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What We’re Hearing
“We can’t get into a train wreck like we had last year.” – Doug McLinko

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Top Story

1. PA GOP Puts Clout Back On Line In Primary After 2022 Losses

“Pennsylvania’s Republican Party is trying to learn from internal strife over last year’s failure to endorse in premier primary contests and, this year, it is putting its clout on the line by issuing endorsements ahead of Tuesday’s primary election.

Republicans are now putting up big bucks to try to ensure their endorsed candidate isn’t beaten in this year’s top-of-the-ticket race for an open seat on the state Supreme Court presidential battleground state.” (AP)

Related

PA Supreme Court: Money, Endorsements May Tip Scale In Primary. “With a vacancy on the state’s high court, the battle is on in both parties to put their endorsed candidate in the best position to make it through the primary and onto the November ballot.” (PoliticsPA)

Gov. Shapiro, U.S. Rep Chrissy Houlahan Join Biden’s Reelection Campaign Advisory Board. “Four Pennsylvania Democrats are on the national advisory board for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Senate Markup Highlights Tension In Rail Safety Talks. “The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted 16-11 to advance a bill, aimed at improving rail safety, that was born out of the February Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.” (Roll Call)

• Senate Panels OK’s Rail-Safety Bill. (CBS Pittsburgh)

Harrisburg

2. Will The PA House Flip Again?

“A pair of special elections in the Pennsylvania Legislature has captured outsized attention — and cash — ahead of next week’s primary.

On May 16, voters in two eastern Pennsylvania districts will select new state representatives. House Democrats will maintain their slim majority if they take even one of the two.

As a result, more than $1.4 million has been poured into these races, the bulk of it going to Democratic candidate Heather Boyd in the 163rd Legislative District.” (PhillyBurbs.com)

Related

Late Money Pours Into HD-163 Campaigns. “How important is the Pennsylvania State House 163rd District to both parties? Look at the late money pouring into the race in support of Democrat Heather Boyd and Republican Katie Ford.” (PoliticsPA)

This Upper Darby Race Will Determine Who Controls The PA House. “Pennsylvania Democrats have a new slogan: Majority matters. And their majority in the state House is at stake in next week’s special election for a suburban Delaware County seat.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Power In Harrisburg Could Be Swayed By Delaware County Voters In Upcoming Special Election. (NBC Philadelphia)

Redding Confirmed As Agriculture Secretary. “The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously confirmed Russell Redding to serve as Pennsylvania’s 27th Secretary of Agriculture.” (PoliticsPA)

Support For Mail Voting In PA Has Dropped, But Most Voters Still Confident Their Ballot Is Being Counted, According To Poll. “Mail-in voting continues to be a popular — and polarizing — way to vote in Pennsylvania’s elections.” (WITF)

State Senate Bill Seeks To Crack Down On Distracted Driving. “Distracted driving kills nine people daily nationwide, according to federal estimates, and a Pennsylvania lawmaker hopes her proposed bill will force motorists to keep their hands on the steering wheel and off of their mobile devices.” (CNHI News)

PA Senators Seek A Faster Reduction Of Corporate Tax Rate. “A long-sought reduction in the corporate net income tax may get expedited, either through the Legislature or as part of the budget negotiation process.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Progressives Seek To Extend Winning Streak In Philly Mayoral Primary

“Progressives are hoping to rack up another big-city win in Philadelphia’s mayoral primary after scoring a major upset in Chicago earlier this year.

Big national figures on the left, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have thrown their weight behind Helen Gym, a former member of the Philadelphia City Council, in the close and crowded primary.” (The Hill)

Related

The PACs Spending Big Money In The 2023 Philadelphia Primary. “A big chunk of the money in what’s likely the most expensive race in Philly history isn’t going directly to the candidates. It’s going to political action committees — otherwise known as PACs.” (Billy Penn)

Campaigns Turn Up Heat In Crowded Democratic Primary Race For Allegheny County Executive. “Allegheny County executive candidates — and groups aggressively campaigning on behalf of some of them — are making their closing arguments to voters with less than a week to go until Tuesday’s primary.” (Tribune-Review)

• Allegheny County Campaigns Raise Big Bucks As The Races Come Down To The Wire. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Hallam, Fitzgerald Spar Over Proposed Allegheny County Minimum-Wage Bill. “Two political rivals in Allegheny County government are sparring again, this time over a proposal to raise the minimum wage for county workers to $20 an hour.” (Tribune-Review)

• Hallam, Fitzgerald Clashing Over Raising Minimum Wage For Allegheny County Employees. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Tioga County Commissioner Candidates Share Platforms. “This year’s Tioga County commissioner’s race is one of the biggest in recent memory with 10 candidates vying for three open seats.” (NorthCentralPA.com)

8 Erie Area Boroughs Have Few Or No Candidates On Ballot. Will Anyone Step Up To Serve? “Edward Falconer is the only candidate for Mill Village Borough Council. Five council seats are up for election this year. Falconer, 87, has been on council for 43 years and sees it as his duty to continue to serve.” (Erie Times-News)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

Editorial

• Joe Biden Said He Was A Bridge To A New Generation; Now He Must Act Like It. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Gun Safety Bills Would Save Lives. (Citizens Voice)
• Bill Treats Right To Know As True Right. (Times-Tribune)

Opinion

• Why Every Vote Matters. (Jim Friedlich)
• PA’s Closed Primary, State Judges: Tuesday’s Election Is A Double-Dark Downer. (John Baer)
• Americans Have Stopped Listening To Each Other. What Socrates Can Teach Us About It. (J.W. Traphagen, John J. Kaag)
• A Democrat Again – For Now. (Christine Flowers)

1 Thing

5. Where The Day Really Goes

The average office worker spends 57% of the day communicating online in meetings, emails or chats, according to new Microsoft data.

Why it matters: We’re bogged down by the ancillary stuff required to do our jobs. That can shrink the time we have to get real work done, increasing the risk of burnout. (Axios)

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