😀 I’ve Got Friday On My Mind. If you’re headed to NYC for the PA Society, safe travels. And enjoy responsibly.

PA Weather
🌧️ Pittsburgh | Rain, 48
☂️ Harrisburg | Rain, 45
🌂 Philadelphia | Rain Late, 51
☔ New York City | Rain Late, 49

PA Sports
🏈 Eagles (10-1) | Sun vs. San Francisco
🏈 Steelers (7-4) | Sun vs. Arizona
🏀 Sixers (12-6) | Fri vs. Boston
🏒 Penguins (11-11-0) | Tampa Bay 4-2 | Sat vs. Philadelphia
🏒 Flyers (11-10-2) | New Jersey 3-4 (OT) | Sat vs. Pittsburgh

What We’re Hearing
“The politicians in Harrisburg, who are battling every day … to get them to New York where they can see their opposition in a friendly party atmosphere is wonderful for everybody – and it’s the same for competitors and business. (The PA Society) needs to stay in New York.” – Elizabeth Preate Havey

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sens. Nick Miller (Fri.) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (Sat.).

Start Your Day Smart
Subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook. It’s free and gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read format. All by 8 AM.

Top Story

1. Cherelle Parker, Bob Casey, Dave McCormick, And Other PA Politicians Are Headed To Manhattan. Here’s What To Watch For

“Clout begins with an easy prediction for Pennsylvania Society, that ritzy conclave of people, power, and politics assembling in Manhattan this weekend for the 125th time: Two of the state’s most recognizable Democrats won’t look despondent about attending.

Pennsylvania Society started in the late 19th century as a gathering for the state’s politicians to mix and mingle with the deep pockets that ran railroads, coal mines, and steel mills. It has evolved into a whirlwind of cocktail parties and campaign fundraisers, capped by a formal dinner Saturday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Related

The 2023 Pennsylvania Society Calendar of Events. “Here is our list of events surrounding the weekend’s activities in Manhattan.” (PoliticsPA)

‘Civil Discourse Is Expected’: Elizabeth Preate Havey Discusses The Pennsylvania Society’s 125th Anniversary. “Starting today, in the heart of Manhattan, The Pennsylvania Society will once again meet for a weekend of celebration and conversation in the New York Hilton Midtown, continuing a tradition of bringing together leaders from business, politics and advocacy who have a special connection to the Keystone State.” (City & State)

Ups and Downs. “It’s Pennsylvania Society weekend, so we wanted to give the movers and shakers from around the Commonwealth a chance to see how they fared during the week past.” (PoliticsPA)

What If Donald Trump Is Convicted? The 2024 Republican Convention Rules Don’t Address The Issue. “The Republican National Committee’s rules for next year’s nominating contest and convention were released this week without addressing a question the GOP could well face next summer: Can the party’s delegates vote for a different candidate if the presumptive nominee is convicted of a felony?” (AP)

The 543-Word Editorial That May Have Just Upended The Presidential Campaign. “Republicans thought they were done with their Obamacare nightmare. Then Donald Trump read a Wall Street Journal op-ed. In a click of a button, a long-dormant campaign fault line was reopened.” (POLITICO)

State

2. Court Ruling On Undated Ballots Brings Confusion As PA Counties Certify November Election Results

“In the wake of a long-awaited federal court ruling, Pennsylvania counties are making diverging decisions about whether to count undated and misdated mail ballots cast during the November election.

The ruling was delivered as counties were in the middle of certifying voting results. They are turning to their lawyers, leading to an inconsistent approach in ballot counting that disenfranchises some voters based on where they live.

In at least one county this week, counting the ballots changed the outcome of a local race.” (Votebeat)

Related

Fallout From Northampton County Voting Machine Problems Continues. “It’s been more than three weeks since Election Day, but the voting machine problems in Northampton County continue to reverberate.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

Lawmaker Renews Calls For Lamont McClure To Resign Over Election Day Failures. “State Rep. Milou Mackenzie renewed calls Thursday for Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure to resign, saying he should lose his job for his administration’s failure to run a smooth election earlier this month.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Meuser Endorses Sunday for Attorney General. “U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser has announced that he is endorsing York County District Attorney Dave Sunday for Pennsylvania Attorney General.” (PoliticsPA)

Harkins To Curtail Travel After Report Of $154,000 In Mileage Reimbursements. “State Rep. Pat Harkins will no longer seek reimbursement for the miles he drives for in-district business, including meetings and work-related events in other parts of the state.” (Erie Times-News)

Glenn Thompson’s Plan To Cut Entitlement Spending Isn’t What You’d Expect. “Rather than reducing benefits or increasing the retirement age, Mr. Thompson said he’d first like to see how much the government could save in administrative costs by using new technology and reducing paperwork.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Fitzgerald Headed to Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

“Outgoing Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will join the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission as its new executive director early next year, officials announced Thursday. Though he’ll no longer be an elected official, Fitzgerald will continue to promote the region in his next job.” (WESA)

Related

How The Decline Of Unions Turned Western Pennsylvania From A Democratic Standby To A GOP Stronghold. “If I told you that a book published this fall explores the reason Democrats have struggled to hold onto working-class voters, your first response might be, “I already read Salena Zito and those New York Times stories filed from diners. What more do you want from me?”” (WESA Politics)

Johnstown Gets Inaugural State DCED Award For ‘Municipal Excellence’ “The City of Johnstown on Thursday became the first recipient of an award created to recognize what Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger described as the “most dynamic and exciting” communities in the state.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

What Happens When Elected Officials Do Not Fulfill Their Term? “It is rare that elected officials voluntarily do not fulfill the term of years the voters give them through the ballot box. When it does happen, there are legal steps to follow.” (Somerset Daily American)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• A Trump Dictatorship Is Increasingly Inevitable. We Should Stop Pretending. (Robert Kagan)
• Black Voters, Accustomed To Threats, Were Just Dealt A Devastating Blow. (Solomon Jones)
• The Double-Haters Will Decide The Next Presidential Election. (Louis Perron)
• Gov. Shapiro Must Keep His Campaign Promise To Go 30 By 30 In Pennsylvania. (Shannon Pillar)
• A New Direction On Law Enforcement In Philly? Don’t Be So Sure. (Ben Mannes)
• Fitzpatrick Not Doing The Job As Antisemitism Task Force Co-Chair. (Kierstyn P. Zolfo)

1 Thing

5. A Goalie Goal

“Tristan Jarry corralled the puck with a minute and change remaining, the Penguins clinging to a 3-2 lead and the Tampa Bay Lightning operating with an empty net.

With little hesitation after a Tampa Bay dump-in, Jarry saucered a perfect puck down the middle of the ice to make history: he netted the first goalie goal in Penguins history, and ensured the Penguins would depart Amalie Arena with a 4-2 win Thursday night.

Jarry’s goalie goal doubled as the 17th in NHL history, including playoffs, according to Sportsnet Stats.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

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