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Happy birthday to Rep. Joanna McClinton and Sen. Scott Hutchinson. Early wishes for cake and candles to Rep. Michael Peifer (Sat.) and Rep. Pamela DeLissio (Sun.).

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Top Story

1. Once Alarmed, Mainstream Pennsylvania Republicans Unite Around Mastriano

Trip Gabriel, writing for the New York Times, took a trip to State College and found that while in the spring, mainstream Republicans were doing all they could to stop Doug Mastriano from winning the primary, they now seem to be falling in line behind him as their candidate in the fall.

On Friday, popular Florida governor Ron DeSantis will come to the Keystone State for a rally with Mastriano – a potential sign of national support.

But there are few signs that he has broadened his appeal to independent and swing voters, especially in the suburbs, who have played a pivotal role in recent Pennsylvania elections. He was supported by 82 percent of Republicans in a Fox News poll in late July, but independents preferred (Josh) Shapiro by 28 points. (New York Times)

Related

Mastriano Critics Become Mastriano Boosters While Avoiding the Name Mastriano. “Doug Mastriano is the candidate who shall not be named in new television ads run by a conservative political action committee.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Mastriano Declines LNP Debate Invite. Calls News Staff “Left-Wing Hacks.” “Apparently Doug Mastriano meant what he said when he outlined his criteria for participating in fall debates.” (PoliticsPA)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Is Set to Stump For Mastriano in Pittsburgh. “Republican insiders in Pennsylvania have been waiting for a big show of unity around gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano since he won a harshly contested primary, and on Friday, they’ll finally get it.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Jewish Democratic Leaders in Florida Urge DeSantis to Cancel Mastriano Rally Appearance. “Jewish and Democratic leaders in Florida urged Sunshine State Gov. Ron DeSantis to cancel his appearance Friday in Pittsburgh where he is set to campaign for Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Mastriano’s Education Funding Plan Would Devastate PA Public Schools, Advocates Say. “Friday night lights going dark across Pennsylvania would be but one of the more visible impacts of Doug Mastriano’s public school funding plan, education advocates say.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

U.S. Senate

2. Dr. Oz Greets Republican Jews in Philadelphia

“Hoisting signs reading “Pro-Israel, Pro-Oz,” “Jews for Oz,” “Fetterman is the Squad” and “Oz” in Hebrew and English, several hundred guests of the Republican Jewish Coalition welcomed Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz at an event in Philadelphia last night.

In remarks to the audience, Oz analogized his approach to Israel policy — allowing Israel to manage its affairs, particularly toward the Palestinians, as it sees fit without U.S. pressure — to the approach to health that he supported on his long-running television show.

Oz, a dual citizen of Turkey, expressed interest in joining the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if elected.” (Jewish Insider)

Related

Republican Jews Back Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania. “When David Friedman, the Trump administration’s ambassador to Israel, was first asked to endorse Pennsylvania’s Republican candidate for Senate, Dr. Mehmet Oz, he said one thing stood out to him. “I have to tell you, I was intrigued by the idea of a pro-Israel Muslim, a very pro-Israel Muslim.” (Jewish News of Northern California)

Why Democrats Are Getting Excited About the Senate. “To be sure, they have little, if any, room for error, given that Republicans need to net just one seat to win the Senate majority. But Democrats also have reason for optimism.” (The Hill)

Steve Bannon Suggested John Fetterman Is ‘Satanic’ and It Is Not Going Well For Him. “Regardless of one’s political leanings it is hard to argue that Pennsylvania’s Senate race between Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman hasn’t been interesting. Who saw Steve Bannon coming, though? Most of us probably didn’t count on him getting into the dustup, but he waded into the action this week.” (PennLive)

Pennsylvania

3. Proximity to Fracking Sites Associated With Childhood Cancer

“Pennsylvania children living near unconventional oil and gas (UOG) developments at birth were two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with leukemia between the ages of 2 and 7 than those who did not live near this oil and gas activity, after accounting for other factors that could influence cancer risk, a novel study from the Yale School of Public Health finds.

The registry-based study, published Aug. 17 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, included nearly 2,500 Pennsylvania children, 405 of whom were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of cancer in children.” (Yale News)

Related

Yale Researchers Find Correlation Between Gas Wells, Childhood Leukemia. “Researchers at Yale University have recently published a study they conducted that suggests children living near unconventional “fracked” gas and oil wells have a higher chance of developing certain leukemias.” (Towanda Daily Review)

Around the Commonwealth

Pennsylvania Key Battleground For House Control. “Pennsylvania is already a top 2022 campaign battleground, with high-stakes open-seat races for governor and senator. Throw in a batch of competitive House races, and the Keystone State election results are likely to be a strong gauge of whether Republicans have regained their momentum or if Democrats can field an effective defense in difficult electoral circumstances.” (Washington Examiner)

FBI Subpoenaed Several PA Republican Lawmakers and We Still Don’t Know Why. “The FBI and the Pennsylvania legislature remain tight-lipped about subpoenas that agency handed out to several Republican lawmakers last week. Neither has revealed who got a subpoena or why.” (WESA)

Bernie Sanders Will Rally In Philadelphia With Labor Organizers Saturday To ‘Fight Against Corporate Greed.’ “Sen. Bernie Sanders will rally with union organizers in Philadelphia on Saturday, part of a multicity tour to advocate for better pay, safer work conditions, and easier organizing for workers across the country.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA Counties Are Worried About The Rules For New State Elections Money, But Nearly All Applied Anyway. “It’s hard to turn down free money. Nearly every Pennsylvania county applied by the Monday deadline for a share of $45 million in new state funding for elections — a significant step for a state that has traditionally left it to counties, which run elections, to fund them. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Commentary  

• I’m Afraid a Judge Is Going to be Killed (John Jones, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Veggie Trays or Crudite? The Battle for PA Votes. (Lori Falce, Tribune-Review)
• Championing Man With Gun Feeds Ghastly Myth (Robert Pawlicki)