(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s swing state status put the Commonwealth in the political spotlight in 2025, prompting multiple visits by the president and vice president as both sides worked to establish their positioning for the 2026 midterms.

But beyond the now-familiar red-versus-blue battle, alternative parties are gaining momentum, with a growing bloc of independent voters demanding a greater voice.

Trump and Vance visit

The year’s most high-profile political events touched on familiar themes – tariffs, tax cuts and economic messages – coupled with a clear message that Pennsylvania remains central to the nation’s agenda.

At the end of May President Donald Trump took a victory lap in West Mifflin to celebrate Pittsburgh Steel’s partnership with Japanese company Nippon Steel.

Speaking in a warehouse surrounded by steel workers, unions and state legislators and Congress, Trump called it the most crucial investment in the history of the American steel industry – a deal he made he had previously objected.

The president took the opportunity to emphasize how increasing tariffs on steel from 25% to 50% would protect the US steel industry.

Takahiro MoriNippon’s executive vice president and executive vice president, told the audience that the company would embark on massive investments that would reshape US Steel’s position on the world stage. “You have trusted us and we will work hard to earn that trust in the coming years,” he said.

“America’s golden age has only just begun,” Trump said, “and together we will make America great again, greater than ever before.”

Vice President J.D. Vance then a visit to Lucerne County in July, where he addressed a group at a machine shop in West Pittston. He spoke about the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which fits the administration’s efforts into a broader mission to create opportunities for the next generation.

Vance raised key issues, including: economy, energy policy and border security. He then outlined the economic benefits of the bill, including above-inflation wages for blue-collar workers, no tax on overtime and tips, cuts in government spending, tax breaks for companies investing in America, and tariffs on companies that choose to produce their goods abroad.

The optimism in the room contrasted with criticism of the budget resolution – particularly changes to the public safety net and the restoration of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, which would have moved coverage to millions of people across the country.

Both Trump and Vance made another stop in Pennsylvania in December to boost support for lower-vote races ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump focused on fares and “no tip tax” during the Dec. 9 stop at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County.

He represents the swing district U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan (R-08), a freshman Republican who spoke at the rally. Democrats have positioned it for a potential surge in 2026, criticizing higher prices that they blame on the administration’s tariffs.

“My favorite word is tariffs,” Trump said several times, describing how they would generate large foreign revenues that he said would lend a hand farmers, protect the steel industry and spur investment and manufacturing relocation.

However, according to the Voters Voice Poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, these same tariffs have created uncertainty among Americans.

The vote found that 15% of registered voters cited price increases and inflation as their top concerns, followed by government corruption (13%), the economy/labor (11%), health care (9%), illegal immigration (8%), and crime/violence (7%).

Inflation level better than expected initiated the third cut in the federal rate on December 10.

A week later, the vice president addressed the crowd in the Allentown area, highlighting their efforts to keep the state scales in the negative.

At a rally held at Uline Shipping Supplies in Alburtis, Vance touted Trump’s economic policies and highlighted several GOP candidates.

While the city of Allentown is a Democratic stronghold, the surrounding areas of the county — and the broader Lehigh Valley — include more conservative suburbs and rural areas, making the entire region a key swing area for both major parties.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity praised the administration’s policies – such as no tip tax and an expanded child tax credit – before reaching for Governor Josh Shapiroclaiming he is more focused on his alleged presidential ambitions and portraying him as an adversary who is fighting the administration in court rather than working with it.

Garrity hopes to dethrone Shapiro next year, but he faces an uphill battle.

According to Quinnipiac University poll released in October, Shapiro’s 60% approval rating was a up-to-date high since he took office in 2023. A hypothetical matchup with Garrity gives him a 55-39% lead, and 7 in 10 respondents said they didn’t know enough about the treasurer to decide whether he would receive their vote.

Vance acknowledged that many Americans still have high prices and affordability issues, attributing them to the previous administration’s high deficits, energy costs and inflation. He cautioned that it would take time to set high prices, but added that progress was being made.

“We inherited a mess, but I think in 11 months we have made enormous progress in making our nation safer, more secure and more prosperous,” he said. “Let us work over the next three years to do even more great work for the American people and rebuild this country together.”

Alternative parties are making progress

Meanwhile, after the November 2024 elections, as Democrats and Republicans strategize their next moves, one alternative party believes its long-term strategy is starting to pay off.

The Forward Partyfounded by former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yangstepped into the gap created by a polarized America to give dissatisfied voters more choices.

in January Craig SnyderForward Pennsylvania political director. said The Center Square

that while they had hoped to meet Pennsylvania’s threshold for minor-party status in November, they had accomplished a lot.

If their two candidates for statewide office received 2% of the vote in the general election, it would open the door to official party status in the state. Eric SettleForward’s candidate for attorney general received 17,320 votes – or 0.3%. Chris Fostertheir candidate for treasurer obtained 0.4% with 25,512 votes.

Snyder said it was arduous to compete with the hundreds of millions of dollars thrown into political communications aimed at Pennsylvania, and the country didn’t have a boat large enough to ride the red tide.

However, he was encouraged by the infrastructure they built with the lend a hand of volunteers.

“This shows that if you can’t compete at the level of paid political communication, it’s grassroots people who make the difference in building infrastructure and gaining supporters,” he said.

In 2025, the party continued to build infrastructure, numbering a dozen or so approved candidates works for various local offices in the lower half of the state.

Message approved Judge Pat Dugan in the race for Philadelphia District Advocate against a two-term incumbent Larry Krasner. Dugan was defeated in the May primary by a 64% to 36% margin. He ran for the seat again in November as the Republican candidate Krasner winning 73.1% of the city’s votes to Dugan’s 23.6%.

