🍻 One down. Fifty-one more
📖 In today’s PoliticsPA Guide. The House of Representatives passed a bill to expand health care subsidies in defiance of GOP leaders. The race between Shapiro and Garrity has begun. AP Democrats seek support for Shapiro’s 2026 campaign. Themed butter sculpture unveiling begins in Pennsylvania in 2026.
🎶 Your morning pick-me-up. Private Idaho. B-52
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌧️ Johnstown | Rain, 58
🌥️ Efrata | Rising Clouds, 52
🌂 Moosik | Afternoon showers, 51
Sports PA
🏈 Eagles (11-6) | Sun vs. San Francisco
🏈 Steelers (10-7) | Pon vs. Houston
🏀 Sixes (20-15) | Friday in Orlando | Sun in Toronto
🏒 Flyers (22-12-8) | Toronto 1-2 (OT) | Saturday vs. Tampa Bay
🏒 Penguins (21/12/9) | New Jersey 4-1 | Saturday vs. Calgary | Sun in Boston
🔈 What we hear. “It’s time for members of the Senate – on both sides of the aisle – to come together and support a bipartisan health care plan that will deliver the relief and reforms the American people deserve.” – Representative Ryan Mackenzie
📕 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 vital story
1. The House passed a bill to expand health care subsidies in defiance of GOP leaders
“In an extraordinary rebuke to Republican leadership, the House passed a bill 230-196 on Thursday that would extend the expiration of health care subsidies for those who are covered under the Affordable Care Act, as 17 rebel GOP legislators joined all Democrats in voting for the measure.
The issue was forced to a vote after a handful of Republicans signed on to a so-called “discharge petition” to start debate, bypassing objections from House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill now goes to the Senate, where pressure for a bipartisan compromise is mounting AP
Elsewhere
Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan break ranking to extend ACA subsidies to home floor. “The vote came after nine House Republicans, including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), and Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), voted to support passage of Democrats’ bill that would restore the subsidies for three years.” | PoliticsPA
Fetterman votes for the war powers resolution, which McCormick opposes. “Pennsylvania senators disagreed while voting on Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine’s resolution that ‘would direct the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.’” | PoliticsPA
Key Democrats Draw ‘Red Line’ on Cryptocurrency Ethics. “Key Senate Democrats involved in bipartisan cryptocurrency talks are demanding ethical barriers that prohibit public officials from profiting from cryptocurrency business connections, including the president.” | Punchbowl News
- Senator David McCormick revealed two additional purchases of the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF ($BITB), adding at least $65,000 to his holdings and bringing his total Bitcoin ETF purchases in 2025 to at least $580,000. | Quantity quiver
Country
2. The race between Josh Shapiro and Stacy Garrity for AP Governor has officially begun
“Pennsylvania’s race for governor has officially begun, and 10 months before the election, the November race appears to be a foregone conclusion.
Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro on Thursday, he officially announced his re-election campaign — not that anyone thought he wouldn’t run. Republicans quickly coalesced around the state party’s endorsed candidate, Pennsylvania’s treasurer Stacy Garrity.
The race will dominate Pennsylvania politics throughout November, but could also have national implications as Democrats hope Shapiro being at the top of the state ticket will boost the party’s chances in several key congressional races.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Shapiro begins his re-election campaign for governor. “It’s official. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro kicked off his re-election campaign Thursday morning with a video praising his achievements during his first term.” | PoliticsPA
Shapiro officially launches his re-election campaign amid a whirlwind of 2028 speculation. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ran for reelection Thursday at an event in Pittsburgh, where he reminded voters of his accomplishments and shared his vision for the state’s future, touting himself as a leader who ‘never backed down from a fight.’” | known
Pennsylvania disputes say they are in talks to release Ohio’s voter rolls. “Pennsylvania officials say they are not in discussions about handing over private voter information to Ohio, where officials are trying to identify dually registered voters amid the state’s departure from a bilateral voter data exchange program.” | Vote for Pennsylvania
Around the Republic of Poland
3. ‘Electoral surge’: AP Democrats seek support from Shapiro’s 2026 campaign
“Democrats are working on leverage Governor Josh Shapiro on the 2026 slate to expand his slim majority in the House and even reverse 30 years of Republican control of the Pennsylvania Senate.
Shapiro, a proven fundraiser with a growing national reach, embraced this call to arms.
“Here in Pennsylvania, you have the opportunity to decide the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Shapiro told a crowd of supporters at an official campaign kickoff event in Pittsburgh on Thursday. “And you have the power to help me win the trifecta in Harrisburg, where the Legislature is divided by just three seats.” | LNP
Elsewhere
Penn enrollment in PA is withering as Congress grapples with a vote on health insurance subsidies. “Thousands of Pennsylvanians have left the state’s only Affordable Care Act-based marketplace, Penn, after monthly premiums skyrocketed as enhanced federal subsidies expired. For those still enrolled, rising costs mean cutting back on spending elsewhere.” | Penn Capital Star
A Bethlehem district judge’s alleged “book of grievances” leads to allegations of misconduct. “A Bethlehem County judge was charged Wednesday with violating standards of judicial conduct, in part for keeping a ‘ghost book’ in which she allegedly wrote disparaging remarks about litigants who appeared before her.” | LehighValley Live
Boscola will run for re-election as state senator. “Pennsylvania State Senator Lisa Boscola today announced her candidacy for re-election to represent the 18th Senatorial District.” | Hiking in the Lehigh Valley
Madsen, a member of Dauphin County, announces a re-election campaign. “Democratic Republican Dave Madsen has announced his candidacy for a third term in the 104th House District in Dauphin County.” | PennLive
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- A functioning republic needs functioning news media | Wide + Freedom
- The closure of a newspaper is a warning that no community is too gigantic to lose its news source Nancy Eshelman
- Always Local, Always Here: Triblive’s Enduring Commitment to the Pittsburgh News | TribLive
- Is Fetterman defenseless in Pennsylvania? | Linda Stein
- Pennsylvania must reject collectivism and embrace prosperity | Representative Joe D’Orsie and David Taylor
- How 2026 could turn out differently for the GOP than 2025 | Pat Wandling
1 item
5. ‘Growing a Nation’: Themed butter sculpture unveiling begins in Pennsylvania in 2026.
“Dozens of fans and guests craned their necks and stood on their tiptoes to catch a glimpse of this year’s butter sculpture, a gigantic work commemorating Pennsylvania’s role in the founding of the nation 250 years ago.
This year’s sculpture, made from 500 pounds of butter, depicts the likeness of the nation’s founding fathers signing the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia next to the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross. | Penn Capital Star
Thank you for starting your Friday with us.
Lots of football and agricultural shows this weekend. Enjoy.
