🎉 Yes, it’s Friday
📰 PA Policy Playbook Headlines. The Democratic primary in the Lehigh Valley is testing progress against party strength. PSP will create a modern unit to investigate threats against elected officials. Which is what Shapiro is aiming for as he seeks a second term as PA governor. After the PGA Championship, Pennsylvania chooses a PGA Tour stop
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Fun, fun, fun. Beach boys
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌥️ Taranto | Rising Clouds, 69
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☁️ Lansdale | Mostly gloomy, 68
Sports PA
⚾ Pirates (24-20) | Colorado 7-2 | Friday-Sunday vs. Philadelphia
⚾ Phillies (21-23) | Boston 3-1 | Friday-Sunday in Pittsburgh
⚽ Union (1-2-10) | I was based in Columbus
✅Primaries 2026. Check out our Pennsylvania primary previews, polls and prediction markets.
🔈 What we hear. “If there is one place that captures the American mood of the last 20 years, it is Erie, Pennsylvania. And Erie’s importance is greater than its size.” – Newsweek
💬 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.
The most significant story
1. Lehigh Valley Democratic primaries test progress against party strength
“Candidates in two key Democratic primary races in the Lehigh Valley agree that housing is too costly, government services are underfunded and the minimum wage is too low.
The conflict actually animating these races is more fundamental, and speaks to a larger dispute among Democrats across the commonwealth and country: Should the party seek bold solutions to these solemn problems, such as enacting a graduated income tax, despite opposition from moderates? Or should he focus on incremental progress while protecting unity under the substantial tent?
Voters will decide on Tuesday.” | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Once he is a Republican, he is no longer a Republican. Crosswell walks a fine line in the PA-07 race. “Does party affiliation stigmatize someone for the rest of their days? Or can you switch to an ideology that fits you today? Ryan Crosswell tries to walk that fine line as a former Republican-turned-Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District. ” | PoliticsPA
‘He’s worried about his image’: Bresnahan donates to charities after voting to cut Medicaid, SNAP. “U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan’s charitable donations will come under scrutiny after he donated to organizations affected by President Donald Trump’s budget cuts that he voted for.” | Key
What AP Senator John Fetterman’s vote means for Trump, the US war with Iran. “With U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s decisive vote on the war powers resolution, President Donald Trump’s authority to attack Iran remains unlimited. The resolution, which would direct Trump to withdraw U.S. military forces from the conflict with Iran, was the first time the Senate voted to end the war in Iran since the end of the 60-day window set out in the War Powers Act. ” | USA Today Network
Senate Democrats are trying to reach a deal with Fetterman. “Senate Democrats this week praised their colleague John Fetterman amid fresh speculation that he may be leaving the party. In recent years, the iconoclastic Pennsylvania Democrat has often given the impression of a senator without a party. ” | known
Country
2. Pennsylvania State Police Will Create New Threats Against Elected Officials Unit After Reporting ‘Breakdown’ With Lawmakers
“Pennsylvania State Police is creating a modern unit to investigate threats against elected officials following a communications failure over threats of violence against Pennsylvania state legislators.
Adam BerryhillThe 42-year-old was arrested May 6 after making “politically violent” threats on social media, including creating an alleged “hit list” targeting 20 Pennsylvania Democratic legislators, mostly from the Philadelphia area, state police said.
But some lawmakers weren’t made aware of it until this week, when police released a so-called hit list for a Lebanon County man. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Shapiro has endorsed four AP congressional primaries. He had no impact on the Philly race. “As Democratic voters from Chestnut Hill to South Philadelphia choose a new voice to represent them in Congress on Tuesday, there is one notable figure who has held off for months on who he thinks it should be: Gov. Josh Shapiro.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Stelson v. Douglas contests between Mrs. Inevitable and Mr. Newcomer in 10th grade Congress. “Janelle Stelson has never really stopped running against U.S. Sen. Scott Perry since leaving the WGAL News 8 debate in September 2023. Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas, her Democratic opponent, is solely focused on May 19 and trying to survive and advance.” | PennLive
2026 Primary Preview: PA-17 GOP Clash Features Vodvarka, Guy. “The 17th Congressional District is the only GOP primary candidate in the Commonwealth, with businessman Jesse James Vodvarka and Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy vying for the opportunity to challenge Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio in the fall general election.” | PoliticsPA
Around the Republic of Poland
3. What is Shapiro aiming for as he seeks a second term as PA governor
“During a recent campaign stop in Erie County, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro he quickly threw out a list of achievements from his first term.
While the opponent Stacy Garrity seems like the race is becoming a referendum on Shapiro’s first term, Shapiro clearly shares that approach. He highlighted every achievement under the political mantra of “getting things done.” | Erie Times-News
Elsewhere
Outside groups are sending money to Lancaster County’s 100th District race to support attack on Republican Dave Nissley. “The mailers attacking Nissley were paid for by the Government Responsible for Central PA PAC, which was also responsible for online ads targeting Elizabethtown-area Republican Danielle Lindemuth during her re-election campaign to the district’s school board last fall. At the time, Lindemuth had secured the endorsement of the district’s GOP. ” | LNP
HD-104: The main candidates in the Dauphin County House district are clashing for leadership. “In the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 104th House District, incumbent state Republican Dave Madsen is seeking to secure the nomination against a challenge from Swatara County Commissioner Shane Steele.” | PennLive
Tiburcio, Gerlach focus on housing and tax policy in Democratic primary race for a seat in the 22nd House. “Months of political wrangling will culminate on Tuesday when Democratic voters choose state Republican Ana Tiburcio or City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach to represent the party in November in the race for the state’s 22nd House District.” | LehighValley News
Political leaders are calling on Pennsylvania to get solemn about renewable energy. “Pennsylvania is a national energy leader in two categories: utility costs and renewable energy resiliency. State policy experts see a solution to the former in the latter.” | Pittsburgh City Document
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- The Fate of Taiwan in Erie, Pennsylvania | Newsweek
- 23 Pennsylvania billionaires should facilitate save families from Trump’s cuts | PennLive
- Why low-income Pennsylvanians feel pressure from rising gas prices | Hannah Wiseman
- Data center politics is coming to a miniature town in Pennsylvania | John Hinshaw
- Electricity Myth: Data Centers Are Not the Villain | Christian Walker
- Politics That Moves Us Forward: Why Latino Progress Is Pennsylvania Progress | LULAC, Pennsylvania
1 item
5. After the PGA Championship, Pennsylvania chooses a PGA Tour stop
“The PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club just outside Philadelphia caps off a series of top-notch golf tournaments in Pennsylvania, including last year’s U.S. Open and the PGA Tour’s Truist Championship, as well as the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open.
Government officials are making every effort to make this a more common occurrence.
“I really want to do the PGA Tour at Cobbs Creek,” Pennsylvania Deputy Tourism Secretary Anna Ryan says Front Office Sports. “I’m obsessed with it.” | Sports at the reception
Thank you for starting your weekend with us.
Relax. Enjoy. See you on Monday.