According to the Forward update, they have endorsed 70 candidates for 26 wins nationwide, and now have access to ballots in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina, Utah and Minnesota.

Pennsylvania, along with Maryland, Minnesota and Virginia, is cited as one of the Forward’s strongest “turbocharged” states – with sturdy leadership and organization.

They also supported a Democrat Danny Ceislerwho defeated the Republicans Fred Harran in the Bucks County Sheriff’s race after receiving more than 55% of the vote.

“Forward candidates and supporters have shown that Americans don’t want more chaos or culture wars, they want leaders who take governing seriously and are willing to work with anyone to get results,” Forward said.

Independent voters want more of a voice

As the number of independent voters grows in Pennsylvania, there is broad bipartisan support for allowing the state’s 1.4 million independent voters to participate in primary elections, survey finds vote by Unite America.

The poll of 800 voters from across the Commonwealth found that respondents were 43% registered Republicans, 45% Democrats and 12% Independents. When asked which party primary they would choose to vote in if allowed, 22% said Republican, 25% said Democrat, 17% said neither, and 36% were unsure. Additionally, 69% support up-to-date laws allowing more voters to participate in primaries – something lawmakers in Harrisburg are currently considering.

Pennsylvania is one of only eight states where it occurs closed primaries.

House Bill 280, introduced by Representative Jared Solomon (Philadelphia) calls for open primaries. It passed the House State Government Committee in May with a narrow 14-12 vote and awaits further action in that chamber.

Sense. Daniel Laughlin (R-Erie) i Lisa Boscola (D-Bethlehem) sponsored Senate Bill 400, which proposes a semi-open primary election. In April, it was referred to the Senate State Government Committee.

In semi-open primaryindependent voters can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. People registered with a specific party can only vote in their party’s primary elections. This differs from completely open primaries, in which voters can choose candidates from any party, regardless of affiliation.

“Registering as a Democrat or Republican should not be a prerequisite to exercising full voting rights here in Pennsylvania,” Boscola said. “It’s time to fix this. Allowing independents to vote in primaries is not only fair – it gives all Pennsylvanians the freedom to choose the leaders who represent them.”

Whether there will be progress on open primary legislation in 2026 remains an open question, but the debate itself reflects a shift in the electorate.

Lauren Jessop is a freelance writer and contributor to The Center Square

Elon Musk he may have “dropped out” of the White House, but his DOGE cuts have “arrived” and are close to being adopted.

The White House is expected to announce a $9.4 billion forgiveness package on Tuesday that would reverse congressionally approved money that the Trump administration no longer wants to spend.

This package goes hand in hand with Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said she was building on DOGE’s success in securing $1.6 trillion in savings for mandatory spending such as Medicaid. A repeal allows the President to cancel funds previously appropriated by Congress but not yet spent.

The proposed cuts include foreign aid ($8.3 billion), education and transportation programs, reproductive health, funding for the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately $142 million in cuts to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and nearly $9 million in cuts to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The package includes $1.1 billion in funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The key is to designate expenses as discretionary and mandatory, as discretionary funding may be impacted by the rescission process.

Once the White House Office of Management and Budget formally sends a rescission request to Congress, lawmakers have 45 days to act before the request expires. The committees have 25 days to take action, after which an accelerated vote takes place. A procedural advantage of nullification bills is that only a basic majority is required to pass them in the Senate, as opposed to the typical 60-vote threshold for most legislation.

“These packages will be a key step towards codifying President Trump’s agenda and ensuring lasting government spending reductions,” it wrote on Twitter Representative Dan Meuser (R-09) after appearing on Fox Business News on Tuesday. “With nearly $7 trillion in annual federal spending, we must prioritize the essentials over the nice-to-haves” to address our massive national debt. President Trump’s plan will reduce spending, grow the economy and boost revenues – lower the deficit and improve our creditworthiness. It’s a fiscally responsible way forward – and it will benefit all Americans. “

This morning @FoxBusinessdiscussed the $9.4 billion White House rescission package that is expected to be announced today – likely the first of many. These packages will be a key step toward codifying President Trump’s agenda and ensuring lasting spending reductions across the government.… pic.twitter.com/bZOCt5K4C3

— Congressman Dan Meuser (@RepMeuser) June 3, 2025

Last Tuesday, NPR and three public radio stations in Colorado filed a lawsuit in federal court against Trump and several members of his administration over the executive order cutting federal funding for NPR and PBS.

The lawsuit calls Trump’s early May executive order ordering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to freeze all funding to NPR and PBS “textbook retaliation” and an existential threat to the public radio system “that millions of Americans across the country rely on for important news and information.”

“It’s clear from the president’s executive order, as well as from statements issued by the White House and the president’s past statements, that we are being punished for our editorial choices” – NPR CEO Katarzyna Maher he told the All Things Remembered host Mary Louise Kelly.

The Freedom Club of the House of Representatives calls for an immediate vote on the package, as Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) tweeted: “There is no excuse for delaying the forgiveness package. The minute we get it, it should hit the floor. It’s time to cut down on waste and get on with it.”

Rep. Scott Perry (R-10) tweeted that “The upcoming revision package is a litmus test for your elected officials to deliver on all the America First promises they made during the campaign.”

But Democrats say the domestic spending bill would add more than $2 trillion to the national debt, and the $9.4 billion represents just 1.38 percent of the $6.8 trillion the U.S. government spends annually.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02), ranking member of the House Budget Committee, told PoliticsPA on Monday that the Big Beautiful Bill’s cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and the Affordable Care Act amount to approximately $1.5 trillion, while the size of the proposed tax cuts exceeds $5 trillion.

