June 26 playbook: Gnarly Democratic presidential primaries

😎 Friday. Welcome to the weekend.

Headlines. Democrats are preparing for the most brutal presidential primaries in decades. Shapiro’s fundraising machine continues to spin. The Senate passes a sweeping tax bill giving consumers a break and preventing the apply of data centers. Cheat sheet for the 4th of July road trip.

🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Friday I’m in love. Olivia Rodrigo

Weather in Pennsylvania
☁️ Greensburg | Mostly gloomy, 79
☁️ Hershey | Mostly gloomy, 85
☁️Jim Thorpe | Mostly gloomy, 82

Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (45-36) | Washington 10-5 | Friday-Sunday at the NY Mets
⚾ Pirates (41-40) | Seattle 5-1 | Friday-Sunday vs. Cincinnati
⚽ USMNT (2-1) | Türkiye 2-3 | Wednesday vs. Bosnia

What we hear. New House Majority PAC Poll Paige Cognetti tips Rob Bresnahan47-45%, within the margin of error in PA-08 in a survey of 400 voters.

What are we watching?. In this episode of Voices of Reason entitled AI data centers are the hottest topic in the Commonwealth. Should we rush to win the AI ​​race with China or tardy down our efforts? PoliticsPA Steve Ulrich talks to Pennsylvania State Senator Rosemary Brown AND Michael Helbingdirector of the Center for Energy Law and Policy at Penn State.

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.

(*26*)The most essential story

1. Democrats are preparing for the most brutal presidential primaries in decades

“The 2028 Democratic presidential primary is already a mess, months before the race actually begins.

Consider that ‘everyone and their mother’ could run for office, according to 2024 graduates Quentin Fulkswhich gives the number of over 20 candidates. And that no one knows what to think about it Kamala Harrisincluding Kamala Harris.

Adding to the confusion: The Democratic National Committee is at a crossroads. At least three potential candidates have already talked about skipping the official DNC debates, according to aides, potentially opening the process to a wave of unofficial debates hosted by every left-leaning media organization or interest group imaginable. | known

Elsewhere

A rainy day fund debate ensues as the PA budget deadline looms over lawmakers. “At a time when nearly half of states are cutting spending to balance the books, Pennsylvania is doing the opposite.” | Penn Capital Star

Federal judge blocks Trump’s mail-in voting order. “A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing key parts of his executive order aimed at creating a list of eligible citizens and restricting mail-in voting.” | Axles

GOP lawmakers divided on ousting Hegseth as top military commander. “Republican lawmakers are divided over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ouster of Chambersburg native Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of U.S. forces in Europe and Africa.” | Hill

Fetterman and Meuser differ on the future of proposed ICE detention centers. “Two proposed ICE detention facilities in Berks and Schuylkill counties may be sold by the Department of Homeland Security, although at least one Pennsylvania congressman has expressed doubts whether the deal will proceed.” | Central Square

Country

2. Shapiro’s fundraising machine continues to decline as campaign has raised $4.285 million in the last 30 days

“It looks like they are just printing money at Shapiro For PA headquarters these days.

The final application to the Department of State and the re-election campaign are underway Governor Josh Shapiro it grossed $4.285 million from May 8 to June 6. This means the funds available for his campaign will be $38.3 million.

His Republican rival – State Treasurer Stacy Garrity – in the same period, he collected PLN 685,000. dollars and has $1.1 million in the bank. | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Shapiro says progressive victories on New York’s ballot are ‘transforming this pain into purpose’. “Following Tuesday’s New York primary election in which they chose more progressive and socialist candidates, Gov. Josh Shapiro said the results – and elections across the country – show that voters are excited about their desire for change.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

The PA House is moving forward with a proposal to lower utility bills through investment caps and tax cuts. “Pennsylvanians could soon see significant savings on their utility bills after the state House unanimously passed a proposal to cap utility profits on Monday.” | LNP

Mackenzie supported more than a dozen right-to-work bills while serving in the AP House. “Voters living in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District will have a choice in this election and decide which side they will side with.” | Key

Corner stores claim that “arcade games” are an necessary part of their business. The court’s ruling threatens this. “Faced with rising inflation and the cost of doing business, many Philadelphia neighborhood stores, bars, laundromats and smoke shops have turned to arcade-style games to maintain their slim margins.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Around the Republic of Poland

3. AP Senate passes tax bill giving consumers a break and denying access to data centers

“In a festival of proposals and strategic meetings, the state Senate voted Thursday to turn multiple tax proposals – from tax holidays on school supplies to ending data center furloughs – into one bill.

As Tuesday is the deadline to pass the state’s 2026-2027 budget, it is unclear whether any parts of the bill will be finally agreed upon. Next year’s budget is widely expected to be delayed again, and some votes on Thursday signaled there could be conflict in the future.’ | PennLive

Elsewhere

Brookville Borough Council approves 180-day moratorium on data center development. “Council members in a Jefferson County municipality are postponing a nearly six-month pause in data center development as residents across Pennsylvania become increasingly concerned about their rapid growth and their impact on water supplies, pollution and energy prices.” | WPSU

Judge blocks GOP chairman’s apply of ‘loyalty oath’ to control access to party meetings. “Members of the Cumberland County Republican Committee who refused to sign the so-called unauthorized loyalty oath will be allowed to vote in Thursday’s committee chairman election.” | PennLive

Trump admin’s ‘political’ rules threaten reproductive health of 160,000 people PA patients, the lawsuit states. “Family planning and health care organizations that serve tens of thousands of people across Pennsylvania could see federal funding delayed or denied as a result of new Trump administration policies, a new lawsuit alleges.” | PA reflector

Lackawanna County Democratic Party sharply divided over process for electing novel officials, legal fight possible. “Current county Democratic Party Chairman Chris Patrick, who has decided not to seek a fourth four-year term, said he declared 76 recently elected party committee members ineligible to serve as members, meaning they cannot vote. He said he did so because they violated party rules by supporting non-Democrats in last year’s special or general election.” | WVIA

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

• Inexperienced members of Trump’s cabinet endanger American lives | PennLive
• How many court reprimands will be enough for Larry Krasner? | Wide + Freedom
• Education program that helped raise one million PA students is under attack | Michael Marrone and Joseph Marano
• Prediction Markets Cost Pennsylvania $1 Billion in Lost Tax Revenue — And They’re Just Getting Started | Bill Miller
• PA coroners refuse to publish autopsy reports – hampering investigations into deaths in custody | Jonah Walters
• The case against Pennsylvania’s digital advertising tax | Colin McNickle
• The Most Important Act of Leadership in United States History | Patrick J. Murphy
• Does Congress grant wishes or rule? | Lori Falce
• Pittsburgh wants more families, but state insurance laws make it tough | Donal Levi Donaldson

1 item

5. Road trip cheat sheet

AAA predicts July 4 will be the busiest travel week since at least 2019.

Getting the departure time right can save you hours stuck in traffic. Holiday season traffic is expected to pick up from tomorrow. Transportation data company INRIX, which works with AAA to forecast travel times, has determined the best departure windows to avoid the worst congestion.

Yes, but: In some metro stations – including: in Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia – peak traffic expected earlier: Saturday, June 27. | Axles

Thank you for starting your weekend with us.
Enjoy! We will be back on Monday.