😁 Hey, hey, Tuesday. It’s going to be another Red October. Congrats to the Phillies.
Pennsylvania Weather
☔ Kane | Showers, 63
🌂 Lewistown | Precipitation Probability, 65
☁️ Springfield | Mostly shadowy, 70
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (93-64) | Cubs 6-2 | Tuesday-Wednesday vs. Chicago Cubs
⚾ Pirates (73-83) | Tuesday-Thursday vs. Milwaukee
👂 What do we hear. Senate Majority PAC Unveils Two New Attack Ads Dave McCormick as part of a $42 million fall ad spend in Pennsylvania. The ads will air in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Scranton, Johnstown and Erie.
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The most critical story
1. Trump: ‘If We Win Pennsylvania, We Win Everything’
“In a speech Monday evening at the Kovalchick Conference and Athletic Complex at Indiana University of Pennsylvania that lasted an hour and 40 minutes, former President Donald Trump pledged to make America prosperous, healthy, strong, proud, safe, free, and great again.
“I will support universal school choice,” he promised. “We will keep the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.”
He also promised to lower taxes and regulations, defend religious freedom and the Second Amendment, impose a 10 percent cap on credit card interest rates, and to “drill, drill, drill.”Indiana Newspaper)
Elsewhere
Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs on John Deere, Promises to Cut Energy Bills in Half During Western Pennsylvania Stops“During a lightning visit to western Pennsylvania on Monday, former President Donald Trump met with farmers, business owners and scores of supporters, promising them all that if elected, he would impose tariffs on companies doing business outside the country and lower the prices of their food and utilities.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
- Trump listens at a farm event in rural Pennsylvania, then threatens John Deere with tariffs. (AP)
- Trump absent from NRCC fundraiser. (Punchbowl News)
Kamala’s path to victory leads through Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania.“Because Harris has to win, I used some recent polls to take a closer look.” (Washington Monthly)
- Harris is courting Trump voters in rural Pennsylvania. (Axial)
Where do U.S. Senate candidates Bob Casey and Dave McCormick stand on abortion, child care and other issues?“We are analyzing the major party candidates’ positions on a range of care issues. Spotlight PA reached out to both campaigns, but only Casey responded to questions via email.” (PA reflector)
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate Race“The showdown between Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D) and Republican challenger Dave McCormick is tight — and a political analyst tells Axios it could come down to undecided voters.” (Axios Philadelphia)
Country
2. If Trump Loses in November, the GOP Can Blame It on Exaggerated Concerns About Non-Citizen Voting
“As the November election approaches, former president Donald Trump and his allies are stoking fears that non-Americans are voting.
While it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and the instances where it does happen are extremely uncommon, the possibility of illegally cast votes has become a constant refrain for the former president and congressional Republicans, likely foreshadowing a post-election strategy to challenge the results if Trump loses.“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Elsewhere
PA-10: Perry, Stelson agree to debate Oct. 8. “Six-term incumbent Rep. Scott Perry and Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson have agreed to a 60-minute debate on Tuesday, October 8, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the WHTM-TV studios in Harrisburg.” (PoliticsPA)
- Janelle Stelson, competing in the moderate division, may prove to be Scott Perry’s toughest challenge. (York Dispatch)
PA-08: Cartwright and Bresnahan agree on one debate“The two gentlemen will debate at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, and the event will be broadcast on WVIA in late October.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)
GOP lawmakers challenge automatic voter registration practices after Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision. “The five-month fight over the Luzerne County GOP primary officially ended Monday, but the state Supreme Court decision that resolved the dispute has Republican lawmakers challenging Pennsylvania’s automatic voter registration practices.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Pennsylvania Senate candidates avoid risky climate, energy positions while seeking votes“One of four significant swing districts, Pennsylvania’s 37th Senate seat could change the balance of power in state government. It could have big implications for climate and energy policy — but the candidates aren’t at the forefront of those issues.” (Public source)
AI Enters Politics: 3 Pennsylvania House Candidates Use ChatGPT to Shape Voter Responses. “AI has become a political bogeyman, criticized as a potential disinformation tool that campaigns could use to mislead voters. But at least three state House candidates running in Lancaster County districts have turned to AI this year to help describe their political views to voters ahead of Election Day.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)
Pennsylvania Adjutant General Schindler Announces Retirement“Major Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, has announced his retirement after nearly four decades of service in the Pennsylvania National Guard.” (PoliticsPA)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. HD-117: Walsh certified as winner of Republican Party nomination
“Five months after the April 23 primary, Jamie Walsh was endorsed as the Republican Party’s candidate for the state House of Representatives’ 117th District seat.
The Luzerne County Board of Elections certified the race on Monday, meaning the elections office can now finalize the vote for the Nov. 5 general election. Walsh defeated incumbent state Sen. Rep. Mike Cabell by four votes, 4,735 to 4,731.” (Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice)
Elsewhere
York County officials refuse to answer questions about upcoming election. “Preparations for the 2024 presidential election are expected to be underway in York County, although to what extent is unclear. The county Board of Elections declined a request from The York Dispatch to visit its offices and interview officials before the Nov. 5 election, a common practice before elections to inform readers about what to expect and how to prepare to vote.” (York Dispatch)
McCormick joins RNC in lawsuit seeking to stop ballot distribution in Montco“In the on-again, off-again saga of Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting, the Republican National Committee, with a little help from a U.S. Senate candidate, is trying to stop a populous Pennsylvania county from distributing and collecting mail-in ballots.” (PoliticsPA)
‘Fair Elections Pennsylvania’ Associated with Powerful Conservative Groups Behind Efforts to Remove People from Voters“This story is the second in a series about the “election integrity” movement of people who claim the last election was illegitimate and are preparing to challenge the results of Pennsylvania’s election in November.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)
Focusing on workforce development, Innamorato signs first executive order“Standing beneath a riverfront mural titled “Industry,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato signed her first executive order Monday — a list of measures to support and strengthen the county’s workforce.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Abortion tops election issue for nearly half of state voters, Spotlight PA poll finds“Feelings vary widely by party. Only 17% of Republican respondents said abortion and reproductive health were among the issues that matter most to them this election cycle, compared with a whopping 85% of Democrats.” (PA reflector)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 baseball thing
5. We own the East
“After two consecutive losses to the New York Mets, the Phillies’ quest to secure the National League East finally ended in Philly, and Citizens Bank Park was abuzz Monday night as the Phillies clinched the division title with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs — their first NL East title since 2011. That’s certainly cause for celebration.
After the game, Phillies players celebrated their 12th NL East title in franchise history by dousing each other with beer and champagne and other festivities, another step toward the Red October.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
