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🎤 Today at the RNC. The Pennsylvania Delegation will hear from Speaker Mike Johnson, Reps. Dan Meuser and Glenn Thompson, Sens. Kim Ward, Greg Rothman and Judy Ward, as well as RNC co-chair Lara Trump. Today’s theme is “Make America Safe Again.”

👂 What We’re Hearing. Get ready to see a lot of JD Vance in Pennsylvania as the Trump campaign parks him in the Keystone State with side trips to Michigan and Wisconsin.

🗞️ Today’s Headlines From The Swing State >> Your Inbox. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Trump Taps JD Vance As Vice Presidential Choice

“Former President Donald Trump has made his vice presidential selection, choosing Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate.

Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022, made a name for himself as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” his memoir about life growing up in a working-class family in post-industrial Ohio that was published in 2016.

He was a “Never-Trumper” at that time, calling Trump “dangerous” and “unfit” for office. Five years later, Vance reversed course, praising Trump’s accomplishments in office and earning his endorsement for Ohio’s Senate seat in 2022.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

JD Vance’s Youth and Background Could Help Boost Trump in PA. “Pennsylvania delegates in Milwaukee largely gave Vance a thumbs up (and a bit of a shrug).” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• ‘Exciting’: PA Delegates, GOP Pols React to Former Trump Critic as VP Pick. (WHYY)
• 55 Things to Know About J.D. Vance, Trump’s VP Pick. (POLITICO)

PA Delegates Are In The Spotlight as RNC Kicks Off After Trump Assassination Attempt. “Members of the media descended on a breakfast for the Pennsylvania delegation at the Republican National Convention following the shooting in their state at former President Donald Trump’s rally.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Trump’s Butler Rally Was a ‘Zero-Fail’ Mission for the Secret Service. How Did It Become a Massive Failure? “The federal agency that has been protecting American presidents for more than a century is suddenly an investigative target of its own in the aftermath of an assassination attempt by a 20-year-old who nearly gunned down former President Donald Trump.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

SCOTUS Really Upped the Incentives for Judge-Shopping. “When lobbyists and corporate interests want to influence policy going forward, they’ll be putting more resources toward the judiciary than the president.” (NOTUS)

State

2. NYT/Siena: Casey With 50-42 Lead Over McCormick; Trump 48-45 vs. Biden

“In a New York Times/Siena University poll conducted prior to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the former President has forged a 48-45% lead over President Joe Biden.

That figure mirrors the last poll conducted by the group at the end of April and falls within the +/-3.7% margin of error in a survey of 872 registered Pennsylvania voters.

NYT/Siena also showed in their findings that Sen. Bob Casey Jr. continues to lead Republican challenger Dave McCormick. The three-term incumbent has an eight-point advantage over the former hedge fund CEO, 50-42%. ” (PoliticsPA)

Related

After McCormick’s Challenge to Stop Negative Ads, Casey Campaign Says They Already Did. “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick’s proposal to Sen. Bob Casey to halt negative advertising fizzled Monday with Casey’s campaign saying it had started doing that Saturday night.” (PennLive)

• Casey, McCormick Raise Over $8 Million Each in Q2. (Penn Capital-Star)

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Latest Spotlight is His Most Important Yet After Trump Assassination Attempt. “The governor has stepped into the national spotlight several times during his first term as governor. But none more important than Sunday, when the threat of political violence hit home.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lee Says Dems Must Focus on Trump In ‘Frightening Times,’ GOP to Blame For Toxic Climate. “As Republicans call for Democrats to tamp down their rhetoric after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Butler County rally on Saturday, Pittsburgh-area Congresswoman Summer Lee said that the ugliness of current political debate was “not a both-sides situation.”” (WESA)

PA-10 Democratic Challenger Janelle Stelson Doubles Scott Perry’s Q2 Haul. “Stelson raised just under $1.34 million from April 4 to the end of June, while spending $415,000. Perry’s campaign raised just under $625,000 from April 4 to the end of June, while spending just over $345,000, campaign finance records show.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Walsh Declares Victory In HD-117; Cabell Contemplates Appeal Options

“After more than two months of waiting on appeals and court decisions, it appears that we could have a winner in the Republican primary for the 117th Legislative District race.

Challenger Jamie Walsh declared victory on Friday after the Luzerne County Board of Elections counted the votes for the remaining 12 provisional ballots. Walsh, who led incumbent Mike Cabell by three votes prior to the opening of the sealed envelopes, received seven of the 12 votes with Cabell picking up the remaining five.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

In Sleepy Butler, PA, Emails of Praise and Threats Are Inundating City Workers: ‘You Failed’. “The call to the City of Butler’s clerk typist came Monday around lunch time, a flustered man’s voice was on the other end. “You failed, you failed,” he told the city worker. “Put a gun to your head.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

‘This Stands Out For Us,’ Butler Memorial Hospital President Says of Treating Trump After Shooting. “Butler Memorial Hospital’s president was at a bridal shower when she found out the hospital could be treating former President Donald Trump after he was shot at a campaign rally.” (Tribune-Review)

Local Lawmen Responsible For Building Where Shots Fired. “As the review of security procedures after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump continues, the blame may fall on local police.” (The Center Square)

Some Delco Officials Have Lost Their Positions Due To Social Media Comments About Trump After Shooting. “Some Delaware County public officials have resigned or received blowback following their social media comments after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.” (Delaware County Times)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• The Far Right’s Project 2025 Also Dodged A Bullet, and They Know It. (Will Bunch)
• Why the Left is in Melt-Down Over Project 2025. (Lowman Henry)
• Forget About November, Biden Should Resign Today. (Kyle Sammin)
• Was God There In That Moment? Trump Says ‘Yes, Yes.’ (Salena Zito)
• Assassinations Have Torn Countries Apart. America Won’t Be One of Them. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Will Save PA Pharmacies. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• State Rep. Aument’s Calls For Education Funding Formulas Will Do More Harm Than Good. (Thomas H. Crochunis)
• Challenging Times Require People To Do The Reading. (Tribune-Review)
• Pennsylvania’s Bravest. (James Freeman)

1 Thing

5. It’s Prime Day

“Amazon’s two-day Prime Day event will drive record online spending this week, Adobe Analytics predicts.

Driving the news: Prime Day is projected to spur $7.1 billion of U.S. e-commerce spending today alone, per a new Adobe report.

That’s 11.3% more than last year. Another $6.9 billion is expected tomorrow — a 9.2% increase from last year.” (Axios)

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