“How do they propose to cover the $3.5 trillion deficit,” Boyle asked. “No. There would be more money added to our nation’s deficit and more money on our national credit card, the national debt, so there are many of us, including several Senate Republicans, who have said this should be a legitimate bipartisan concern.”

“There is a real concern that at some point, if we continue on the path we’re on right now, we’re going to hit a debt crisis. Right now, 10-year Treasuries are at about 4.5 percent. If we suddenly start to see that rate drop north of five or hit six, that would be a sign that in international markets, investors internationally who are buying our debt have reached a point where they say, ‘Hey, wait, you already have a debt that exceeds 100% of its GDP and has no observable plan to repay it.”

And in fact, forecasts show that the situation will be much worse in the next decade. I’ve talked to a number of analysts, including some typically conservative people on Wall Street, who both publicly and privately say that we can’t actually issue that amount of fresh debt because demand is quite tender.

Musk speaking after 130-day SGE or Special Government employeehis contract with the federal government had expired, he used his “X” platform to oppose the Big Beautiful Bill.

I’m sorry, but I just can’t take it anymore.

This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional budget bill is a disgusting abomination.

Shame on those who voted for this: you know you did wrong. You know it.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

The Congressional Budget Office and independent analysts project that Trump’s bill – extending tax cuts through 2017 – will boost the deficit by between $2.3 trillion and $5 trillion over the next 10 years.

The bill also includes fresh spending on border security and the military, which Republicans have sought to offset with cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy tax credits.

“For him to come out and discuss the entire bill is just very disappointing to me, very surprising,” Johnson said in response to Musk’s criticism of the House tax, immigration and energy bill. “It’s a very important first start. Elon misses it, OK, and it’s not personal.”

White House officials strongly dispute claims that the bill would boost the deficit, arguing that the projections do not take into account the high level of economic growth that the tax cuts could generate.

“Listen, the president already knows what Elon Musk’s position is on this bill,” said the White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt he said during Tuesday’s briefing. “It doesn’t change the president’s opinion – it’s one big, beautiful bill and he’s sticking to it.”

With the curtain drawn on 2025, attention turns to 2026 and the midterm elections.

Once again, the Keystone State will play a major role in determining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as whether it wants to retain Governor Josh Shapiro for another term.

Let’s not forget that the Commonwealth will also decide whether it wants Democrats to retain control of the House of Representatives, where they have a 102-101 majority, and whether Republicans should maintain control of the state Senate, where they have a 27-23 majority.

So it seems like a good time to take a look at the voter rolls as the fresh year begins, and at first glance it appears to be good news for Republicans in the state’s 67 counties.

The Republican Party has closed the registration gap with Democrats to just over 50,000 energetic voters, and if inactive voters are included, the gap increases to about 172,000.

Of Pennsylvania’s 8.9 million registered voters, Democrats have 3.815 million in their tent, while Republicans have 3.643 million in the GOP.

However, the largest escalate was recorded in the independent camp – 1.142 million people avoiding any political party.

There have been over 50,000 departures from Democratic or Republican identification in calendar year 2025. Republicans took 37,256 voters away from Democrats, while Democrats took 22,041 voters away from the GOP.

Largest Democratic Counties

County	October 2024	July 2025	October 2025	January 2026	Change
Philadelphia	796221	767574	768,569	769286	-3.38%
Allegheny	522563	499 485	501247	501 071	-4.11%
Montgomery	310207	300 726	302253	302554	-2.47%
Delaware	208246	199,972	201051	201 412	-3.28%
Dollars	199932	192,350	192 609	192,683	-3.63%
Chester	162840	157235	158551	158,479	-2.68%
Lancaster	114 199	110591	111,027	111242	-2.59%
Lehigh	114929	109,643	109,872	110 166	-4.14%
Berki	108704	103744	103820	103,969	-4.36%
York	99238	94227	94,893	95 189	-4.08%
Total	3,971,607	3,806,544	3,813,866	3,815,575	-3.93%

Largest Republican Counties

County	October 2024	July 2025	October 2025	January 2026	Change
Allegheny	270,952	264188	264 863	264568	-2.36%
Montgomery	212 792	208 604	209 005	208,900	-1.83%
Dollars	203 901	202198	202815	202807	-0.57%
Lancaster	185 018	183744	184158	184166	-0.46%
York	170,667	167520	168210	168,449	-1.30%
Chester	156183	151,781	152194	152,083	-2.63%
Delaware	149923	145,024	144760	144,470	-3.64%
Philadelphia	131,600	130,925	131,498	131,484	-0.09%
Westmoreland	130 712	130,719	131,039	130,935	+0.17%
Berki	117 619	117 419	118,002	118116	+0.42%
Total	3,673,873	3,631,635	3,643,258	3,643,898	-0.08%

Largest “unaffiliated” counties.
(does not include third parties)

County	October 2024	July 2025	October 2025	January 2026	Change
Philadelphia	138,397	141596	144559	145,926	+5.42%
Allegheny	108834	107,108	109,627	110,928	+1.92%
Montgomery	75,906	77940	80 110	81117	+6.87%
Dollars	64179	65565	67093	67941	+5.86%
Chester	54078	55 100	56672	56672	+4.80%
York	48910	49281	51060	51781	+5.87%
Lancaster	46093	47135	48532	49335	+7.03%
Delaware	45569	46243	47362	47819	+4.94%
Lehigh	43363	43235	44025	44,449	+2.50%
Berki	36897	37721	38841	39,395	+6.77%
Total	1,096,427	1,103,810	1,130,562	1,142,244	+4.18%

Age groups

Range	Registered	Democrat	Republican	Other
18-24	779.350	41.21%	34.62%	24.17%
25-34	1,451,246	44.98%	32.43%	22.59%
35-44	1,454,012	43.85%	35.33%	20.82%
45-54	1,282,412	40.29%	41.85%	17.86%
55-64	1,468,437	38.90%	48.31%	12.79%
65-74	1,405,903	44.28%	45.68%	10.04%
75 years and over	1,078,959	45.77%	46.47%	7.76%

This is the third part of our series highlighting key congressional primary elections across the commonwealth.

