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👂 What We’re Hearing. “Anybody who makes things with their hands, they’re voting toward the Republican Party,” said Sean Logue, who chairs the Republican Party in Washington County.

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Top Story

1. The Five Kinds of Places That Win You Pennsylvania

“The top of the ballot has changed, but the importance for each party of winning Pennsylvania has not.

All eyes will be on the critical battleground state in the coming months as polls show Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump locked in a close race. Past voting trends in Pennsylvania provide a roadmap for the kinds of places that will determine who wins this year’s presidential election.

The Inquirer broke the state up into five kinds of places, divided by population density, race, and education, to understand voting changes in recent presidential elections. Each group offers insight into the electorate – and a slight change in any one of them could sway the result this year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

NYT/Siena Poll: Harris, Casey On The Rise In PA. “The latest survey from the New York Times and Siena College has good news for a pair of Democratic candidates.” (PoliticsPA)

Donald Trump’s Speech During Musk Interview Sparks Health Concerns. “Donald Trump had his lengthy conversation with Elon Musk on X on Monday, and one thing that could not be missed through it all was the former president’s slurred speech. Trump often sounded as though he was speaking with a heavy lisp or slurring his words, and that had social media stirring.” (PennLive)

• 5 Takeaways From the Trump-Musk Conversation on X. (The Hill)
• Trump’s Interview With Musk Devolves Into Yet Another X Catastrophe. (POLITICO)

Will Kamala Harris’ Short Run Kill the ‘Permanent Campaign’? “Kamala Harris’ ambush of a presidential campaign has raised a question that American political types have long brushed off in conversations with puzzled foreigners: What if our campaigns were much, much shorter?” (Semafor)

Why Investments In a Chinese Fentanyl Company Have Become An Issue In Pennsylvania’s Senate Race. “The epidemic of fentanyl overdoses, which killed about 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year, has become a major issue in the state’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, with both candidates accusing the other of playing a role in fueling the national opioid crisis.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2. Without Cuts or New Revenue, PA’s Budget Surplus Is On Track to Run Dry

“Pennsylvania’s multibillion-dollar surplus will soon be halved according to a projection by a state budget watchdog, the result of a long-running structural deficit combined with a growing list of obligations competing for public dollars.

The commonwealth’s recent $47.6 billion budget increased spending by 6%, with more than $1 billion in new money going to public schools in response to a court ruling that found Pennsylvania underfunds poor districts.

However, the state brought in just $44 billion in net revenue last fiscal year. So to afford the spending plan, lawmakers are reaching into the state’s sizable cash reserves, which sat at roughly $13.6 billion as of June 30.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Grove: PA Budget Situation Risks “Dismal Collapse” “Now Republicans in Harrisburg are warning the state budget is at risk of a “dismal collapse” according to the Pennsylvania House GOP top budget analyst.” (DV Journal)

Chairman of Trump Shooting Inquiry Brings Personal Experience to the Task. “Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania was in the audience with family, including three of his grandchildren, during the shooting.” (New York Times)

Trump Plans Rally in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. “Former President Donald Trump will make another trip to the Commonwealth on Saturday as he plans to give remarks in Wilkes-Barre.” (PoliticsPA)

Can a Minnesota Teacher Win Pennsylvania? “Can Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz both rally the Democratic Party’s base and win over persuadable conservative and independent voters in battleground states?” (POLITICO)

These Pennsylvania Voters Illustrate Harris’ Suburban Challenge. “Carol Carty misses something in today’s Republican Party and searches for it in her music choices.” (CNN)

Biden Says He and Shapiro Will Campaign Across PA For Harris. “Pennsylvania is all but a must-win state for the Democratic ticket this fall as most paths to the 270 electoral votes needed for victory involve winning the Keystone State.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. How Pennsylvania’s Department of State Tries to Clarify the Rules For Counties

“When legislative Republicans urged Congress to reject Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Joe Biden in 2020, they didn’t cite voter fraud or illegal activity. Instead, they pointed to something seemingly innocuous: guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The department regularly issues guidance and directives to clarify election procedures and state law, such as when there is a new court ruling or Election Day problem the agency hopes to avoid repeating.” (Votebeat)

Related

Sturla Withdraws From State House Race, Democrats Look For New Candidate. “Lancaster city state Rep. Mike Sturla withdrew his candidacy for reelection on Monday, leaving Democrats less than two weeks to find a candidate to replace him on the ballot. Sturla has served in Harrisburg since first winning election in 1990, making him one of the longest-serving representatives in the state House.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

Philly-Area Man Accused of Voting in 2 States Faces Federal Charges. “A Huntingdon Valley man is accused of voting in both Florida and Pennsylvania for the 2020 presidential election, and twice in Pennsylvania during the November 2022 election.” (AP)

Bill Wants Open Primaries Nationwide. “The “Let America Vote Act,” sponsored by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., would impact 22 states where primary elections remained closed to registered party members.” (The Center Square)

Wait On For PA Supreme Court Ruling in Cabell/Walsh Race. “Now that all legal briefs have been filed, the wait is on for a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in the April 23 primary election Republican race for 117th District state representative between Jamie Walsh and incumbent Mike Cabell.” (Times Leader)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Josh Shapiro, The Veepstakes, and the Role of Faith In Presidential Politics. (Zev Eleff)
• Donald Trump’s Running the Race In His Head, and That’s a Good Way to Lose. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• What JD Vance and the Progressive Left Don’t Understand About America. (Bruce Ledewitz)
• Give Voters a Chance to Correct Their Mail Ballot Mistakes. (Faith Genser)
• Deficits Have Consequences. (Rep. Seth Grove)
• Hard to Run as a 3rd-Party Candidate, But It’s Easy to Challenge Them When They Try. (Tribune-Review)
• We Need More People Like Tim Walz in Politics. (York Dispatch)
• ‘Let Us Not Sleep’ Black Voters Are Agents of Change. (Johnny C. Johnson)

1 Thing

5. Meet Colonel Custard

“A groundhog was successfully rescued from a claw machine next to the Meadows Original Frozen Custard minigolf course last Tuesday, after it had climbed up the prize chute and nestled with the stuffed animals inside.

Meadows does not know why the groundhog climbed into the claw machine, but speculated that it may have been attracted by sugary residue left on the controls by children who recently ate frozen custard.”

They have decided to name the groundhog, ‘Colonel Custard.’ (Altoona Mirror)

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