☕ Good morning Wednesday. A bit chilly at this time, isn’t it?
Weather in Pennsylvania
☀️Marion Center | Sunny, 51
☀️ Guangzhou | Sunny, 48
☀️Ulica Wierzbowa | Sunny, 52
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (2-8) | New York 99-111 | Wednesday vs. Cleveland
🏒 Penguins (6-9-2) | Wednesday vs. Detroit
🏒 Flyers (6-8-2) | Thu vs. Ottawa
🗓️ What’s happening today. The House meets at 11 a.m. and the Senate meets at 1 a.m.
🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Representative Ryan Bizarro.
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🗞️ Good morning, Pennsylvania. Find the latest on political events in the Keystone State with the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8am. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The most vital story
1. Shapiro’s 2028 prospects skyrocket after Harris’ defeat
“Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is being held up as a future Democratic standard-bearer after the party’s stunning nationwide defeat on Election Day.
Shapiro, who made it to the final round Vice President Kamala Harris candidates, has long been seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party. He has also received praise from Republicans for his bipartisan record as governor and is popular in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state that Democrats lost at the presidential level this cycle.” (Hill)
Elsewhere
Philadelphia voters supported Donald Trump in greater numbers than ever before. “Trump increased his standing in the city’s white, working-class neighborhoods and improved among Latinos as well as both middle- and working-class voters.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
- How Lehigh Valley Voted: Republicans participated en masse in a closely divided election. (Morning Talk in Allentown)
- Poll shows majority of Latinos remain committed to Democratic candidates in 2024 (Penn Capital Star)
- Red wave: why is Donald Trump so attractive to juvenile voters? (WHY)
Deluzio’s victory in western Pennsylvania keeps the Swing district in Democratic control. “He is the only one of three U.S. House of Representatives candidates from Pennsylvania on Frontline’s ticket to win re-election.” (Penn Capital Star)
Congressman-elect Rob Bresnahan on how he flipped a Democratic district in Pennsylvania to the GOP. “We talked about the importance of restoring accessibility to life for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. “I don’t know if there was a magic sauce, but I don’t think we overcomplicated it.” (PBS)
Fetterman will vote for Rubio for Trump’s Secretary of State. “Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said he would vote to confirm his colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), as secretary of state if chosen by President-elect Trump.” (Hill)
Country
2. McCormick maintains lead over Casey in AP Senate race while Count gains momentum
“As interim reviews of statewide votes are completed, Republicans Dave McCormick Holding on to Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat is, for lack of a better term, holding on.
McCormick started the day with a lead of 34,881, or about half a percentage point, over the three-term Democrat incumbent Robert P. Casey Jr. A pool of approximately 80,000 provisional ballots remains to be checked.
As the provisional vote tally increased, McCormick’s lead over Casey dropped to 29,290, or 0.43 percentage points, as of Tuesday’s 11 p.m. It may be on track to become the closest Pennsylvania Senate race ever. (PennLive)
- The counting of provisional ballots delays the final outcome of the Pennsylvania Senate race. (CBS Pittsburgh)
Elsewhere
Dave Sunday’s Road to Attorney General Victory. “The name of his fantasy football team is a good one – Any Giver Sunday. And a week ago, Election Day became that day.” (PoliticsPA)
PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity broke Josh Shapiro’s record for most votes in a statewide office. “In defeating Democratic challenger Erin McClelland last week, Garrity received 3,517,327 votes (52.2%) compared to McClelland’s 3,079,674 (45.5%), according to unofficial state results.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
PA House Democrats Announce Leadership Team. “One week after maintaining a one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democrats announced their leadership team for the 2025-2026 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
Topper elected House Republican leader, announces Republican Caucus leadership team in modern House. “Debauchery. Jesse Topper announced that he was elected leader of the Republican Party in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday, as the caucus reorganized its leadership team for the upcoming legislative session. (PoliticsPA)
- Struzzi named GOP appropriations chairman for next House session. (Indiana newspaper)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Voting ended. Next comes audits, certification and possible conversions
“Election Day in Pennsylvania has passed and was largely uneventful. But for county clerks responsible for voting across the state, the work isn’t over.
Several key steps must occur between now and the election of the President-elect Donald Trump and other winners take office. Here are the key procedures that will play out over the next few weeks” (Let him vote)
Elsewhere
Gainey highlights achievements during his budget speech. “In his annual Budget and State of the City address, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, presenting a budget without tax increases, repeated the success of his first three years in office in what closely resembled a campaign speech.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Allegheny County’s manager is warning of drastic cuts if the county council approves a smaller property tax increase. “County Executive Sara Innamorato’s proposal included a $2.2 million tax increase; The council president says the legislative body will likely propose its own budget. (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
Mount Lebanon Rep. Dan Miller is handing over leadership of the House and considering a judgeship. “More than a half-dozen seats are expected to be open on the Allegheny County bench, and Miller said Tuesday that appointing the judge is “strongly something I am considering.”THAT’S ALL)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 item
5. Philadelphia Lego
“Lego releases 3D version Robert Indiana’s famous Philly LOVE sculpture before its 55th anniversary next year, writes Isaac Avilucea from Axios Philadelphia.
The set is available for pre-order ($79.99) and shipments begin January 1.
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