The 7th Congressional District contest on the Democratic side will be one of the most closely watched races not only in the commonwealth but across the country as four candidates compete for the chance to fight Representative Ryan Mackenzie in November.

The Pennsylvania primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 19.

Bob Brooks

• Experience: President of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association. He spent 20 years as a firefighter in the city of Bethlehem.
• Priorities
  • Repeal Citizen United and roll back our elections from the 1%
  • Ban corporate money from political PACs, period
  • Congressional Stock Trading Ban
  • Term limits
  • Restore cuts to Medicaid and ensure Medicare for All
  • Repealing Republican cuts to Headstart, providing subsidies to working parents to cover day care costs, and expanding publicly funded preschool programs to preschool children
  • Pass the minimum tax to a billionaire
  • Defend Social Security and sign onto the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act
  • Approve novel nuclear and natural gas plants and we will build renewable energy sources
  • Universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole and enforcing waiting periods
  • Protecting anti-discrimination laws, defending marriage equality, and ensuring that everyone can live comfortably like one.
• Fundraising: : $124,931 from April 1 to April 29. Cash on hand: $252,363.
• Quotable: “Billionaires and large corporations rule while the rest of us are left alone. I lived a working-class life. There was a time when manual labor could provide a decent living. This is no longer the case. The system is not broken. It works as it was designed: by and for the super-rich.”
• Cufflinks: : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Blue

Ryan Crosswell

• Experience: Former federal prosecutor. Marine Corps Reservist.
• Priorities
  • Protecting Pennsylvanians’ health care and undoing devastating Republican cuts to Medicaid
  • Implement a public health care option to ensure that everyday Americans have access to the same quality health care as members of Congress
  • Repeal the Big Ugly Act and restore tidy energy tax credits
  • Codifying a nationwide ban on partisan land manipulation and legislative border changes by mid-decade
  • 18-year terms for Supreme Court judges with introduced safeguards ensuring that the Senate will not block presidential candidates
  • Constitutional amendment seeking overthrow Citizens United
  • Term limits for members of Congress
  • Stock trading prohibited by members of Congress
  • Restore Roe v. Wade protections and abortion rights as the law of the land
  • Reduce the budget deficit by forcing the ultra-rich to pay their fair share of taxes
  • Universal background checks centralized using the FBI’s criminal database
  • Closing the gun show loophole
• Fundraising: : $125,263 from April 1 to April 29. Cash on hand: $437,396.
• Education: B.A., Vanderbilt University 2003; M.A., Duke University 2007; J.D., Duke University School of Law, 2007
• Quotable: “I’m running for Congress because it’s time to once again defend our country. As a Marine and then a federal prosecutor, I spent my life serving this country. But when Donald Trump tried to get prosecutors in my section to use the Department of Justice as a weapon against their enemies, I would never do that, so I stepped down. And now I’m fighting.”
• Cufflinks: : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Blue

Lamont McClure

• Experience: Advocate. Former Northampton County Executive 2018-2025.
• Priorities
  • The housing crisis is a national problem that cries out for national solutions
  • Priority must be given to tackling tariffs that have contributed to high construction costs
  • Increased healthcare spending – especially Medicaid
  • Protect our democracy
• Fundraising: : $12,185 from April 1 to April 29. Cash on hand: $141,702.
• Education: B.A., Wilkes University, 1985. J.D. Duquesne University Law School, 1995.
• Quotable: “The utter chaos that Trump and his billionaire appointees have brought upon us may seem overwhelming, but there is hope. You don’t have to turn everything upside down, lay off workers, or cut essential services to cut taxes and shrink government. As a county executive, I’ve proven that you can improve essential services, give workers well-deserved raises, and at the same time cut taxes and shrink the size of government.”
• Cufflinks: : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Blue | Threads

Carol Obando-Derstine

• Experience: Energy Director, PPL Electric Utilities. Former Regional Manager and Statewide Director of Latino Affairs for Senator Bob Casey. Former executive director of nonprofit organizations: SkillsUSA Council and Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley.
• Priorities
  • Raise the federal minimum wage and tie it to inflation
  • Expanding tax breaks for the middle class and phasing out tax donations to billionaire donors
  • Roll back harmful tariffs imposed by the Trump administration
  • Restoring tidy energy and efficiency incentives that lower electricity bills and create good-paying union jobs
  • Increase access to affordable, high-quality insurance by strengthening the Affordable Care Act and its subsidies
  • Fight for the future with universal health care
  • Reinstate cuts to SNAP and WIC funding in ‘large ugly budget bill’ to combat food insecurity
  • Protect voting rights by supporting the For the People Act
  • Defend marriage equality and promote justice and equality for LGBTQIA+ people
  • Defend reproductive freedom and gender-affirming care, and codify Roe v. Wade in federal law
  • Oppose the Trump administration’s goals against immigrant communities
  • Support congressional term limits; Prohibit members of Congress from trading stocks.
  • The end of a united citizenry; Ban partisan and racial gerrymandering
• Fundraising: : $21,964 from April 1 to April 29. Cash on hand: $95,645.
• Education: B.A., Rutgers University, 1999; M.A., Pennsylvania State University, 2002; M.Eng., Lehigh University, 2022
• Quotable: “I will not stand idly by while Donald Trump and Ryan Mackenzie take away health care from millions of Americans and take food from families’ tables to give trillions in tax cuts to their billionaire donors. I am fortunate to be able to live my American dream, and I have always strived to pass it on every day to help families living on the economic edge not only survive, but thrive.”
• Cufflinks: : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Blue

