Pennsylvania’s political elite come to New York for an annual weekend getaway filled with exclusive parties.
Both Republicans and Democrats in the state’s political class will be strolling through Midtown Manhattan during the annual Pennsylvania Society Weekend, where they will enjoy elaborate dinners and fancy parties, and maybe even a little bit of political affairs.
And after the 2024 red wave elections, Republicans have much to celebrate while Democrats need to regroup.
This year’s weekend of swanky parties will take place in the shadow of the recent shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the Hilton Midtown – the same place where lawmakers and policymakers will end the weekend with a charity dinner on Saturday night.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, an extremely popular first-term Democrat, is scheduled to attend the Pennsylvania Society’s 126th annual dinner, an event his predecessor, Gov. Tom Wolf, often avoided.
Here are three things to watch out for this weekend.
Who will challenge Shapiro in 2026?
Now that Pennsylvania Republicans unseated longtime U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, took control of all three statewide offices, won two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and retained a clear majority in the state Senate, they will celebrate their successes for the first time. They will then strategize and think about potential candidates for the next huge election: the 2026 midterm elections, when Shapiro will run for re-election.
The governor’s popularity remained relatively unshaken by his first few scandals in office, only growing as he entered the national spotlight when Kamala Harris was considered for vice presidential running mate, and he remains the state’s most popular politician. His success in 2026 will likely determine whether he realizes his long-rumored presidential ambitions.
» READ MORE: Welcome to the 2028 presidential election cycle in which Governor Pa. Josh Shapiro is the favorite
Republicans believe that State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who just broke Shapiro’s record for the most votes ever received in an election for a statewide office, is seen as the best candidate to run against him. Her current position as the state’s chief financial administrator is term-limited, and she was elected last month to a second four-year term.
But who else do Republicans consider possible to oppose Shapiro? Will any of the candidates who declined the nomination in 2022 throw their hat into the ring again? These questions will undoubtedly be on the minds of people as they gather this weekend to chat, talk politics and plan for future elections.
Are Democrats regrouping or still mourning?
Democrats in Pennsylvania have no choice but to rethink how they communicate with voters after last month’s devastating losses.
The Philadelphia Democratic Party entered into a nasty feud with the Harris campaign after her defeat, culminating in a senior adviser to the Harris campaign calling on city party chairman Bob Brady to resign. (Brady and his allies have said he isn’t going anywhere and isn’t responsible for the nationwide shift to the right). Poor voting results across the state — with the exception of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where Democrats retained a slim majority — mean there will likely need to be changes in state party leadership.
We’ll be watching to see whether Democrats focus on strategizing how to move forward after bleeding out working-class voters on racial and ethnic lines in November’s election — or if they spend the weekend recovering.
This weekend could be a preview of next month’s Democratic state committee meeting, where top leaders will meet to discuss the future of the party.
Republican celebrations – and potentially Casey’s last hurray
Republicans are sure to boast about many huge victories throughout the weekend. But none was more critical — and more impressive — than GOP Sen.-elect Dave McCormick’s ouster of Casey.
This means that next weekend may be one of the last meetings of the Pennsylvania Society at which a member of the Casey family political dynasty will be present. Casey’s Senate career spanned four presidencies, from George W. Bush to fellow Scranton native Joe Biden. His father, Bob Casey Sr., also had a long political career, during which he served as a state senator, auditor general, and ultimately governor of Pennsylvania.
» READ MORE: Bob Casey talks about the defeat to Dave McCormick in one of his first interviews since dropping out of the race
We’ll watch McCormick celebrate his victory with his team and see Casey mark his potential final hurray.
Adjustment: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated when Democrats would reorganize the state party. The party will reorganize only in 2026.
