📖 Today’s #PoliticsPA Guide. McCormick says he will move away from meta-specific problems. State leaders welcome data centers. The residents don’t want them. Bucks County withdraws from ICE partnership. What Gritty does.
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The most essential story
1. McCormick says his wife’s recent leadership role will assist him move away from Meta’s problems
“US Senator Dave McCormick plans to withdraw from Senate business related specifically to Meta — the powerful and far-reaching technology company that his wife was expected to lead this week — while still seeking to play a prominent role on issues such as artificial intelligence and social media guidelines that sometimes impact the company.
The Pennsylvania Republican said he takes precautions to avoid potential conflicts of interest Dina Powell McCormick becomes president and vice president of Facebook’s parent company, reporting to the founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Elsewhere
PA-08: Cognetti campaign collects over 640,000. dollars, entering 2026 with 778 thousand dollars in hand. “Paige Cognetti, the Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District seat, announced Wednesday that her campaign raised more than $640,000 in the final quarter of 2025 and is entering the New Year with more than $778,000 in cash.” | PoliticsPA
PA-01: Rep. Fitzpatrick Bucks GOP faces tough midterm fight on health care costs. “Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick faces an uphill re-election fight and recently urged GOP leaders to force a vote on an issue important to his district: rising health care costs.” | NPR
PA-01: Democratic challengers to US President Brian Fitzpatrick’s electors on trial at Horsham Town Hall. “Democratic candidates Tracy Hunt, Lucia Simonelli and Rob Strickler held a town hall at the Horsham Township Community Center on Tuesday to attract voters in the purple seat covering all of Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County. Bob Harvie, who is also the Democratic candidate, declined an invitation to join them. ” | WHY
PA-07: Marine veteran Ryan Crosswell aims to flip a GOP-held congressional seat in Pennsylvania. “Crosswell, a former Republican who also served as a federal prosecutor, touts his pro-Israel bona fides as he seeks the Democratic nomination against Republican Ryan Mackenzie” | Jewish insider
SCOTUS says candidates can challenge voting rules. Republicans are ready to take advantage. “In a major victory for lawmakers on Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that candidates have the right to challenge election laws, opening the door to a potential flood of lawsuits ahead of this year’s midterm elections.” | known
Country
2. Many PA residents don’t want data centers in their communities. State leaders welcome them
“Pennsylvanians across the state, from Allegheny to Lackawanna counties, have expressed concerns about proposed data centers and their impact on energy prices, water apply and pollution. In a recent poll, 42% of Pennsylvanians said they did not want data centers built on or near their property. Yet many state and local lawmakers – even skeptics – have accepted the proliferation of data centers in Pennsylvania as a fact.
“I’ve heard people tell me, ‘Well, we’ll just forbid them to do it. We’ll ban it,'” he states Senator Gene Yaw he told Spotlight PA. “Then let’s go to the library and burn all the books while we’re at it.” | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Shapiro tours an agricultural show, avoiding talking about the campaign and focusing on agriculture. “Governor Josh Shapiro made his annual visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Wednesday, taking time to sample produce and marvel at the splendor of a butter sculpture while trying to distract from talk of his 2026 re-election campaign.” | PennLive
AP voters don’t approve of Trump, Shapiro is starting his re-election bid on forceful grounds: the poll. “The poll, conducted by Harrisburg-based communications firm Bravo Group in partnership with PennLive, found that 57% disapproved of Trump, while 49% said they “strongly disapproved.” Forty percent said they either somewhat or strongly approved of the president.” | PennLive
State Senator Cris Dush will run for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. “State Sen. Cris Dush, a Republican who represents much of Center County, is running for lieutenant governor, he said in a Wednesday evening interview. He joins one other Republican looking to join a bid that will likely be led by Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a gubernatorial candidate backed by the Pennsylvania GOP. ” | Daily Times Center
Summary of re-election announcements. “Here is a list of members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who, as of January 14, 2026, have announced their intention to seek re-election in 2026.” | PoliticsPA
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Bucks County withdraws from ICE partnership
“The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that it is withdrawing from its 287(g) partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The 287(g) program is named after Section 287(g)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes ICE to delegate authority to state and local law enforcement officers to perform certain immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and supervision.
“After careful evaluation, I have determined that the potential public safety benefits this partnership may offer far outweigh certain public safety costs of partnering with ICE.” Sheriff Danny Ceisler he said.” | PolitykaPA
Elsewhere
Democrats can really compete in rural America. “The results of the 2025 election cycle send a strong signal about connecting strategies beyond urban centers.” | Nation
Montana Dems hire former Pennsylvania mayor as executive director. “The Montana Democratic Party announced the hiring of Pennsylvania political activist Emily Marburger as the party’s new executive director.” | Daily Montanan
A near-record percentage of Americans view massive business as the greatest threat to the United States “The percentage of Americans who, compared with government and workers, view business as the greatest threat to the country is near its highest, reaching more than two decades ago as accounting scandals rocked the corporate world.” | Axles
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Gritty’s salary may make you rethink your career choice
“Gritty is paid to do this.
Why it matters: A recent analysis of the highest-paid mascots in 2025 reveals that the astonishing salaries of fan favorites like Gritty are higher than those of many hard-working Americans.
Message management: The Philadelphia Flyers mascot earns approximately $250,000 a year, which is almost as much as Josh Shapirothe highest-paid governor in the country. | Axios Philadelphia
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