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What We’re Hearing
“Carluccio’s election in 2024 would signal an immediate red shift in Purple Pennsylvania. It might also shift future elections in a red-leaning direction. And both of those things might be signs of more changes to come.” – Craig Green, a professor of law at Temple

What’s Happening Today
Schuylkill County commissioner debate, 6 p.m.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Carl Walker Metzger, Rep. Dan Moul and former Rep. Joe Pitts.

The Best Political News In The State
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Top Story

1. Here’s Why A State Supreme Court Race Matters For The Rest Of The Country Ahead Of 2024

“From fiery debates over controversial issues to promises for swing state voters, high-profile factors typically sway the results of a presidential election.

But sometimes, these factors come in the form of a state-level race a year out from Election Day. In less than a month, Pennsylvania voters will cast their ballots in the state’s 2023 Supreme Court race between Democratic candidate Dan McCaffery and Republican candidate Carolyn Carluccio.

The judge they elect could shape the 2024 presidential election.” (USA Today)

Related

Shapiro Joins More Than 1,000 At Rally Outside Philadelphia In Support Of Israel. “More than 1,000 people, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, gathered at sunset Monday evening outside a Jewish community center in Wynnewood to mourn the victims of the assault on Israel this weekend and call for solidarity ahead of the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in over five decades.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lee And Other Progressives Who Bucked A Recent Pro-Israel Resolution Are Condemning The Attack By Hamas. “Five of the nine House Democrats who voted against a pro-Israel resolution this summer — including Western Pennsylvania’s U.S. Rep. Summer Lee — have condemned Hamas for its weekend attack against the Jewish state.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pennsylvania Leaders Speak Out Against Hamas Attack on Israel. “Pennsylvania political leaders joined fellow Americans in expressing their outrage at the attack by Hamas on Israel.” (PoliticsPA)

Biden-Trump Rematch Would Be “Lesser of Two Evils” According To PA Focus Group. “On Friday’s edition of the streaming-only “Meet The Press NOW,” host Kristen Welker played clips from a Republican-heavy group of Pennsylvania voters, asking them if they are dissatisfied enough to stay home if President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are the major party choices.” (PoliticsPA)

Fitzpatrick Leads Push To Bring Back McCarthy As Leaderless House Deals With Israel Crisis. “Saturday’s shocking attack on Israel by the Iranian-backed terror organization Hamas has flipped the script on the vote to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).” (DV Journal)

State

2. Early Voting In PA Opens Today

“Pennsylvania’s version of early voting begins today in Lancaster County. Voters can apply for, and fill out, mail-in ballots in person at the Lancaster County Government Center during business hours and turn them in directly.

As the name suggests, using mail-in ballots to cast a vote happens largely through the mail. Voters can apply at the beginning of each year to receive ballots in the mail for both primary and general elections automatically, or they can apply for one ahead of each election.” (LNP)

Related

Shapiro Isn’t Sold On A Key Climate Program, And His Working Group Isn’t Either. What’s Next For RGGI? “From almost the beginning of the Shapiro administration, top aides to the Democratic governor were looking for “RGGI alternatives,” emails show.” (Spotlight PA)

Fair Districts PA Calls For Changes In Legislative Rules As Dysfunction At The State Capitol Intensifies. “Fair Districts released a report last year, titled “Dysfunction by Design,” highlighting how difficult it is for citizen groups to get state lawmakers to act and how many bills are introduced only to die without becoming law. That report pointed to data from the 2021-22 legislative session that found that Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom of states in terms of the number of bills introduced that actually become law.” (Capitolwire $$)

PA State University Leaders See Reason For Optimism Despite Enrollment Decline. “Fall enrollment in Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities continued its downward slide for a 13th consecutive year but leaders of the State System of Higher Education see signs of progress as they work to reverse that trend.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Moms for Liberty Meets Its Match: Parents In This Swing Suburban District Are Fighting Back

“Monster Liberty”: That’s how the otherwise excellent closed-captioning service in the auditorium at Pennridge High School interpreted “Moms for Liberty,” while one of several dozen citizens who had waited in line to lambast the group spoke at the podium. A chuckle rose up among the parents in the crowded school board meeting, held on a late August evening after the first day of classes for the Pennridge School District in suburban Bucks County, Pa. “Fair enough,” one mother whispered to another.” (Salon)

Related

David Oh Hopes His Diverse Base Will Make Him The Most Successful GOP Mayoral Candidate In 20 Years. “As a Republican in a Democratic town who has clashed with both parties, Oh has patched together a diverse coalition. He’s hoping those voters will help him compete with Democrat Cherelle Parker.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Ousting A Sitting Judge Is Rare. Delaware County Democrats Are Suggesting Their Voters Do So This November. “Local judicial races rarely attract attention, but partisan politics are playing a role in a Delaware County race this fall.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

13 Montgomery County Contests Await Voters In Region’s Upcoming Election. “In Montgomery County, there are six school board and seven municipal contests in the general election on Nov. 7 in the region covered by The Mercury.” (Pottstown Mercury)

Meet The Candidates For Lehigh County Commissioners. “Responding to reported child abuse misdiagnoses and supporting people incarcerated at the Lehigh County Jail are just some of the issues candidates are considering as they compete for a seat on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners next month.” (Morning Call)

Commissioner Candidates Outline Their Visions For Berks County. “With all three Berks County commissioner spots up for grabs this year, the four candidates seeking positions on the board met to share their vision for Berks and stances on issues ranging from economic development to funding for libraries to building a new prison.” (Reading Eagle)

Three Incumbents, One Newcomer On Ballot For Union County Commissioner Seats. “Four candidates are on the ballot for the Nov. 7 general election to fill the three seats on the Union County Board of Commissioners.” (Daily Item)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• PA Republicans Need Better Candidates. (Matthew Brouillette)
• Move The Primary, And Leave No Voters Behind. (David Thornburgh)
• “No Moral Equivalence” (Larry Platt)
• Election Officials Are Quitting In Droves. Here’s Why You Should Care. (Mark Z. Barabak)
• Holy Cow! History: Speaking of the Speaker… (J. Mark Powell)
• What The Kiski School Has Lost. (David Conrad)

1 Thing

5. It’s An Emergency!

Domino’s is introducing its Emergency Pizza program – a program that offers a free medium two-topping pizza to customers to use whenever they need it most.

“Perhaps you burned dinner, the power went out or maybe your in-laws just dropped in without notice – whatever your emergency situation, Domino’s believes a free pizza can make anything better,” said Kate Trumbull, Domino’s senior vice president – chief brand officer.

Any Domino’s customer who places a qualifying online order can earn an Emergency Pizza from now through Feb. 11, 2024.

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