The new Congressional maps are out, Valerie Kean Staab takes aim at Governor Wolf and the #MeToo movement, Trump postpones his Ambridge rally, and the ups & downs from the week. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!
State Supreme Court Releases Congressional Maps: The state Supreme Court released the new Congressional Map for Pennsylvania after the state Senate and House, and Governor Tom Wolf were unable to agree on a new map.
Former Pa. Dems Senior Advisor Takes Aim at Wolf and the #MeToo Movement: Valerie Kean Staab, a senior advisor to former Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Marcel Groen until earlier this year, took aim at Governor Tom Wolf and the #MeToo movement in a email to reporters.
Trump Postpones Campaign Rally After Florida Shooting: President Donald Trump’s campaign wing announced they are postponing the rally planned for next week in Ambridge after the Florida shooting this week.
2/16 Ups & Downs: Third parties get good news ahead of this year’s elections, elected officials try to land their children good jobs, Wagner is endorsed by the establishment, creating a ticket picks up steam in the Gubernatorial race, and volunteers brave the weather to circulate petitions starting this week. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!
Legislative Election Update
Beaver County Times: Aleppo Republican Valerie Gaydos enter 44th Legislative District primary race
Pittsburgh City Paper: Democratic Socialist Kareem Kandil seeking Pennsylvania state house seat in suburban Pittsburgh
Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Pa. Supreme Court expected to unveil new congressional map today
StateImpact: Landowners brace for eminent domain loss in PennEast pipeline cases
StateImpact: Chester County township adds to local challenges on Mariner East 2 siting
City & State: As Rep. Keller drops out of 184th, Farnese aide jumps in
City & State: Winners and Losers for the week ending February 16
Capitolwire: PA Supreme Court releases its own congressional district map, which appears far more favorable to Democrats than the 2011 map.
Capitolwire: Wolf budget includes Lottery solvency plan.
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Pa. gerrymandering case: State Supreme Court releases new congressional map for 2018 elections
Inquirer: Pa. congressional Map takeaways: a major boost in Dem push for the U.S. House
Inquirer: Sources: Local 98 ally, Kenney aide Richard Lazer running for Congress | Clout
Inquirer: Pa.’s new congressional map scrambles race for Bob Brady’s seat
WHYY: Outside expert advises Pa. Supreme Court in drawing congressional district map
WHYY: Former Philly sheriff faces corruption trial
Philly Mag: U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans Is Holding a Party to Impeach Trump on Saturday
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania Supreme Court unveils new congressional map
SEPA
Delco Times: Wolf tries again to get state police-covered towns to pay up
Delco Times: Pa. supremes give Delco 5th Congressional District
Pottstown Mercury: Pennsylvania’s new congressional map could boost Democrats
Pottstown Mercury: Candidates in Pennsylvania House race oppose weapons ban
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania court issues overhauled congressional map
Pittsburgh
WESA: Pennsylvania’s New Court-Ordered Congressional Map Could Boost Democrats
WESA: GOP to take new Congressional Map to Court
WESA: Lamb And Saccone Clash Over Tax Cuts, Not Guns In First Debate
Tribune Review: Pa. court issues new congressional map; GOP likely to challenge
Tribune Review: Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge reflects on surviving heart attack
Tribune Review: State increases fines for late lobbyist spending reports
Tribune Review: Court-imposed redistricting map changes boundaries for millions of Pennsylvanians
Tribune Review: 18th District Congressional candidates detail where they stand on issues in TV debate
WTAE: Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers executive board authorizes president to strike if necessary
Post-Gazette: New congressional map would have major changes for Pittsburgh, Western PA
Post-Gazette: Pa Supreme Court selects new congressional map expected to increase competition
Post-Gazette: Demand for medical marijuana outpaces initial supply
Post-Gazette: District 18 debate between Lamb, Saccone featured sharp exchanges
KDKA: Saccone, Lamb Meet In First 18th Congressional District Special Election Debate
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Little City Council Race Draws Big Cash
Southwest
Tribune-Democrat: State Supreme Court unveils new redistricting plan
Observer-Reporter: Find out which Congressional District you are in
Beaver County Times: New Court Map puts Beaver County in new 17th Congressional district, Lawrence County in 16th district
NEPA
Times Leader: Redrawn map could boost Democrats
Times Leader: Casey calls for ‘common sense’ gun regulations
Times Leader: Casey talks issues as he gears up for another re-election campaign
Times-Tribune: Redistricting map trims local congressional districts
Times-Tribune: Russians may be behind 2016 Scranton Trump rally
Standard-Speaker: Redistricting: Hazle Twp. split, some politicians upset with municipal maneuvers
South Central
York Daily Record: 2018 Pa. governor’s race: Who is Scott Wagner?
York Daily Record: Pennsylvania court issues new congressional district map for 2018 elections
York Dispatch: State Supreme Court splits York County in new congressional map
WITF: Franklin still with Blair & Bedford counties in court’s redistricting
Patriot News: Your Congressional district will change: A look at the Pa. Supreme Court’s new map
Patriot News: New Pa. Congressional map is out with the old, in with the new
Patriot News: Your Congressional district will change: A look at the Pa. Supreme Court’s new map
Patriot News: Former Gov. Tom Ridge feels lucky to be alive: ‘I’m told I flatlined three times’
Patriot News: Pennsylvania’s new Congressional map, as handed down by the Supreme Court
LNP: Redistricting plan makes Lancaster County’s 11th district much safer for GOP
LNP: Manheim Township foresees ‘potentially lengthy and costly legal process’ in tax collector lawsuit
LNP: In the spotlight: New city Mayor Danene Sorace talks about former jobs, current hobbies and why she likes living here
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s new congressional map reunites Lehigh Valley, sets stage for another legal fight
Morning Call: See how the Pennsylvania Supreme Court congressional map compares to the others
Morning Call: Trial of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski takes dramatic turn
Reading Eagle: Berks still carved up under Pennsylvania Supreme Court map
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Pennsylvania’s new congressional map could boost Democrats
Centre Daily Times: Candidates in Pennsylvania House race oppose weapons ban
Sun Gazette: Longtime mayor honored for years of service
Erie Times-News: High court draws new Pa. congressional map
Opinion
Post-Gazette: Not the court’s job: Make legislators draw the congressional map
LNP: Nothing, not even a decent and fair congressional map, comes easy in Pennsylvania
Inquirer: Ending opioid crisis requires as many solutions as it has victims | Editorial
Inquirer: Overreaching in Pa.’s gerrymander fight makes our politics worse | John Baer
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: Question PennDOT’s free ride for cyclists
Post-Gazette: Stay in school: A city teachers strike would do untold damage
Patriot News: Pa. Republicans overstepped in their defiance of court ruling on redistricting | Opinion
Patriot News: In redrawing lines, Pa. court must rise above partisanship | Editorial