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📰 PA Policy Playbook Headlines. New political era of insurgent candidates upsets PA primaries. Why political pundits will be watching Pennsylvania closely. Democratic efforts to win back working-class voters will be put to the test. Boxscores are back, baby.
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✅Primaries 2026. Check out our Pennsylvania primary previews, polls and prediction markets.
🔈Voices of reason. The latest episode of the PoliticsPA podcast “Voices of Reason” covers Tuesday’s primary elections. Host Steve Ulrich talks about politics with Emily Brey Americans for Prosperity and Colin Seeburger Center for American Progress on election issues.
💬 Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
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The most essential story
1. A recent political era of insurgent candidates causes confusion at a Pennsylvania elementary school
“Ten years later Donald Trump While he turned the Republican Party upside down by attacking the GOP establishment in his first presidential campaign, the political outsiders he mobilized continue to battle their own leaders for future control of the conservative movement.
Nowhere in Pennsylvania has this battle played out more fiercely than in a solidly Republican state Senate district southwest of Pittsburgh, where the longtime GOP leader in the General Assembly is locked in the state’s most costly legislative primary this year – and likely ever.’ | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Elsewhere
Shapiro tests his political power at a Pennsylvania elementary school. “With the House of Representatives more competitive than any other state, Pennsylvania’s May 19 primary election becomes a high-stakes test for the political capital of Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) as he seeks a second term as governor ahead of a widely anticipated Democratic presidential bid in 2028.” | Washington Examiner
Governor’s written campaign for Mastriano ‘Full ahead’ despite ambassador nomination. “State Sen. Doug Mastriano may have been nominated as ambassador, but that doesn’t stop efforts to get him listed in Tuesday’s Republican primary for governor.” | PennLive
2026 primary preview: Richey and Ventre vie for GOP lieutenant governor nomination. “Pennsylvania’s primary election will be held on Tuesday and Republicans will go to the polls to choose their running mate for state treasurer Stacy Garrity in her bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.” | PoliticsPA
In the GOP race for PA lieutenant governor, the underdog is running against his own party. “Allegheny County Republican Party Chairman Jason Richey won endorsements from the top of the GOP ticket, but John Ventre of Washington County refused to resign.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Country
2. Why political pundits will be closely watching Pennsylvania’s primary elections – even with several competitive races
“A tranquil primary student can send a raucous signal.
In an election in which many of the leading candidates face no grave challengers, politicians and campaign leaders across the country will be closely watching Tuesday’s results in Pennsylvania – not to find out who will win, but to see who will show up.’ | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Elsewhere
Arcade games and sports betting are spending millions to compete in 3 GOP state Senate primaries. “Gaming and gambling interests, whose industries were expected to face new or higher taxes in 2025, spent $8.1 million and that counts in the run-up to Pennsylvania’s May primary.” | PA reflector
An unusual primary election challenges three incumbent state legislators. “A half-dozen contested races for House and Senate nominations highlight Tuesday’s primary voting in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. They include challenges to three incumbent state legislators, a rarity in a primary.” | WVIA
Arcade games dominate the 48th Senate district race between Republicans Chris Gebhard and Clovis Crane. “Political ads and flyers that have spread across Lancaster, Lebanon and Berks counties in recent weeks put skill games and gambling at the center of the race to represent Pennsylvania’s 48th Senate District.” | LNP
State Senate races highlight Tuesday’s primary. “The biggest races in the primary are on the Republican side, with two incumbent state senators facing challengers from their own party.” | Observer-Reporter
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Democratic efforts to win back blue-collar voters Pass the test in Pennsylvania
“Situated in the picturesque forests along the banks of the Lehigh River in eastern Pennsylvania, it is perhaps the most surprising congressional district in the country.
If any place reflects the changing nature of American politics over the last 10 years, it is certainly Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.’ | Shipment
Elsewhere
Here’s how Pennsylvania’s elementary school system has progressed so far. “Mistakes in postal voting and testing of new election processes have made headlines.” | Vote for Pennsylvania
The legal chamber gives clues about the direction in which the National Democratic Party is heading. “In the last election in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, the division was almost even. This year’s Democratic primaries also send signals about what is important to the party. ” | NBC News
Primary Day 2026: Lehigh Valley Race Recap. “No-vote campaigns have the potential to shape critical races that can influence state and national politics.” | LehighValley News
The Reform Coalition is targeting Philadelphia committee seats and the opposition of the Cartoon Party. “Commission seats in Philadelphia are typically sleepy races that have struggled to attract interested candidates in the past. Now they’re suddenly competitive.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Boxscores are back, baby!
If you love baseball and miss the daily scores in the print edition of your local newspaper, have we got something for you?
It’s called Boxscore.email and was created by Jeff Blankenburg. This is a free, daily newsletter summarizing the previous day’s Major League Baseball games. You give them your email address; they send you a summary every morning. Look
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