---

Video

Podcasts

In the News

• Suspected GOP TV Ad Attacks Brooks, Crosswell, Supports McClure (Lehigh Valley Chair, May 8)
• The ad accuses two Lehigh Valley Democrats running for Congress of being MAGA members. Who’s behind this? (Morning conversation, May 8)
• How Democrat Bob Brooks solidified support during his first run for Congress and why some in his party are outraged about it (Morning conversation, May 8)
• Lehigh Valley and Pa. Primary Election Guide. in 2026 (Morning conversation, May 6)
• The Democratic primary in PA-07 is drawing national attention to a key swing district (WFMZ, May 6)
• Two weeks before the Democratic primary, DCCC expresses its support for Bob Brooks in a crowded PA-7 field (May 5, Lehigh Valley News)
• When Democrats intervene in disputed primaries, infighting erupts (Axles)
• PA-7 Democratic rivals are taking aim at Brooks after his bombshell claim regarding the 2024 state treasurer race. (City & State, May 4)
• PA-07 Congressional Candidate Urges Judge to Dismiss $162,000 Debt Lawsuit (April 29, Lehigh Valley News)
• PA-7 The Democratic debate is negative over Brooks’ Facebook posts in which he criticizes Obama and defends guns (April 24, LehighValleyNews)
• Lehigh Valley congressional candidate Bob Brooks is apologizing for aged Facebook posts (Morning talk, April 21)
• Questions are beginning to emerge around Brooks’ campaign in PA-07 (PoliticsPA, April 16)
• In the second debate, Democratic congressional candidates talk about immigration, housing and warts (April 8, LehighValleyNews)
• Bob Brooks faces trial over decades of family debt as Lehigh Valley congressional race heats up (April 6, LehighValleyNews)
• Lehigh Valley Democratic congressional candidates tout their credentials during the first televised primary debate (April 1, LehighValleyNews)

updated to indicate collections were from April 1 to April 29, not January 1 to March 31.

U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) added his name to the list of co-sponsors of the ACA tax credit extension bill – four months after avoiding the opportunity to vote on a similar amendment.

With a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers Fitzpatrick and Representative Tom Suozzi (DN.Y.) presented the bill aimed at preventing millions of Americans from losing their health insurance if fleeting federal subsidies expire at the end of the year.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the expiration of current subsidies originally established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). could result in more than four million Americans losing coverage.

“We don’t need a permanent pandemic policy, but we do need a responsible way out of the situation,” Fitzpatrick said. “Letting these subsidies expire without a plan would put health care out of reach for millions of families in my community and across the country. This bipartisan, targeted expansion will prevent disruption, protect access, and give Congress the time it needs to enact real, lasting reform. I have fought to make health care more affordable and accountable for the people I serve — and this is an essential step to keeping care within the reach of those who need it most.”

But the Bucks County Republican had an opportunity to do the same in the spring when Nevada Democrats Representative Steven Horsford proposed an amendment regarding President Donald Trump One massive handsome bill that will make tax breaks indefinite.

Fitzpatrick is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, the oldest tax-preparation body of the U.S. House of Representatives. During the markup session on the One Big Beautiful Bill, the committee he voted down the amendment with all “no” votes cast by 25 of 26 members of the Republican Party, including other members of Pennsylvania Representatives Lloyd Smucker (R-11) i Mike Kelly (R-16).

For a still unknown reason, Fitzpatrick was not present for this particular vote, after having voted earlier in the day. (1:33:40 of the video below).

When asked for comment on his absence, Fitzpatrick did not respond.

“Brian Fitzpatrick had the opportunity to vote to extend the ACA tax credits that lower health care costs, but instead he literally ran away,” said a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). I mean, cousin. “Fitzpatrick abandoned his constituents and now their monthly health care premiums could increase by 300%. The families of Bucks and Montgomery counties deserve better than a congressman who won’t even bother to show up.”

Fitzpatrick and Suozzi’s legislation would extend the subsidies for one year, pushing the issue beyond the midterms in 2026. The current slate of GOP co-sponsors is made up of some of the most vulnerable officials this election cycle: along with lead sponsor Jen Kiggan from Virginia, they are Fitzpatrick and Representative Rob Bresnahan from Pennsylvania, Young Kim AND David Valadao California,Jeff Hurd from Colorado, Carlos Gimenez from Florida, Tom Kean from New Jersey, Juan Ciscomani from Arizona and Mike Lawler New York.

CBO also projected that without a indefinite extension of tax credits, benchmark gross insurance premiums would augment 4.3% in 2026, 7.7% in 2027, and an average of 7.9% from 2026 to 2034.

The latest episode of the PoliticsPA podcast, Voices of Reason, covers the May 19 primary elections in Pennsylvania for both Republicans and Democrats.

As you prepare to vote for your candidate of choice, PoliticsPA’s Steve Ulrich says Emily BreyState Director of Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania and Colin Seeberger, Senior advisor at the Center for American (*19*) presents vital issues and discusses election challenges.

To receive more Pennsylvania political news every weekday morning, sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook at PoliticsPA.com

In a statement issued by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, more than 180 college and university leaders condemned the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference that now threatens American higher education.”

Message – published as “A call for constructive engagement – according to the association, for the first time higher education leaders spoke en masse about the political moment.

“We are open to constructive reforms and do not oppose reasonable government oversight,” the letter said. “But we must oppose excessive government interference in the lives of those who study, live and work on our campuses.”

“We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding,” he adds.

Twenty-one (21) Pennsylvania presidents signed the letter:

• Ronald B. Cole of Allegheny College
• Wendy Cadge of Bryn Mawr College
• John C. Bravman of Bucknell University
• Farnam Jahanian of Carnegie Mellon University
• Elizabeth M. Meade of Cedar Crest College
• Rhonda Phillips of Chatham University
• James J. Greenfield, OSFS, DeSales University
• John E. Jones III, Dickinson College
• Barbara K. Altmann, Franklin & Marshall College
• Wendy E. Raymond of Haverford College
• James A. Troha, Juniata College
• Nicole Hurd of Lafayette College
• Daniel J. Myers of Misericordia University
• Kathleen E. Harring of Muhlenberg College
• Cheryl McConnell of Saint Joseph’s University
• Jonathan D. Green of Susquehanna University
• Valerie Smith of Swarthmore College
• John Fry, president of Temple University
• J. Larry Jameson of the University of Pennsylvania
• Robyn Hannigan of Ursinus College
• Peter Donohue, OSA, Villanova University

“Our colleges and universities are committed to serving as centers of open inquiry where, in the pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff can freely exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retaliation, censorship, or deportation.

“The price for restricting the freedoms that define American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students and all who work in and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.”

The letter was signed only by institutional leaders affiliated with Temple University of the Commonwealth, although the president Association of American Universities (AAU) – a prestigious association of 71 top research universities in the U.S. and Canada – which includes Penn State and Pittsburgh – did so.

According to his website, American Association of Colleges and Universities is a global membership organization committed to advancing the democratic goals of higher education by promoting equity, innovation and excellence in liberal education.

The article has been updated to include 10 additional presidents of Pennsylvania colleges and universities who added their signature to the letter

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The Morning Glory Diner made a name for itself in the behind schedule 1990s as the place that “made brunch cool again” and paved the way for many other trendy breakfast spots in South Philadelphia and beyond.

Decades later, the Bella Vista restaurant is celebrated for its made-from-scratch pancakes and cookies, signature homemade ketchup and year-round covered patio, as well as long lines on weekend mornings.

But the restaurant may be even more celebrated for the loudly left-wing, anti-Republican messages it spreads from its handmade window signs and, er, colorfully titled special menus.

“Our first was “Scalia Is a Douche,” owner Carol Mickey recalled in 2023, “which was right after he wrote a dissent in the gay marriage debate.”

The dish, a frittata with andouille sausage, tomato, onion and Monterey Jack cheese, sold out in record time. The racy name and many others that followed it attracted the attention of the entire establishment, as well as furious attacks from those who opposed Mickey’s policies.

“They interfered with our phone service. They called, ordered food and never picked it up,” she said. “They would do anything to torment us… And the last thing they did was interfere with our Facebook, our Instagram and our Google websites.”

Despite this, the restaurant remains extremely popular, and Mickey is as vocal as ever in opposing his beliefs and constantly updated dish titles.

Delicious French toast, polarizing ketchup

Samantha “Sam” Mickey opened Sam’s Morning Glory Diner in 1997 after bartending and waiting tables at several restaurants, including the equally successful Down Home Diner in Reading Terminal Market, which inspired her menu.

Among the often gloomy and lifeless restaurant breakfasts available at that time, the recipe for success turned out to be serving really good, home-made food in a charmingly decorated nearby restaurant.

“At a time when so many of our old-fashioned diners are moving on to the age of microwave convenience,” raved Inquirer restaurant critic Craig Laban, Mickey’s eatery “has breathed new life into the genre, pouring heart and soul into comfort food that’s still a shame to make at home.”

Although at times it betrayed her inexperience as a chef, the menu made good apply of fresh, local produce and meats and included many favorites, such as challah French toast with strawberry compote and fluffy pan-baked frittatas filled with baked potatoes and smoked ham, Laban wrote.

The critic also mentioned ketchup, a polarizing condiment that has been compared to marinara sauce. Initially, it was made in a 12-hour process of mixing apples, cloves, ginger and tomato.

After the success of Morning Glory, several other more or less “funky” brunch spots followed, such as Honey’s Sit and Eat, Sabrina’s, and Green Eggs.

Mickey battled brain cancer, and her death in 2012 at the age of 44 was mourned by the restaurant community and beyond. Her mother, Carol, who is a lawyer, took over the management, and a few years later she began giving the restaurant her own distinctive imprimatur.

“You have the biggest lips”

Since Scalia frittata, the daily menu has continued to feature up-to-date dish names that reflect Carol Mickey’s disdain for President Donald Trump and conservatives in general, as well as her sympathy for Democrats – particularly District Attorney Larry Krasner, a longtime regular, and Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The menu included “Hate Makes You Hungry” tacos and “Gov Shapiro is pro-life” scrambled eggs, as well as dishes that said Krasner or Shapiro “eats for free.”

