July 3: Who will replace Biden?

🎆 Good morning. We hope you have a great holiday weekend. We have the 4th and 5th off, so we’ll see you again on Monday.

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☀️ Presque Isle | Mostly clear, 86
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⚾ Phillies (56-29) | Cubs 6-4 | Wed-Thu vs. Cubs | Fri-Sun vs. Atlanta
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🗓️ What’s happening todayThe state Senate convenes at 10 a.m., and the House of Representatives convenes at 11 a.m.

🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Representatives Valerie Gaydos AND George DunbarEarly returns for Representatives Justin Fleming (Friday), Rich Irvin (Sun) and Martina White (Sun.).

🗞️ Today’s headlines >> Your inboxWhere can I find the latest news about what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8am. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

The best story

1. Republican Party Actions to Ensure Biden Becomes the Democratic Nominee

“President Joe Biden Democratic allies may be able to count on support from some unlikely partners: Republicans, who will help him maintain his position.

Republicans, led by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, are now trying to ensure that Biden is nominated by the Democrats — and to make it difficult to replace him in the election if Biden withdraws.

While Biden’s campaign insists it has no plans to withdraw, Republicans are preparing for any eventuality. They have been preparing for this moment for a long time.” (known)

Related

Vice President Harris top choice to replace Biden in reelection race if he steps down, sources say. “Vice President Kamala Harris is the best alternative to U.S. President Joe Biden if he decides not to continue his re-election campaign, according to seven senior sources in the Biden campaign, the White House and the Democratic National Committee with knowledge of ongoing discussions on the issue.” (Reuters Agency)

Jill Biden, the President’s Closest Advisor, Faces Growing Criticism. She’s Not Cracking Up. “In the wake of a debate that raised concerns about President Biden’s age, the first lady is again facing criticism for her role as her husband’s chief defender.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)

• First Lady Jill Biden visits Allentown to promote education and workforce investment amid questions about Biden’s campaign. (Morning call from Allentown)

Efforts underway to build confidence in Pennsylvania’s fall elections“With the two candidates in a virtual tie for the Keystone State’s 19 electoral votes, new efforts are underway to strengthen voting procedures and avoid the kind of recriminations that made Pennsylvania ground zero for Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Constellation in talks with Pennsylvania to relaunch Three Mile Island, sources say“The talks, which two sources described as ‘beyond preliminary,’ signal that Constellation is moving forward with plans to revive part of a nuclear power plant in southern Pennsylvania that operated from 1974 to 2019. The nuclear unit Constellation is considering restarting is separate from the one that melted down.” (Reuters Agency)

Country

2. Poll says Casey has double-digit lead over McCormick

“In a poll of 800 registered Pennsylvania voters released Tuesday by the Commonwealth Foundation, Senator Bob Casey Jr. has a 12-point lead over his Republican opponent Dave McCormick in the race for a vacant seat in the US Senate.

Casey, a three-term Democrat, received 48 percent support among those asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, while McCormick received 36 percent support. Five percent of those surveyed said they would vote for another candidate, while 10% said “none of the above.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Common Ground Poll Reveals Pennsylvanians Concerned About Direction of State and Country“The Commonwealth Foundation released its quarterly ‘Common Ground in the Commonwealth’ survey of 800 registered voters in the Keystone State on Tuesday and found that voter sentiment in Pennsylvania hasn’t changed much over the past three months.” (PoliticsPA)

Voices of Reason S1E7 in the Capitol Rotunda. “The PoliticsPA podcast, “Voices of Reason,” hit the road at the State Capitol Rotunda for a jam-packed episode.” (PoliticsPA)

Campaign Finance Bill Passes Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Addresses Citizens United Contradiction“Bill banning foreign-affiliated corporations from making political spending in Pennsylvania heads to Senate.” (WITF)

Pennsylvania Senate Confirms Bogen as Health Secretary“The Pennsylvania State Senate approved Gov. Josh Shapiro’s nomination of Dr. Debra L. Bogen to serve as secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday.” (PoliticsPA)

Bill to Reverse Pennsylvania’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban Passes State House“A bill that would repeal Pennsylvania’s same-sex marriage ban passed the state House of Representatives on Tuesday on a bipartisan vote, with supporters saying the change was necessary to protect marriage equality if federal case law were overturned.” (PennLive)

Around the Commonwealth of Nations

3. HD-117: Cabell loses write-in appeal; still three points behind Walsh

“Rep. Mike Cabell lost an appeal seeking to collect 22 votes cast in the April 23 primary election in the 117th congressional district on Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas upheld the May 15 decision of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, which denied Cabell’s appeal of that ruling.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

More Happy Hours Could Be Coming to Pennsylvania After State Senate Bill Passes. “The bill, known as House Bill 829, would allow bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania to host happy hours 24 hours a week. Under the state’s liquor laws, bars and restaurants can host happy hours for a maximum of 14 hours a week.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)

Allegheny County’s financial outlook unclear, Innamorato says in quarterly address“County executive focuses on housing, public safety and climate issues as he discusses his first 6 months in office.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Philadelphia City Commissioners’ Office to Allocate $1.4 Million to Combat Election Disinformation“Warning about the potential for disinformation to infect the November election, the Philadelphia City Commissioners’ Office plans to hire an outside marketing firm for $1.4 million to combat voter fraud.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)

York County Considers Installing GPS Tracking Devices in Its Election Office, But Why?“York County wants to see if GPS devices will help its elections department, but it’s unclear exactly how the tracking devices would do that.” (York Dispatch)

Editorial

4. What do you mean

• The Supreme Court fails again. (Rolling Stone)
• The Supreme Court is incredibly comfortable — in Trump’s pocket. (Gene Collier)
• Democrats may need Hugh Scott-style courage. (Salena Zito)
• The most vital takeaway from the presidential debates? It’s time to wrap them up. (Harold Jackson)
• Our democracy is much weaker than Biden. (There will be a Bunch)
• It’s not too tardy to replace Biden and defeat Trump. (Gregory B. Craig)
• America was founded by the consent of the governed. (Tribune Review)
• Casey vows to defeat Republican Party voodoo. (Chris Kelly)
• We hold these truths to be self-evident, 248 years later. (LNP)

1 thing

5. Happy Birthday, Rubik’s Cube

“The Rubik’s Cube has been with us for 50 years.

Erno RubikHungarian architect, created the cube and solved it for the first time in July 1974, as The New York Times writes, appreciating this classic puzzle.

🟥 🟨 🟦 NumbersAccording to the Times, the 26 pieces of the cube can be arranged in 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible positions.

And every one of them can be solved in 20 moves or less.”

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