☑️ It’s Election Day in PA. Well, really it’s Special Election Day in lower Bucks County.

PA Weather
☃️ Quemahoning Twp | Snow, 34
☃️ Quarryville | Snow, 37
☃️ Quakertown | Snow, 38

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (32-21) | Cleveland 123-121 | Wed vs. Miami
🏒 Flyers (29-19-6) | Arizona 5-3 | Thu vs. Toronto
🏒 Penguins (23-19-7) | Wed vs. Florida

What We’re Hearing
ColdSpark, the political communications and strategy company, has created Citadel Communications that will focus on communications and public affairs in the corporate, nonprofit and association sectors.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Nancy Guenst and Sen. Steve Santarsiero

Pennsylvania Political News Sent Directly to You
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Top Story

1. McCormick Avoids Nasty GOP Primary In Pennsylvania’s Senate Race

“Republican David McCormick is on the verge of clinching the GOP nomination for one of the most competitive Senate races in the 2024 cycle, with a Tuesday filing deadline in Pennsylvania and no challengers in sight.

Why it matters: McCormick’s challenge to Sen. Bob Casey is expected to be one of the most expensive and competitive races this year — in a swing state that could determine control of the Senate and the presidency.

Driving the news: Pennsylvania’s candidate filing deadline closes at 5pm ET on Tuesday. With no serious challengers jumping in, McCormick will avoid a potentially nasty primary.” (Axios)

Related

Who Is On The Ballot In 2024? “As we close in on the final hours of nomination petition signing season, here is a list of who has completed the task and is on the ballot for the 2024 primary on April 23.” (PoliticsPA)

• Pennsylvania’s 2024 Primary Election Will Feature Contests For Attorney General And Congress. (AP)
• State And Congressional Races For 2024 Election Will Take Shape This Week. (LehighValleyNews.com)

Talk of Gov. Shapiro’s Presidential Potential Simmers As Report On President Biden Raises Questions For Some. “Good reviews of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s leadership have sent his political stock higher nationally at a time when unflattering descriptions of President Joe Biden’s memory have fueled talk of alternative Democratic presidential candidates.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Josh Shapiro Accepted $1,650 In ‘Event Tickets’ From Powerful PA Lobbyist. “The tickets were paid for by Michael Brunelle, a top staffer to former Gov. Tom Wolf who is now a lobbyist with clients including healthcare giants and energy and utility companies.” (Spotlight PA)

The Legal Coup. “In late 2020, a group of conservative movement attorneys set out to build a legal pathway by which Donald Trump could stay in power, having lost the election. TPM can now reveal the ways in which their theorizing, in early stages, went even further than previously known, imagining a Jan. 6 that lasted for not hours but days.” (Talking Points Memo)

State

2. Should Dems Be Concerned As GOP Continues Voter Registration Gains?

“It may be time for Democrats to become concerned as Republicans continue to pick up ground in voter registration after the first month of 2024.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of State figures from February 12, while Democrats lost 752 names from voter rolls, the GOP picked up 13,647 for a net gain of 12,895.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Committee Begins Work To Distribute PA Public Defender Money As Shapiro Asks For More. “Pennsylvania’s new commission to fund public defenders expects to start driving out dollars mid-year – with the total pot of money available more than doubling if Gov. Josh Shapiro gets his full request in the upcoming budget.” (PennLive)

PA Counties Say More Funds For Mental Health Services Needed In State Budget. “The base mental health funding line item is used by counties to support inpatient services, outpatient therapy, crisis services, working with local schools to support student mental health, and more.” (WESA)

Johnny Doc’s Nephew Is Seeking To Run For Rep. Kevin Boyle’s State House Seat. “Sean Dougherty, son of state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and nephew of former labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, is collecting petitions to run for the 172nd House District.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Candidates in PA 140th State House District Ready For Special Election

“On Tuesday, voters in Pennsylvania’s 140th state House District will head to the polls for a special election to determine whether Democrat Jim Prokopiak or Republican Candace Cabanas will represent them in Harrisburg. And while the outcome of the election won’t determine the balance of power in the House after the immediate resignation of GOP Rep. Joe Adams (R-Wayne) on Friday, Democrats are hoping to add to their one-seat majority.” (Penn Capital-Star)

• Special Election Tuesday In Bucks County: Democrats Seek To Strengthen Majority In State House. (AP)
• This Pennsylvania Special Election Is a 2024 Litmus Test. (Mother Jones)
• Special Election To Replace Adams In Northeast PA House Seat Set For Primary Election Day. (Penn Capital-Star)

Related

‘We’re Reaching Out Every Way We Can’: Pennsylvania Election Directors Seek Poll Workers For Presidential Primary. “State-wide, Pennsylvania will need about 45,000 poll workers to staff all 9,000 voting locations by April. The recruitment legwork will fall to county election boards and officials, who will need to recruit and train poll workers despite what experts and officials say is a particularly challenging election landscape.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

County Election Officials Call For More Funding, Better Security Ahead Of 2024 Elections. “Threats and harassment are causing a crisis for election workers and could endanger the integrity of upcoming elections, speakers said Monday at an annual gathering of local officials from around the country.” (Roll Call)

How Developer Mo Rushdy Rose To Become Philly’s Latest Political Power Player. “The new head of the Building Industry Association, which represents residential developers, has enjoyed a rapid rise in Philadelphia politics.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

The Mon Valley Holds Its Breath As The Latest U.S. Steel Settlement Promises A Fresh Approach. “After years watching “punch-card” penalties and “pay-to-pollute” strategies yield little for public health, communities around the Clairton Coke Works hope the 2018 fire pact is different.” (Public Source)

Candidate Announcements

• HD-72: Burns Announces Reelection bid For State House. (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)
• HD-82: State Rep. Takac Seeking Reelection. (StateCollege.com)
• HD-83: Rep. Jamie Flick announces bid for reelection. (CNHI News)
• HD-199: Rep. Barb Gleim Launches Re-Election Bid For PA House. (PennLive)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Why I Am Now Deeply Worried for America. (Paul Krugman)
• Democrats Can’t Hide The President’s Weakness. (Maureen Dowd)
• It Is Not About Politics. It Is About Every Child In Every Pennsylvania School District. (Christopher Dormer)
• One-Sided Compromises Won’t Fix The Southern Border Crisis. (Kyle Sammin)
• Three Reasons Ed Gainey Will Be Reelected (And One He Won’t). (Brandon McGinley)
• A Call For Bipartisan Action To Support Pennsylvanians With Intellectual Disabilities And Autism. (Gary Blumenthal)
• Did Taxpayers Pay For Shapiro’s Vacation Flight To Hilton Head? (Gina L. Pope)

1 Thing

5. Why Giving Roses On Valentine’s Day — Or Any Day — Is Really A Bad Idea

“Here’s an unromantic question for Valentine’s Day: Can we live without roses?

Yes, they are the most popular cut flower around the world, and that’s no wonder; the blooms are stunning. But the daily, nonstop, global race to get just-cut roses from greenhouses to your front door makes them punishing on the environment. Which means it’s time to think differently.” (Amanda Shendruk)

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