Others include “Ban Guns Not Pastrami Scramble,” “Read a Banned Book and Then Eat a Breakfast Quesadilla,” and current titles such as “The King’s Castle Needs Scrambled Eggs” (with turkey sausage, spinach, shiitake and smoked mozzarella), “Secy Duffy is a Douche Chilaquiles” (referring to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation), “Shapiro 2028 Sausage and Sauce eggs” and “Enact the 25th Amendment, then eat Eggs Benedict.”

In 2018, Shapiro, then the state’s attorney general, visited Morning Glory to highlight his opposition to a Trump administration proposal that would allow employers to accept tips from employees. “After the press conference, I told him, ‘Why us, not from everywhere in Pennsylvania?’” she said. 34th Street Warehouse. “He said, ‘You have the biggest mouth.'”

Staff also designed window posters with messages on topics ranging from supporting democracy to supporting aid for Ukraine, as well as political messages on a board inside. An image of Trump regularly appears at the restaurant’s entrance, and a handwritten pro-choice poster with an image of a crossed-out clothes hanger hangs in the window.

Mickey’s outspoken politics still occasionally infuriates right-wing critics, but the restaurant remains a favorite among brunch lovers, especially those who lean left.

“People tell me it’s like paradise,” said Cotton James Mcgowan, Mickey’s grandson and the restaurant’s manager. “For every person who doesn’t like what we do, there are three more who love it, support it and tell everyone else about it.”

Good morning. Have you planned to vote today?

???? PA Policy Manual Headings. Democrats hope to flip seats held by Republicans once the primaries are decided. McCormick: “Pennsylvania’s moment has come.” Procrastinators’ Guide to Primary School 2026. All the information you need on primary election day.

???? Your morning, pick me up. Get up, get up. Bob Marley and The Wailers

Weather in Pennsylvania
???? Washington | Mostly sunlit, 88
Allentown | Mostly sunlit, 95
Philadelphia | Mostly sunlit, 97

Sports PA
Phillies (25-23) | Cincinnati 5-4 | Tuesday vs. Cincinnati
Pirates (24-23) | Tuesday in St. Louis

Primaries 2026. Join us on Twitter tonight for live election results in key races across the Commonwealth. You can also 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.

???? What we see. A survey by Fabrizio Ward found that 80% of Pennsylvanians regardless of political party are more likely to support candidates who prioritize expanding Alzheimer’s disease coverage. Nearly 9 in 10 voters express concern that some Alzheimer’s disease patients cannot get FDA-approved diagnostic tests or FDA-approved treatments recommended by their doctors because private insurance plans and Medicare delay or deny coverage.

???? 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.

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The most critical story

1. Pennsylvania Democrats hope to flip seats held by Republicans after the primary election is decided

“Democrats in Pennsylvania will settle major disputes on Tuesday to shape their congressional makeup for the fall elections, when they hope to win the state’s four swing districts and ultimately a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Governor Josh Shapiro and national Democrats are promoting candidates of their choice at the expense of progressive rivals, the latest example of a rift that has divided the party as it seeks a path back to power in Washington.

The campaigns will put Pennsylvania on the front lines of Democrats’ efforts to regain control of Congress and lock down the final two years President Donald Trump agenda.” | AP

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania could be key to winning Congress: Primary elections set up key races for House and governor. “Voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania head to the polls on Tuesday in a primary election that will feature battles crucial to control of both the state and the House in the 2026 midterm elections. Both sides know how crucial the state is to their efforts.” | ABC News

PA-03: “We’re Facing an Existential Crisis”: Changing the Rock Divide The Race for the Bluest House in the Country. “The impending loss of Black House districts in the South has raised the stakes in Philadelphia’s open-seat primary.” | POLICY

PA-03: A crowded, steep and combative race in Philadelphia’s 3rd Congressional District comes to an unpredictable end. “The way the candidates spent the final days of the campaign provides insight into the demographic and geographic blocs they believe must prevail on Tuesday.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

PA-07: “Stay Out”: Taking Sides with a Pennsylvania Preschool Causes Some Problems. “Bob Brooks already had strong support heading into the final stretch of his congressional primary. But the late show of support is met with resistance from Democrats with whom he may soon serve in Washington. ” | Multiple Sclerosis Now

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Country

2. McCormick: “Pennsylvania’s Moment Has Come”

“Speaking to the Pennsylvania Press Club on Monday, U.S. Senator Dave McCormick stated that “now is the moment for Pennsylvania to take national leadership at a time of profound change.”

“This is a moment unlike any change in the nature of work, change in productivity, change in national security, change in the way we interact with each other, change in the nature of work,” he continued. “This is a moment like no other, and we have to figure out how to seize it, mitigate the risks, seize the incredible opportunity, and we have to make sure Pennsylvania stays at the forefront of this moment.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Why Josh Shapiro isn’t acting like other 2028 prospects. “The Pennsylvania governor’s focus on the state stands in contrast to other potential presidential candidates.” | New York Times

Fetterman blames STOCK Act violation on ‘administrative error’. “Senator John Fetterman disclosed, with a delay of about a year, that in April 2025 he purchased corporate bonds for First Citizens BancShares, the holding company of First Citizens Bank, in the name of one of his dependent children, records show.” | known

A battleground state with few combatants – why Pennsylvania’s primaries are uncontested. “As tight primaries in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio become national news, perennial battleground Pennsylvania appears to be going through one of its sleepiest primary seasons in a long time.” | Conversation

PA-03: Anonymous text messages attacking Chris Rabb came from the street campaign and the Democratic Party. “The unsigned text messages violated federal election rules because they did not clearly identify who sent them: the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee, which is coordinating state senator Sharif Street’s campaign after he won the party’s official endorsement, according to a Street campaign spokesman.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

PA-14: Alan Bradstock will continue to campaign for PA Congress following cancer diagnosis. “Alan Bradstock, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 14th congressional district, announced on social media on Monday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.” | WTAE

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Around the Republic of Poland

3. A guide for procrastinators after primary school 2026

“Now’s your chance.

