📖 Today’s #PoliticsPA Guide. Latino voters supported Trump’s return. Now they are turning on its economy. Garrity weighs LG options. On February 1, the White House will end funding for sanctuary cities and states. A rocky statue in Philadelphia may get a recent home.
🎶 Your morning everyday double room. Move it forward | Hank Williams | George Thorogood and the Destroyers
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🔈 What are we listening to?. “Erin Covey from The Cook Political Report joins the host Steve Ulrich Down a cautious look at the 2026 midterm elections. Drawing on early election indicators and data, Covey examines what may define the next election cycle and which races may ultimately determine control in Washington. We are also examining what lessons from recent cycles are still relevant, what assumptions may be overblown, and where both sides may be misinterpreting the situation.”
👂 What we hear. More than 50 Democrats in the House of Representatives, incl Rep. Summer Lee (D-12), signed the articles of impeachment against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
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The most essential story
1. Latino voters supported Trump’s comeback. Now they are turning on its economy
“In 2024, economic unrest and immigration concerns drove Latinos to vote President Donald Trump. The same problems start to push them away.
Across the country, cost of living and immigration enforcement issues that have overshadowed Trump’s first year back in office are worrying Latino businessmen, a key constituency that helped him get to the White House. In a recent survey of Latino business owners conducted by the U.S. Latino Business Council, 42 percent said their economic situation was getting worse, while only 24 said it was improving. Seventy percent of respondents ranked cost of living as one of the top three issues facing the country, more than twice as many as any other issue.” | POLICY
Elsewhere
‘This is not a stock trading ban’: the recent law puts Democrats in a complex situation. “Democrats who supported efforts by members of Congress to ban stock trading are frustrated with a new Republican-led bill that they say falls short. But at least one has already signed on to support it.” | Roll call
Democrats see path to control of the House of Representatives in 2026. “Democrats enter the 2026 midterm elections with a clear path to regaining control of the House, aided by President Trump’s second-term swings, Republican retirements and narrow margins on the map expected to tilt the balance of power in their favor.” | Wall Street Journal
AP congressman faces lawsuit from fired staff member. “An employee of U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio sued him in federal court, alleging that his office refused to accommodate her disabilities, such as anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.” | Central Square
It seems likely that the Supreme Court will uphold state bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s competitions. “On Tuesday, the Supreme Court appeared poised to deal another defeat to transgender people and uphold state laws prohibiting transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams.” | AP
Country
2. Garrity says she “talks to a lot of people” about being her running buddy. Only two advanced
“State Treasurer Stacy Garrity She has been a candidate for governor since September supported by the Pennsylvania Republican Party, but few candidates have decided to run for lieutenant governor with her.
The only two GOP candidates who have formally announced their campaigns for lieutenant governor are state representatives Senator Chris Dush (R-Jefferson), who is one of the most conservative members of the Senate GOP caucus and a businessman and political newcomer from Bucks County Brian Thomas” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Delozier will not seek re-election in HD-88. “Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland), administrator of the Republican Caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, announced that she will not seek re-election to her Cumberland County seat this fall.” | PoliticsPA
Ryncavage is running for a third term in the House of Representatives. “State Rep. Alec Ryncavage has announced he is seeking a third term as representative of the 119th House District. “The work is not done yet,” Ryncavage said in a news release. | Standard Hazleton speaker
Lanco’s Senate seat will be a race to watch in 2026. “Democrat James Malone upset Republican County Commissioner Josh Parsons in last year’s special election, sending shock waves across the political landscape.” | Lancaster’s independence
AP State Rep. Barb Gleim announces re-election campaign. “State Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland, announced her intention to seek re-election in the 199th House District. “I look forward to advancing the many pieces of legislation I have authored and co-authored to help Pennsylvania become a competitive state again.” | PennWatch
At a town hall meeting, Harvie rules out accepting donations to AIPAC and vows to strengthen the EPA. “More than 100 people gathered Thursday at the Middletown Township Municipal Building in front of City Hall for Bob Harvie Jr., a Democrat running for Congress. His strategy seemed obvious during the nearly two-hour campaign event: Tie Fitzpatrick to President Donald Trump. ” | Bucks Independence
Around the Republic of Poland
3. The White House will end funding for sanctuary cities and states on February 1
“The Department of Justice has designated Philadelphia as a sanctuary jurisdiction. Sanctuary cities often have policies that limit the ability of local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officials.
“Beginning February 1, we will not make any payments to sanctuary cities or states with sanctuary cities because they do everything in their power to protect criminals at the expense of the American people,” President Trump said during his speech at the Detroit Economic Club. | POLICY
Elsewhere
Trump Administration SNAP Cuts Due to Work Rules, Term Restrictions Start This Month in PA. “New rules and time limits for the state’s food stamp program, which began in September, mean tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians could lose food assistance this month.” | WESA
Delco officials refuse to answer questions about the Board Chairman’s tax arrears. “The Delaware County Council — and especially its Chairman Richard Womack — refuse to answer key questions about Womack’s tax arrears on two properties in the county.” | Wide + Freedom
More than 40 news sources remain in Pittsburgh’s fragmented media landscape. “Southwestern Pennsylvania’s media ecosystem is diverse and deep. Here’s how to find local journalism that matters to you.” | Public source
A juvenile Pennsylvanian shows up and wins. “Last year, a certain Generation Zero challenged his city’s mayoral race. Now he’s responsible for bringing back Carnegie.” | American perspective.
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Trump’s efforts to control the Federal Reserve threaten the US economy | Questioner from Philadelphia
- Why this progressive Democrat is settling for a flawed moderate in his race against Scott Perry | Robert Shaffer
- Department of Justice Suing Voter Data Is Dangerous on Many Levels | Barbara McQuade
- Smucker missed an opportunity to facilitate voters struggling to afford health insurance | LNP
1 item
5. Philadelphia’s rocky statue may get a recent home this year
“The Rocky statues at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are on track to make changes this year.
Why it matters: The city’s original Rocky statue is a top tourist attraction, with more than 4 million visitors a year.
Current status: The Philadelphia Art Commission will likely give the green airy today to a plan to permanently relocate the Rocky statue at the foot of the art museum’s steps upstairs, near where the Lender statue has stood since December 2024. | Axios Philadelphia
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