👋 TGIF. Thanks for reading the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend. Or two.

PA Weather
☀️ Wilkinsburg | Sunny, 84
☀️ Lebanon | Sunny, 87
☀️ Springfield | Sunny, 86

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (62-34) | Fri-Sun vs. Pittsburgh
⚾ Pirates (48-48) | Fri-Sun vs. Philadelphia
⚽ Union (5-9-10) | Sat vs. Nashville

👂 What We’re Hearing. Over the last two weeks, there was $9.3 million in spending on political ads in Philadelphia – the highest total in the country.

🎂 Happy Birthday. Belated cake and candles for Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (Thu.) and early returns for Sen. Maria Collett (Sun.)

🗞️ 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. If Biden Steps Aside, Could Shapiro Be Under Consideration for VP?

“As the cacophony grows louder and louder from the Democratic caucus for President Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee, speculation swirls as to what would happen next should that scenario come to fruition.

While many pundits expect that Vice President Kamala Harris would assume the top spot on the ticket, that is not a done deal. And whoever becomes the Democrats’ nominee, their first responsibility would be to choose a running mate.

Could that be Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro?” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Harris Allies Prepare Her Defense. “Allies of Kamala Harris are engaged in a delicate, behind-the-scenes effort to make sure the vice president moves to the top of the ticket if President Joe Biden steps aside, according to five people involved in the project or with knowledge of the discussions.” (POLITICO)

As Dems’ Worries About Biden Peak, Could Josh Shapiro Get a New Job? “Get ready, Pennsylvanians. For the first time since former Gov. Ed Rendell was in office, there’s some live and real speculation that your current governor – Joshua David Shapiro – just might be offered the chance at a new job in Washington D.C.” (PennLive)

Emerson: Trump Extends Lead Over Biden. “The lead continues to grow in the Keystone State. Former President Donald Trump now has a polling lead outside the margin of error over President Joe Biden, according to the latest survey of 1,000 Pennsylvania voters by Emerson College.” (PoliticsPA)

Trump Leaves RNC in His Strongest Position Yet To Win Pennsylvania and the White House. “In an election so unprecedented the word seems to have lost its meaning, Trump had a week that could cement his return to power as he appears to be pulling away in a race that had been stubbornly tight for months.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Time Running Out For Third-Party Candidates to Get on Fall Election Ballot. “If you’re unhappy with your election candidates this year and you want another option, you can still get yourself or someone else on the November election ballot to run. That’s if you meet certain requirements and work hard to make it happen.” (WVIA)

State

2. Down-Ballot PA Democrats Look Past Biden to Run Their Own Races

“About the only constant anymore is the tendency of Western Pennsylvania Democrats to stay out of such fights. And their reasons for doing so suggest why replacing Biden isn’t quite the no-brainer that many people might think — including the two-thirds of Democrats who have told pollsters they wish Biden would bow out.

“Democrats are in a scenario where Biden is obviously struggling, but down ballot Dems are significantly outpolling him,” he said. “The top of the ticket affects who shows up to vote. But it’s not all doom and gloom, and candidates can find their own path.”” (WESA Politics)

Related

IFO Says General Fund Surplus Likely to be Depleted by Next Year. “In what some describe as no surprise, the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) today published a five-year projection of Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenues and expenditures and found that the fund’s surplus will likely disappear next year.” (PoliticsPA)

Another Change to Pennsylvania Mail Ballot Envelopes: Full Year Will Be Preprinted. “The Pennsylvania Department of State is hoping another change to mail ballot return envelopes will eliminate the chance of ballots being rejected this November because of voters failing to write in the year completely.” (Votebeat)

Davis Denounces Project 2025 in Pittsburgh Speech. “Lt. Gov. Austin Davis on Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, spoke out against a possible second term for former President Donald Trump, a nationwide abortion ban, and a recently released conservative policy proposal.” (Penn Capital-Star)

PA Expands Protections Against Frivolous Suits Aimed at Curtailing Free Speech. “Pennsylvanians have new protections against lawsuits meant to silence public expression under a bill Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law this week.” (Spotlight PA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Attempted Assassination On Trump Has Voters Thinking About Election Day Much Earlier Than Normal, Experts Say

“Political experts say the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania, has shocked many voters into thinking about Election Day much earlier than they normally would. But reaction is mixed on whether it will actually change who wins the White House.

“When you look back in 1968 with the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy and suddenly that put Hubert Humphrey on top of the Democrat ticket, and it was an incredibly close election in 1968, Richard Nixon ended up winning,” said Steve Ulrich, the managing editor of PoliticsPA.” (KDKA)

Related

Post-Shooting Butler Sets Aside Politics, Focuses On ‘Trying to Move Forward’. “Four days after Butler became the site of a assassination attempt against a major presidential candidate and the dateline of news reports around the world, Steven Green said most of the city’s 13,400 residents seem to have put politics aside.” (Public Source)

Casey Seeks Answers About “The Security Failures” at Saturday’s Trump Rally. “As family and friends, including fellow firefighters, prepared to lay to rest former Buffalo Township fire chief Corey Comperatore, the quest continued for answers to how a sniper from Pittsburgh’s South Hills was able to shoot Comperatore, two other attendees, and former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Butler County.” (Indiana Gazette)

• Butler County Airport Authority Denied Trump Campaign Request Because of Conflicting Event. (Butler Eagle)

‘The Contrast Could Not Be More Clear’: Suburban Philly Democrats Respond to RNC Speeches, Affirm Support for Biden. “Democratic elected officials from Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties held a press conference Thursday as a rebuttal to the Republican presidential ticket’s platform on display this week at the Republican National Convention.” (WHYY)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Our Trusted Neighbors Administer Our Elections. (Cody Bright)
• The Biden Intervention. (Tom Allon)
• America Will Never Be the Same After Milwaukee’s Tent Revival For the Cult of Donald Trump. (Will Bunch)
• Trump Derailed His Own Convention Speech. (Jeff Greenfield)
• Determination, Experience, Wisdom — Joe Biden Has It, Donald Trump Does Not. (M. Thomas Davis)
• Violence Against Women Takes Center Stage at the Republican National Convention. (Claudine Schneider and Susan Molinari)
• Sanctuary or Not? The Truth About Pennsylvania’s Immigration Policies. (Beth Ann Rosica)
• Bob Casey’s ‘Greedflation’ Fable. (Kyle Sammin)
• What’s The Plan, Cherelle? (Larry Platt)

1 Thing

5. National Pennsylvania Day

“National Pennsylvania Day on July 20 recognizes the second state to join the Union. Once the home of the temporary capital of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is also known as the Keystone State. While the source of the nickname has been forgotten, the meaning is not lost. Bridge builders know leaving the vital keystone out of their structure would be folly, leading to collapse.”

Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook