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🏒 Penguins (2-2-0) | Sat vs. St. Louis

What We’re Hearing
“Our pathway to 25 and a tie-break is through those three districts,” Tim Wagner, director of the PA Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Scott Martin and Rep. Frank Burns (Sat.).

The Best Political News In The Keystone State
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Top Story

1. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Notched Big Conservative Wins. It’s a Key Issue In Pennsylvania’s Fall Election

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s current conservative majority has delivered major victories for conservatives — and now liberal discontent over those rulings is playing a major role in Pennsylvania’s top-of-the-ballot election this fall.

The Democrat running for an open seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has told audiences over and over that the nation’s highest court poses a threat to rights that Democrats have fought for, now with three appointees by President Donald Trump giving it a 6-3 conservative majority.” (AP)

Related

Kelly, A Conservative Stalwart, Is Not Backing Down In Speaker Fight. “As I write this Thursday morning, there is no telling how all of the drama in the U.S. House of Representatives will play out. But western Pennsylvania’s own Mike Kelly already has proven to be one of the more interesting members of the supporting cast.” (WESA)

Kelly’s Plan For A Temporary House Speaker Appears Dead As Jim Jordan Is Set To Try Again. “After hours of feisty and intense debate behind closed doors Thursday, House Republicans prepared again to vote on Rep. Jim Jordan’s nomination as speaker, shelving for now Rep. Mike Kelly’s proposal to allow the temporary occupant to move legislation through the chamber.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fitzpatrick Flips On Jim Jordan, Whose Speaker Bid Is Losing Support. “The increasingly chaotic search for a House speaker grew even more complicated on Thursday as U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick publicly flipped his support away from Rep. Jim Jordan, whose path to the top job seems to be evaporating on the chamber’s 16th day without a leader.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Could Meuser Pursue House Speaker Post? “Could the Keystone State have a candidate for Speaker of the U.S. House? Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09) is thinking about tossing his hat in the ring should the impasse continue.” (PoliticsPA)

Erie Democrat Nouri, A DOD Legislative Analyst, Vying For Republican Kelly’s House Seat. “Democrat Preston Nouri, a 24-year-old legislative analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense and Erie native, will challenge Republican Rep. Mike Kelly for his 16th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.” (Erie Times-News)

• Democrat Announces Bid For Congress, Assails Kelly. (CNHI News)
• Penn State Law Student Throws His Hat Into Crowded Lehigh Valley Congressional Race. (LehighValleyNews.com)

State

2. Harrisburg Seat Expected To Be Battleground In 2024 For Control Of Pennsylvania Senate

“Thursday’s announcement by Harrisburg Democratic state Rep. Patty Kim that she will be seeking a Republican-held state Senate seat kicks off one of what is expected to be three key contests in 2024 to control Pennsylvania’s upper legislative chamber and potentially the whole state government.

Kim’s campaign to flip Pa. Senate District 15, currently held by Republican John DiSanto, is also one of the final but possibly most significant ramifications of Pennsylvania’s most recent redistricting process.” (PennLive)

Related

SD-15: Kim Announces Run For Central PA Senate Seat. “State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) announced that she is a candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 15th District.” (PoliticsPA)

Josh Shapiro Is In Splashy Newspaper Ads With A Billionaire Who Allegedly Got Top-Secret Submarine Info From Donald Trump. “Call this a good news-weird news week for Gov. Josh Shapiro. The good news: Shapiro was featured in three huge newspaper ads this week with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, who announced last month that he is investing $500 million in Pennsylvania operations for his company that makes corrugated boxes from recycled materials.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

CPAC Endorses McCormick For Senate In PA. “In what cannot be described as surprising, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has endorsed Republican Dave McCormick for the open Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2024.” (PoliticsPA)

Delco District Attorney Stollsteimer Running for Pennsylvania Attorney General. “Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer is running for Pennsylvania attorney general, according to social media postings related to his recent attendance at a political breakfast in the southwest corner of the commonwealth.” (Broad + Liberty)

PA Tax Credits Result In ‘Mixed Bag’ For Job Creation. “Pennsylvania gives out hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits each year to create jobs and encourage companies to invest here, but only some of those programs are working as intended, according to five years of research by an independent legislative agency.” (Spotlight PA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA Election Chief Hoping For A Higher-Than-Usual Voter Turnout For Nov. 7

“Off-year election years like the one on Nov. 7 tend to draw a lower voter turnout but Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State Al Schmidt hopes to reverse that trend.

On the ballot are candidates vying to serve on school boards that set property tax rates, in municipal and county offices that make public safety and infrastructure decisions and as local and statewide judges who interpret Pennsylvania laws.

“Arguably the outcome of a municipal election has a far greater impact on the average life of a voter,” Schmidt said in speaking to reporters on Thursday about the upcoming election.” (PennLive)

Related

Donald Trump and Gov. Josh Shapiro Star In An Intensifying Philly City Council Race. “Philly voters will see television ads in the final weeks before the Nov. 7 election on a race for two City Council seats that is attracting an unusual amount of attention.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Former PA Gov. Ed Rendell Calls Penn’s Response To Palestine Writes Festival ‘Significant Failure’ “Penn’s response to the Palestine Writes Literature Festival was a “significant failure,” former Pennsylvania governor and 1965 College graduate Ed Rendell told The Daily Pennsylvanian on Wednesday.” (Daily Pennsylvanian)

Cumberland County Commissioner Candidates Air Views On Issue, Priorities In Pennlive Forum. “The race for three Cumberland County commissioner seats has taken on less of a partisan feel this year since the nominees from the majority Republican Party, five-term incumbent Gary Eichelberger and County Treasurer Kelly Neiderer, were part of different tickets in the primary and have opted not to run as a team this fall.” (PennLive)

The 2024 Election Is Still A Year Away, But Fundraising For Lehigh Valley’s Congressional Race Has Started. Here’s How Much Has Been Raised. “The three Republicans challenging Susan Wild for the Lehigh Valley’s congressional district next year have raised a total of nearly $300,000 for their campaigns so far, as the primary election to determine a GOP candidate looms in April 2024.” (Morning Call)

Prothonotary Searched Prominent Local, State GOP Officials With Background Check System. “Washington County Prothonotary Laura Hough used the LexisNexis background check database to search prominent local and state Republican Party officials during the two years she had access to the system, according to a copy of the list obtained by the Observer-Reporter newspaper. The LexisNexis system allows for detailed background searches of people that could reveal private information in some cases.” (Observer-Reporter)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Netanyahu’s Disastrous, Populist Regime Is A Dire Warning For U.S. Voters. (Will Bunch)
• There’s Still A Pragmatic, Bipartisan Solution For Speaker. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Don’t Overthink Jim Jordan’s Failure. (Jeff Greenfield)
• Republicans Are Dodging a Bullet with Jim Jordan’s Collapse. (Andrew Taylor)
• Trump And Today’s Repulsive Politics Echo George Wallace In 1968. (George F. Will)
• The Emerging Coalition That Could Revitalize Our Politics. (Raina Lipsitz)

1 Thing

5. Great Weekend For Leaf Peeping

The pattern of chilly nights has continued, coaxing many forest canopies comprising Penn’s Woods to a brilliant crescendo. Vivid fall color is now widespread throughout the Commonwealth. Awesome autumn hues can be found from the Poconos to the central and southern Appalachians west through the Allegheny Plateau. Fall foliage enthusiasts can expect impressive color just about anywhere in the Keystone State throughout the forecast period.

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