If you thought that things were going well politically – or that they weren’t and that a change was needed – today is the day to assess the way forward.’ | LehighValley News

Elsewhere

2026 AP Primary Voter Guide. “Registered Democratic and Republican voters in Pennsylvania will choose the candidates they want to represent their parties in the November general election, as both sides fight for control of Harrisburg and Washington.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Fundamental Rights Day 2026: how to vote and what’s on the ballot. “Democratic and Republican voters today will nominate midterm general election candidates who will give voters the opportunity to have their say on the second half of President Donald Trump’s term.” | Public source

Advocates urge Pennsylvania to abandon its closed primary system. “Nearly 1.5 million independent and third-party voters are barred from participating in partisan primaries in the commonwealth.” | Penn Capital Star

Krasner criticizes House committee over immigration investigations in Philadelphia. “Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner formally — and sharply — responded to the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, telling Republican Party leaders that its investigations into the city’s handling of immigration have no legal or factual basis.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

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Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

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1 item

5. What time do polls open and close on Tuesday in Pennsylvania? All the information you need on primary election day 2026

“The 2026 Pennsylvania primary is coming up.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. ” | PA reflector

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Thank you for starting election day with us.
Please make your voice heard and VOTE.

by Chris Bates, North Penn Now

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a measure that would draw fresh boundaries between public services and digital finance. House Act 1812introduced by a Democrat Ben Waxman (D-Philadelphia) and supported by eight co-sponsors, would prohibit lawmakers and their close relatives from trading cryptocurrencies, creating digital tokens or promoting projects in which they have a financial stake. House Bill 1812 may be a Pennsylvania proposal, but its reach could go much further. The questions it raises about political integrity and financial markets are national in nature, and the outcome could impact how these issues are dealt with across the country.

Politics and perception

The bill comes at a time when the role of digital resources in politics is under intense scrutiny. President Donald Trump the meme coin push showed how quickly politicians can move markets in their favor. Waxman wants to prevent that from happening in Pennsylvania, saying it’s about public trust, not party lines.

The proposal may be local, but the debate is broader. Lawmakers’ ethical rules have always focused on stocks and bonds. Digital currencies do not fit into these legacy systems, leaving gaps that today’s disclosure rules do not cover. Digital currencies do not fit into these legacy systems, leaving gaps that today’s disclosure rules do not cover.

Why Crypto Demands a Different Response

Digital assets do not behave like established securities. The shares are traded on regulated exchanges and are subject to strict disclosure regulations. Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, move on global platforms with narrow oversight and semi-anonymous transactions. Crypto casinos such as Coin-operated casino show it in action by attracting players with anonymity, instant deposits, thousands of games with proven fairness and generous bonuses. Their development shows how quickly cryptocurrencies are entering everyday life, but also shows how ethical rules designed for slower national markets struggle to keep pace with systems that operate instantaneously across borders.

The same characteristics that attract gamers to cryptocurrencies also make it harder to police when lawmakers get involved. The risk is clear: a legislator could quietly buy a token and later benefit from information or influence related to his position. HB1812 takes a blunt approach, calling on lawmakers to stay away from the market altogether rather than trying to stretch antiquated regulations into an entirely different system.

This is not an attack on cryptocurrency

Supporters of this solution emphasized that the bill does not reject digital resources as a whole. Cryptocurrencies can reduce costs, speed up transactionsand support fresh financial tools. The issue is not whether they have value, but whether elected officials should be involved in them while in office.

This measure reflects the belief that the appearance of impropriety is harmful enough in itself. Given the volatility of cryptocurrencies and overall value related to external influenceseven the belief that lawmakers benefit from it can erode public trust. HB1812 responds to this risk by drawing a keen line: officials remain off the market until they leave the service.

The broader US landscape

Pennsylvania’s move is part of a broader conversation taking place across the country. Congress has already taken up issues such as consumer protection and oversight of digital assets, most evidently through GENIUS Actthe CLARITY Act and the CBDC Anti-Supervision State Act. These efforts are aimed at regulation and competition. HB1812, on the other hand, is about ethics and responsibility. The difference shows how state-level debates can diverge from federal priorities, with each addressing cryptocurrencies from their own perspective. This choice reflects Pennsylvania’s focus on trust in management rather than the broader market. International critics often argue that the United States is too narrow in its approach to crypto policy, but for state lawmakers, the immediate concern is ensuring that political power is not used for personal gain.

Practical challenges lie ahead

If HB1812 becomes law, its application will raise some hard issues. I would shares traded daily Does an exchange-traded fund count as exposure? This raises the question of what exactly “promotion” means; could it be as elementary as a supportive post on social media? The bill avoids describing every situation, which helps block loopholes but leaves room for doubt. Lawmakers may know the intentions, but those affected will want clear lines. Without this transparency, even routine financial choices could fall into a gray area.

Application

Pennsylvania’s HB1812 is being billed as more than just a routine ethics bill, representing one of the first attempts to separate digital finance from political matters. The proposal would stop lawmakers from trading or promoting cryptocurrencies, and supporters say the goal is to protect public trust. If it passes, other states may follow suit, and in the case of cryptocurrencies, it shows that broader acceptance will come with stricter rules.

This story originally appeared on North Penn now.