts a $600 million downtown revitalization and will soon be in the national spotlight for hosting the 2026 NFL Draft in April. (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Elsewhere
“You only lose by not participating” | Penn State students discuss the importance of voting. “As Pennsylvania’s local elections approach, Penn State students and organizations on campus are working to energize young voters and emphasize the importance of civic engagement.” (“College Journal”.)
College Guerrillas Fight Apathy with Midterm Message: ‘You Can Make Change’. “Political energy on campus is typically low during non-presidential elections. Trump, the Kirk assassination and other events are stoking partisan passion at Pittsburgh-area universities ahead of tomorrow’s and next year’s votes.” (Public source)
Lehigh Valley’s newest voters: They are younger and less likely to be Democrats or Republicans. “Among the 480,000 voters in the Lehigh Valley are 6,440 people who were not on the voter rolls in the May primary.” (Morning talk in Allentown)
Speaker: The AP is key to the effort to elect presidents by popular vote. “Because the Electoral College is based on the Constitution, the only way to mitigate its effects is to amend the Constitution, a process so burdensome that it seems impossible to achieve in a politically divided age that few people are even willing to try, he said. What if there is another way?” (Reading the Eagle)
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Local government elections are critical. Please vote on Tuesday if you haven’t voted by mail yet LNP
- PA judicial elections could change the outcome of future redistricting cases | Daniel Mallinson
- Republican Plot to Turn Pennsylvania into Hungary | Ryan Cooper
- Two government crises facing Pennsylvanians | Trib LIVE
- Are there signs of wise life in the Democratic Party? | Michael Sean Winters
- Pennsylvania could write reproductive freedom into its constitution | E. Goldblatt Hyatt
- What is Pittsburgh’s role in Donald Trump’s America? | Brandon McGinley
- Republicans love radical, activist judges | Adriana E. Ramírez
- Originality is a mirage. Judges must make political judgments Bruce Ledewitz
- What is the difference between Garrity and Mastriano? | Mark Nicastre
- Krasner donation blitz on election eve raises up-to-date questions about oversight | Ben Mannes
- It’s time for newborn guns to have their turn | David Marshall
1 item
5. Fast-Casual Dining is a pain for a nervous consumer
“Fast casual restaurants are in decline because consumers want to save money by eating elsewhere.
Why it matters: People are struggling with higher costs and concerns about their job security, prompting them to look for savings within their budgets.
Quick, random side effects are common.” (Axles)
Thank you for starting your week with us.
Remember, election day is tomorrow.
