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President: Harris +1.2% | Senate: Casey +6.0%
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Top Story
1. The Crucial Demographic in Pennsylvania That Could Torpedo Kamala Harris
“America’s second Catholic president was visiting his childhood neighborhood in April, when he employed a bit of ritualized Irish Democratic politicking.
Joe Biden’s local ties and cultural roots helped lift him to victory in 2020 here in Lackawanna County, the population hub of increasingly red northeastern Pennsylvania. In this most Catholic part of the swing state with the second-highest Catholic population, Biden ran ahead of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 pace, enabling his narrow, one percentage point statewide victory.
But now, as Democrats battle for the state with Kamala Harris as the nominee, their chances of winning in the region or performing well enough there to carry the state are looking considerably dicier. It’s not just the loss of Biden — an older, white, Catholic man with an affinity for the working class — from the top of the ticket that worries local Democrats.” (POLITICO)
Elsewhere
Trump’s Messaging on Immigration Is Littered With Misinformation. But It’s Taking Hold in PA. ““We’ve gotta send them back where they came from,” Boyd Sweinberg, a 63-year-old government employee, said at the Luzerne County fair last month. “We know they’re here. We just haven’t seen ’em yet.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
3 Takeaways From the Harris and Trump Visits to Western PA. “It’s fair to say that Western Pennsylvania is the center of the political universe right now. But as a political reporter, I’ve been reminded lately that, as the Big Bang theory instructs us, the center of the universe is the place that everyone and everything is fleeing as quickly as possible.” (WESA Politics)
Former President Donald Trump Coming Back to Erie For Second Time Since Start of ’24 Race. “Former President Donald Trump is returning to Erie Sunday to rally supporters in the critical bellwether county, Trump campaign confirmed in an email Thursday.” (Erie Times-News)
DNC Will Send Funding to All State Parties to Support Down-Ballot Races. “The nearly $2.5 million investment aims to help break Republican supermajorities in deep-red states and strengthen voter engagement efforts across the U.S.” (POLITICO)
State
2. U.S. House Preview: 8th Congressional District
“This is the first in our series highlighting the key U.S. House of Representatives races in the Commonwealth.
The 8th Congressional District comprises Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. Democrat Matt Cartwright is the incumbent and faces Republican challenger Rob Bresnahan.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Why IVF Has Taken a Central Role In the Lehigh Valley’s Race For Congress. “Perceived threats to in vitro fertilization have made the reproductive health care procedure a central issue in the race for Congress in the Lehigh Valley.” (Allentown Morning Call)
Shapiro Rips Donald Trump For ‘Absolutely False’ Claims About Haitian Immigrants in PA. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said former President Donald Trump’s repeatedly debunked claims about Haitian immigrants in Charleroi, Pa., are “complete and utter bull—” during a recent podcast appearance.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
PA Treasurer Candidates Spar Over Campaign Finance, Investments. “The Democratic challenger running for state treasurer is calling for more transparency from her Republican incumbent opponent while being accused of creating conspiracy theories and unable to accurately complete a campaign finance report.” (PennLive)
PA’s Richest Person Is Pumping Millions of Dollars Into the Race For Attorney General. “The wave of spending for Dave Sunday has sparked allegations from his Democratic opponent, Eugene DePasquale, that the Republican is trying to shield those dollars from public view to avoid association with the donor, billionaire Wall Street trader Jeff Yass.” (Spotlight PA)
Philadelphia’s District Attorney Scores Legal Win Against GOP Impeachment Bid. “Pennsylvania state lawmakers who tried to impeach Philadelphia’s elected progressive prosecutor improperly tried to stretch that process across two different legislative sessions, the state’s highest court ruled Thursday.” (AP)
Around The Commonwealth
3. Early Voting Now Available in 9 Pennsylvania Counties
“Now that the Pennsylvania Department of State has certified the official candidate list, counties around the Commonwealth are printing ballots and mailing requests for no-excuse absentee ballots to voters that have requested them.
According to DOS, there are presently nine counties around the state that have ballots available. Registered voters are able to go to their county election office, request a mail ballot, complete the ballot and return as soon as they have finished – or what many call “early voting.”” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Allegheny County Announces Mail-In Ballots to Be Delivered Soon. “To date, 175,000 mail-in ballots applications have been processed, elections officials say; 6,700 poll workers recruited.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Legal Questions About Pennsylvania Mail-In Ballots Loom As Voting Starts. “From what have become known as “undated ballots” to so-called “naked ballots,” the range of issues before state and federal courts center on what to do when voters return absentee ballots on time but don’t follow all of the rules for getting their votes counted.” (WVIA)
An Embattled Pennsylvania Election Office Faces Criticism From Both Sides. “A battleground Pennsylvania county with a history of election errors is facing heavy criticism from activists on both sides of the political spectrum over the way it is running its presidential vote in 2024.” (The Guardian)
Breaking Down the Growth of GOP and Decline of Democratic Voters in Pennsylvania, County by County. “While Democrats held a sizable advantage in Pennsylvania in 2008 following the campaign and election of Barack Obama, the Republican party has grown since then. Independent and third-party voters have also seen continued steady growth.” (WESA)
Huntingdon Valley, PA Man Admits Voting Five Times In Two Elections. How He Did It. “A 62-year-old Montgomery County man has admitted he committed voter fraud after registering to vote in three places and casting five votes in the 2020 and 2022 races.” (Bucks County Courier Times)
Editorial
4. What’s On Your Mind
- Small Businesses Deserve Fair Chance to Compete in PA’s Cannabis Market. (Chad Harlacker)
- Lies About Haitian Immigrants Do a Disservice to Them and to America. (Christine Flowers)
- Pennsylvania State Grange Sounds the Alarm on Rural Mental Health, Says Shapiro Must Act. (Matthew Esbenshade)
1 Thing
5. Bye, Bye, Lanternfly
“Vice President Kamala Harris received an unfriendly greeting from a spotted lanternfly after her plane landed in Pittsburgh this week.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato quickly neutralized the threat. She brushed the bug off of Harris’ pants suit and stomped on it.
“My instincts kicked in, and I swatted it off her pant leg and crushed it,” Innamorato said. “I looked up, saw her quizzically and kind of mildly horrified looking at me. I said, ‘Welcome to Allegheny County.’”” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
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2 Responses
Why would any Catholic vote for Donald Trump?
Makes no sense.
Thrice-married man who had affairs with Stormy and Karen and never practices any religion.
It all boils down to abortion. Unfortunately that stance on abortion is killing women having miscarriages since docs are afraid to treat them lest they be accused of providing an abortion. Eliminate the need for abortion by mandating health insurance cover prenatal, maternity and child medical care at 100% through age 6. Mandate maternity leave for 3 months. Child care is still something that has to be considered. I may sound like a Democrat, but actually a Catholic Republican. Most priests lean Republican, but the nuns lean Democrat.