🏆 Congratulations to Two New Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Yes, there were two by-elections yesterday.
Pennsylvania Weather
🌂 Meyersdale | Rain Chance, 66
🌂 Halifax | Rain Chance, 76
🌂 West Norriton | Chance of Showers, 74
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (91-60) | Milwaukee 5-1 | Wed. vs. Milwaukee
⚾ Pirates (71-80) | St. Louis 1-3 | Wed-Thu vs. St. Louis
⚽ Union (7-9-12) | Wed vs. NYC FC
🗓️ What’s happening todayPA Senate meets at 11 a.m.
👂 What we hear. “Bucks County is the most important county in the most important state in this election cycle,” he said. Bonnie ChangFounder and Chairman of Turn Bucks Blue. “We use comedy to cut through the noise and grab voters’ attention. We want everyone to know how easy and safe it is to vote by mail.”
🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Senator Marty Flynn.
🗞️ You asked for PA News. We deliverWhere can I find the latest news about what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for 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 subscribe now.
The most crucial story
1. Casey-McCormick US Senate Race Preview
“US Senator Bob Casey is widely seen as key to Democrats’ ultra-slim majority in the U.S. Senate.
As the incumbent in a swing state, his efforts to secure a fourth term could be crucial to his party’s control of the upper house. But he faces what could be his toughest challenge yet.
The Republican Party candidate in the race is a 58-year-old Army veteran and former hedge fund manager. Dave McCormickwho, in addition to his considerable personal wealth, enjoys the support of a Super PAC campaign.” (Erie Times-News)
Elsewhere
Senate Ad Watch: $130 Million Set Aside for Ads in Keystone State“With seven weeks left until the general election, the race for the U.S. Senate between incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Republican candidate Dave McCormick is heating up across the Commonwealth and on the airwaves.” (PoliticsPA)
Kamala Harris Says She’s ‘Working to Earn’ Black Male Votes During Wide-Ranging NABJ Interview in Philadelphia“Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday in Philadelphia that she does not treat black male voters as a monolith amid signs that former President Donald Trump has gained traction with that demographic group.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
- Fact check: Kamala Harris’s statements about work are out of context. (Check)
Trump to Appear with Polish President at Polish-American Sanctuary in Pennsylvania“Andrzej Duda’s Sunday campaign stop will be at a site revered by Polish-Americans, who make up about 5% of the state’s population.” (Wall Street Journal)
- Donald Trump campaign confirms visit of Our Lady of Częstochowa to Bucks County. (Bucks County Courier Times)
- Trump will return to western Pennsylvania for a rally next week. (WESA)
- Tim Walz will visit Allentown for a campaign rally this weekend. (News)
Voices of Reason S1 E9: Harris-Trump Debate Reaction. “As the dust settles, Pennsylvania reacts to the Trump-Harris debate. How could the debate affect each candidate’s chances of winning over undecided voters in the Keystone State? We covered that and more in the latest installment of Voices of Reason.” (PoliticsPA)
Country
2. Pennsylvania Democrats Head to 2024 Elections with Smallest Voter Registration Lead in Decades
“Despite the shock that followed Joe Biden After dropping out of the presidential race, Pennsylvania Democrats enter the final stretch of the 2024 election with the smallest voter registration advantage over Republicans in decades.
