🤠 Hello Thursday
📰 PA Policy Playbook Headlines. A mysterious PAC is urging Democrats to enter the PA-07 contest. Key voters in Pennsylvania say Congress is failing them. Deluzio introduces regulations aimed at taking private capital out of youth sports. Will Hersheypark open on time?
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. To prepare. 2 Unlimited
Weather in Pennsylvania
☁️ Connellsville | Mostly murky, 55
☁️ Cogan Station | Cloudy, 54
🌤️ New Town Square | Partly sunlit, 63
Sports PA
⚾ Pirates (23-20) | Colorado 4-10 | Thu vs. Colorado
⚾ Phillies (20-23) | Boston 1-3 | Thu in Boston
⚽ Union (1-2-10) | Orlando City 3-4 | I was based in Columbus
✅Primaries 2026. Check out our Pennsylvania primary previews, polls and prediction markets.
🔈 What we hear. “I don’t really care about party lines. What matters is whether you agree with my values and what I think. And right now I don’t think many of them do.” – Richard Sworley
💬 Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
📕 PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here.
The most critical story
1. National Democrats enter Lehigh Valley congressional race to counter influx of last-minute spending by shadowy PAC
“The highly competitive congressional seat in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley became the center this week of an all-out spending war by national political groups ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections, when Democrats will choose their challenger to one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country.
The four-way Democratic contest in the 7th Congressional District received more than $1.2 million in last-minute TV ads from a up-to-date and mysterious group with ties to Republican operatives.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Shapiro and AOC’s political maneuvering brings drama to the congressional race in Philadelphia. “Pennsylvania’s congressional candidate appears to have become embroiled in a proxy war between Gov. Josh Shapiro and progressive U.S. Republican from New York Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.” | PennLive
The pro-Al Stanford Super PAC pulled its ads from television during the final stretch of the congressional race in Philadelphia. “The Washington, D.C.-based super PAC that spent a staggering $3.5 million to support physician Al Stanford in his bid for Philadelphia’s open congressional seat pulled its television ads this week just days before the election.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
What is “progressive”? Philadelphia’s 3rd Congressional District is testing the label before voters go to the polls. “Sharif Street, Chris Rabb and Ala Stanford share many political goals, but some divisions over Gaza and fundraising, as well as a lack of public polling, make the race a guessing game.” | WHY
Country
2. Key voters in Pennsylvania say Congress is failing them
“NOTUS interviews with voters in Pennsylvania’s Northeast District showed widespread dissatisfaction on both sides over the failure to address economic issues and little hope that they would take action. Affordability has long been a concern in this region of former coal towns that never fully recovered from the decline of the steel industry and experienced an influx of low-income jobs.” | known
Elsewhere
2026 primary preview: Lee and Parker meet for Democratic nomination in PA-12. “The 12th Congressional District contest is a Democratic stronghold that includes the city of Pittsburgh. Rep. Summer Lee is the heavy favorite to return to Washington, but she faces a primary challenge in the fall general election from fellow Democrat William Parker and most likely Republican James Hayes. ” | PoliticsPA
John Fetterman Casts Deciding Vote Against Trump’s Limitation of War in Iran. “The war powers resolution failed on a 49-50 vote because the Pennsylvanian was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans controlling the Senate. Three Republicans – U.S. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – voted with the Democrats. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Bartolotta v. Buchtan: Senate primary highlights GOP split. “The fight in District 46, which includes all of Washington and Greene counties and a chunk of Beaver, was ugly. Courtroom fights were accompanied by shootouts between state and local party leaders and violent attacks fueled by gambling interests. ” | THAT’S ALL
A delay in state police notifying lawmakers of the threat is drawing anger at the Pennsylvania Capitol. “Some state lawmakers are wondering why they were not notified about the man who posted the hit list containing their names until approximately two weeks after state police learned of the threat and a week after the Senate was in session at a difficult-to-secure location in Philadelphia.” | PennLive
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Deluzio introduces the “Let Kids Play” law to raise private capital from youth sports
“US Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17), with the US Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced the Let Kids Play Act on Wednesday, a bicameral bill aimed at combating the takeover of youth sports by private equity.
“We see big money vultures that have turned youth sports into a luxury item. That drives prices down for families. That makes it a rip-off. This valuation didn’t just come about by accident. It’s these private equity vultures that we see in the economy and we see it here.” PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Allegheny County Council members want to oust Patrick Catena as president. “Nearly half of the Allegheny County Council has signed on to a motion to remove Pat Catena as board chairman as Catena faces growing criticism over mailers sent out by his House campaign last week.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Krasner attacks Trump and the House Judiciary Committee over the “war on immigrants” and hails GOP leaders to “Pull Up!” “Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday rebuked the House Judiciary Committee, telling its Republican leaders not to “spend your tax dollars running a deceitful, authoritarian political campaign.” Questioner from Philadelphia
Data center town hall speakers criticize the industry, Shapiro and the secrecy. “The immense scope of Pennsylvania’s data center boom and the fierce opposition to it were on display during Wednesday evening’s virtual town hall, when it was called an ‘attack,’ something that ‘crushed’ citizens and – in many cases – was a byproduct of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s support.” | Central Square
Allegheny County is pushing for paid parental leave. “The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday unanimously approved a measure seeking public comment on a proposal proposed by the county health department to provide 18 weeks of paid parental leave to all employees countywide.” | Grandstand overview
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- New hope for education in Pennsylvania | Wall Street Journal
- Pennsylvania must step up where the federal government is failing on women’s health | Representative Melissa Shusterman
- Tuesday Core Classes: What’s At Stake | Emily Brey
- Build trust by enforcing the law – including with elected officials | Wide + Freedom
- We Can’t Wait for Harrisburg: Philadelphia Needs a Rideshare Tax Now | Sharif El-Mekki
- Pennsylvania budget – balanced or based? | Felicia Good
- For America’s sake, let’s welcome MAGA dropouts who are finally waking up to reality | Dick Polman
1 item
5. Will Hersheypark open this summer? The strike threatens to delay the season
“Hersheypark’s full summer opening, scheduled for May 21, may be in jeopardy due to a union dispute between more than 200 maintenance workers who are voting to go on strike just days before the park opens for the 2026 season.
A possible delay in Hersheypark’s summer opening is due to a union dispute and a threatened strike among workers including vehicle mechanics, electricians and technicians, which could threaten operations. According to Inside the Magic, workers are voting this week on whether to authorize a strike after rejecting a contract offer. The vote comes before Pennsylvania’s summer theme park season opens on May 21, 2026, when operations will ramp up during a critical time for Pennsylvania’s largest park. | USA Today Network
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