🙂 Good Morning, Tuesday. Three weeks remaining.

PA Weather
☁️ Bedford | Mostly Cloudy, 51
🌂 Tioga | Mostly Cloudy, chance of AM showers, 47
🌤️ Chester | Mostly Sunny, 58

PA Sports
🏒 Penguins (2-2) | Montreal 6-3 | Wed. vs. Buffalo
🏒 Flyers (1-1) | Tue vs. Edmonton

📺 What We’re Watching. Go split screen at 7 p.m., as the candidates for U.S. Senate debate in Philadelphia on 6abc, while the candidates for PA Attorney General debate in Harrisburg on abc27.

🗣️ What We’re Hearing. “The Democratic Party has a messaging problem with white, younger men.” He added the men around him gravitate to Trump because of “wanting to dive into the toxic masculinity bullshit.” – NOTUS

📊 PoliticsPA Polling Tracker (avg. of last 5 PA polls)
President: Harris +0.8% | Senate: Casey +3.7%

🗞️ Political News From THE Swing State. Where can you find all the latest news on 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 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. The Difference Between a Poll Worker and a Poll Watcher

“Gather around class … it’s time for a civics lesson.

Yes, I know we don’t teach this much anymore in our public schools, yet it is a vital lesson in the way Americans choose their leaders on Election Day.

What are poll workers? What are poll watchers? And what’s the difference? (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

What PA Elections Officials Are Scared About Heading Into November. “Misinformation, litigation, and potential certification delays. Pennsylvania election officials are preparing for the worst in November as the state takes center stage.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

In An Election Race This Close, Asian American Voters Have Become a Force. “Asian American and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing voting group in the country. In Pennsylvania, the number of eligible voters from this demographic group grew by a whopping 55% between 2010 and 2020.” (NPR)

Harris Rallies In a Pennsylvania Bellwether County, Calling Trump Too ‘Unstable and Unhinged’ to be President. “The vice president said Trump “is out for unchecked power” and “wants to send the military after American citizens.”” (NBC News)

Suburban Trump Supporters Pack Oaks Expo Center: ‘There’s a Lot of Closet Trumpers’. “Former Donald Trump held his first public event in the voter-rich Philly suburbs. Will he be able to narrow the gap with Democrats in the collar counties?” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

“Universities are the Enemy”: The Dark Belief Behind Project 2025’s Higher Education Agenda. “The infamous 887-page policy manual linked to Donald Trump and J.D. Vance aims to take Ron DeSantis’s war against liberal arts education nationwide” (Washington Monthly)

State

2. 1-Seat Democratic Margin Has PA House Control Up For Grabs

“Pennsylvania’s legislative Republicans would like to pass additional voter ID requirements, restrict abortion and make election changes to improve their odds of winning judicial races. Democrats want to bump up the state’s minimum wage and widen civil rights for LGBTQ people.

In the closely divided General Assembly, those proposals have gone nowhere. Next month the state’s voters will determine whether to change that dynamic, filling all 203 House seats and half the 50-member Senate.” (AP)

Elsewhere

U.S. House Preview: 10th Congressional District. “The 10th Congressional District comprises Cumberland, Dauphin and York Counties. Republican Scott Perry is the incumbent and faces Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson.” (PoliticsPA)

Where Are The Mail Ballots in PA? “With just over a week remaining for Pennsylvanians to register to vote in the November 5 general election, more than 1.6 million people have requested a no-excuse, mail ballot to cast their votes in this all-important election.” (PoliticsPA)

PA-17: Mercuri and Deluzio Answer Questions About Their Plans For Western PA. “As voters begin to finalize their decisions in the upcoming elections, one contested race in western Pennsylvania will be important for Beaver County’s representation in Congress.” (Beaver County Times)

Meet Eric Settle: Promising a Nonpartisan Direction for PA’s Chief Law Enforcement Office. “The latest episode of Andrew Yang’s podcast features Eric Settle, who is running for Pennsylvania’s Office of Attorney General as the Forward Party candidate. He is one of 6 candidates on the AG ballot.” (Independent Voter News)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Five Reasons the State House Election Matters to Philly

“Once again, control of the White House will likely come down to about 100,000 voters in three or four swing states this November. But the future of Pennsylvania’s state legislature, which is also on the ballot, is expected to be decided by an even narrower set of margins.

The results of those contests could have far-reaching implications for Philadelphians, deciding the party control of both chambers in Harrisburg. Major legislative efforts on Governor Josh Shapiro’s agenda — including gun regulation, recreational marijuana, and raising the minimum wage to $15 — could all hinge on a few hundred votes in those competitive districts.” (Philadelphia Citizen)

Elsewhere

Incumbent PA Auditor General Plays Up Reforms In Office While Challengers Promise Even More. “The Nov. 5 election contest for state auditor general — an oft-overlooked post that serves as a fiscal watchdog — includes an incumbent Republican who touts a string of reforms, and a Democratic state representative who promises even more changes.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

60 Minutes: Schmidt Reassures Voters While Fighting Misinformation. “The CBS News program “60 Minutes” ran a feature on Sunday night on Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and his fight against election misinformation. Watch here.” (PoliticsPA)

In Pennsylvania, A Push to Win the Amish Vote. “The Amish don’t usually vote. A group of Trump supporters is encouraging them to start.” (Deseret News)

Allegheny County Council President Says Innamorato’s Proposed Budget and Tax Increase Are ‘Dead On Arrival’ “Allegheny County Council President Patrick Catena said Monday that county Executive Sara Innamorato’s proposed budget and nearly 50% tax increase are “dead on arrival,” saying that he and more than four of his colleagues oppose such an increase.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Explaining the Election 2024 Q&A: Can You Explain the Allentown Ballot Referendum? “A referendum question on the 2024 ballot would empower Allentown City Council to raise the deed transfer tax. The city’s Home Rule Charter has locked the tax rate at 0.5% for decades.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• The U.S. Economy is the Envy of the World, But Too Many Americans Have Forgotten Why. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Southwestern Pennsylvania May Give Donald Trump the Presidency. (Oliver Bateman)
• As Commander In Chief, Trump Was a Failure. As a Confidence Man, He Excels. (Paul Davies)
• Donald Trump is the Worst Boyfriend. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• What Would Dick Thornburgh Do? (David Thornburgh)
• Ukrainians in Pennsylvania Are Split On Harris and Trump. How Can That Be? (Josh Rogin)
• Immigration Proposals Threaten Major League Baseball. (Marissa Kiss and James Witte)

1 Thing

5. Gen Z Drives a Resurgence In Blue-Collar Work

“Generation Z has reshaped various societal norms, which entails redefining what’s in and what’s out. The latest workforce trend being embraced by today’s most influential generation is blue-collar career paths. As the promise of a four-year degree falls short, and the cost to receive a college degree continues to climb, young Americans are making blue-collar jobs cool again.” (Credit Karma)

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