Raw party registration numbers began to rise after Biden withdrew in late July, and that trend has continued. But at the same time, Republicans have grown even faster.” (Vote for Pennsylvania)
Elsewhere
Here’s How Each Campaign Is Trying to Win Over Key Pennsylvania Voters“With 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is considered a must-win state. And with about seven weeks to go until the election, the Trump and Harris campaigns must rush to get as many voters on their side as possible.” (WITF)
Harris, Carroll win special election. Keith Harris and Andre Carroll won special elections in the 195th and 201st legislative districts of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The victories restored Democrats to a 102-101 majority in the lower chamber. (Philadelphia City Commissioners)
Selling Canned Cocktails Is ‘Responsible Thing,’ Shapiro Says; Legalizing Pot ‘Makes Sense’ Too“After celebrating a new law that allowed canned cocktails to be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday he believes legalizing recreational marijuana makes economic sense.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Pennsylvania Senate approves RGGI repeal as state energy chiefs complain about permitting delays. “Pennsylvania is one step closer to exiting the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Legislation to repeal part of the RGGI carbon tax passed the state Senate by a 27-22 vote Tuesday.” (DV Journal)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. Pennsylvania’s Ballots Are Almost Ready: Here’s Why They Look Different This Year
“Voters in a key region of Pennsylvania may notice their ballots look different this year as the state prepares to implement a new design for the general election for the first time this year that aims to reduce the number of rejected ballots.
Commonwealth Secretary Al Schmidt officially certified the state’s presidential election ballot this fall after the state Supreme Court upheld a ruling rejecting an independent candidate Cornel West sought to be included in the vote, which was the last outstanding legal issue.
This cleared the way for counties to begin preparing, printing and delivering mail-in ballots to those who request them.” ((NBC News)
Elsewhere
Montco begins mail-in voting for November election after delays during primary“After slow delivery of mail-in ballots during the April primary, Montgomery County is one of the first counties in Pennsylvania to print and mail ballots for the November general election.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Group Encourages Bucks County Residents to ‘Vote Naked.’ We Uncover the Campaign“The campaign, developed by Blue Nation Strategies, includes 15- and 30-second videos featuring Bucks County residents naked as they remind voters to sign and date their absentee ballots before they are returned to the county board of elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.” (Bucks County Courier Times)
Watch the Wild-Mackenzie debate at PA-07“Candidates for the 7th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives participated in a debate hosted by Blue Ridge Cable last Sunday evening.” (PoliticsPA)
Life at the Center of the Political Hurricane of 2024“I have the strange privilege and burden of living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It’s not only in a swing state, it’s in one of the most swing states. Barack Obama won Luzerne County by about five points in 2012, then Donald Trump won it by almost 20 points in 2016, then Joe Biden cut that margin to about 14 points.” (American perspective)
Luzerne County is ground zero for Pennsylvania’s rightward shift“Luzerne County, where Wilkes Barre Township is located, has historically been a Democratic stronghold — Democrats running in state elections had always won here until 2016, but signs of change this year were evident to those who visited repeatedly.” (Washington Examiner)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- What if Harris and Trump had ignored Pennsylvania? (Mateusz Yglesias)
- Vice President Harris’ interview with the National Association of Black Journalists was subdued — a sharp contrast to the madness of Trump’s session. (Jenice Armstrong)
- Candidates in Pennsylvania don’t want to talk about it. (There will be a Bunch)
- The Constitution’s Response to the Problem of Billionaires’ Money in Politics. (Jeff Clements)
- The Constitution’s response to failing democracy. (Jonathan Skrmetti)
- Harris is making the most of her opportunities, and Trump is striking back. (Clarence’s Page)
- More than 470 Pennsylvania school districts are calling on the General Assembly to complete its work on Cyber Charter reform. (Lawrence A. Feinberg and Rob Gleason)
- The merger of the American steel industry is good for workers and good for Pennsylvania. (Kyle Sammin)
- Election officials focus on system integrity. (Sharon Herald)
- How can millions of voters still be undecided between Trump and Harris? Here are their reasons. (Doyle McManus)
1 thing
5. Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes Highlight Fault Lines: Can Democrats and Republicans Be Friends?
“When Brittany Mahomesco-owner of a professional football team and wife of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomesliked the ex’s Instagram post President Trump Last month, a discussion quickly erupted on social media about her match-day colleague, Taylor Swift.
Like Swift — who supported Joe Biden in 2020 — befriend someone who supports Trump?” (Hill)
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