☕ Good Morning, Wednesday. A wee-bit chilly this AM, isn’t it?

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☀️ Marion Center | Sunny, 51
☀️ Canton | Sunny, 48
☀️ Willow Street | Sunny, 52

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (2-8) | New York 99-111 | Wed vs. Cleveland
🏒 Penguins (6-9-2) | Wed vs. Detroit
🏒 Flyers (6-8-2) | Thu vs. Ottawa

🗓️ What’s Happening Today. The House is in session at 11 while the Senate convenes at 1.

🎂 Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Ryan Bizzarro.

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🗞️ Good Morning Pennsylvania. Find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics with 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. Shapiro’s 2028 Prospects Rise Sharply After Harris Defeat

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is being floated as a future standard-bearer for Democrats following the party’s stunning nationwide defeat on Election Day.

Shapiro, who made it to the final round of Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate picks, has long been seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party. He has also received praise from Republicans for his bipartisan record as governor and enjoys popularity in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state Democrats lost at the presidential level this cycle.” (The Hill)

Elsewhere

These Philadelphia Voters Went For Donald Trump In Bigger Numbers Than Ever Before. “Trump increased his standing in the city’s white, working-class neighborhoods, and improved with Latinos, as well as both middle and working-class voters.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• How the Lehigh Valley Voted: Republicans Turned Out in Droves in Sharply Divided Election. (Allentown Morning Call)
• Poll Contends Most Latino Men Stayed Loyal to Democratic Candidates in 2024. (Penn Capital-Star)
• Red Wave: Why Is Donald Trump So Appealing to Young Voters? (WHYY)

Deluzio Win in Western Pennsylvania Keeps Swing District in Democratic Control. “He’s the only one of the three U.S. House candidates from Pennsylvania on the Frontline list who won reelection.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Congressman-Elect Rob Bresnahan On How He Flipped a Democratic District in Pennsylvania to GOP. “We talked about the significance of making life affordable again for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. I don’t know if there was a magic sauce, but I don’t think we overcomplicated it.” (PBS)

Fetterman Will Vote For Rubio For Trump’s Secretary of State. “Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he would vote to confirm his colleague Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as secretary of State if selected by President-elect Trump.” (The Hill)

State

2. McCormick Keeps Lead Over Casey in PA Senate Race as Count Grinds On

“As provisional vote reviews are being completed around the state, Republican Dave McCormick’s hold on Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat is, for lack of a better term, holding up.

McCormick started the day with a lead of 34,881, or about a half of a percentage point, over three-term incumbent Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr. That was with a pool of about 80,000 provisional ballots still to be reviewed.

As the provisional ballot count climbed, McCormick’s advantage over Casey slipped to 29,290, or 0.43 percentage points by 11 p.m. Tuesday. It may be on pace to become the closest Pennsylvania senate race in history.” (PennLive)

• Counting of Provisional Ballots Delays Final Result in Pennsylvania Senate Race. (CBS Pittsburgh)

Elsewhere

Dave Sunday’s Road to the Attorney General Victory. “The name of his fantasy football team is a good one – “Any Given Sunday.” And a week ago, Election Day became that day.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity Breaks Josh Shapiro’s Record For Most Votes For a Statewide Office. “In defeating Democratic challenger Erin McClelland last week, Garrity received 3,517,327 votes (52.2%) to McClelland’s 3,079,674 (45.5%), according to unofficial state results.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA House Democrats Announce Leadership Team. “A week after holding onto its one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania State House, Democrats announced their leadership team for the 2025-26 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)

• Rozzi Bids Farewell After Tumultuous Speakership. (The Center Square)

Topper Elected House Republican Leader, Announces New House Republican Caucus Leadership Team. “Rep. Jesse Topper announced he was elected Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Tuesday as the caucus reorganized its leadership team for the coming legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)

• Struzzi Named GOP Appropriations Chair For Next State House Session. (Indiana Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Voting Is Over. Audits, Certification, and Possible Recounts Are Next

“Election Day has come and gone in Pennsylvania, largely without issue. But for county officials in charge of voting around the state, the job isn’t over.

Several critical steps have to occur between now and when President-elect Donald Trump and other winners take office. Here are the key procedures that will play out over the next few weeks” (Votebeat)

• GOP Asks PA Supreme Court to Reject Mail-In Ballots With Handwritten Date Errors. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Why a Few Thousand Bucks County Votes Remain in Question. (Bucks County Courier Times)

Elsewhere

Gainey Highlights Achievements During Budget Address. “At his annual budget and state of the city address, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, while presenting a budget with no tax increases, reiterated the success of his first three years in office in what closely resembled a campaign stump speech.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Allegheny County Manager Warns of Drastic Cuts If County Council Approves Smaller Property Tax Increase. “County Executive Sara Innamorato’s proposal was 2.2-mill tax increase; council president says legislative body will likely propose own budget.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Mt. Lebanon Rep. Dan Miller Passes on House Leadership, Considers Judge Seat. “More than a half-dozen seats are expected to be open on Allegheny County’s bench, and Miller said Tuesday that a judgeship is “definitely something that I’m considering.”” (WESA)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• We Need a Political Movement to Fight Billionaires. (Will Bunch)
• What Won’t Work, and What Might, For the Trump Administration. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Kamala Didn’t Close – And Here’s Why. (Andy Bloom)
• Is Gainey’s 2025 Budget Realistic and Reasonable? (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• ‘The Day Character Died.’ (Bishop Dwane Brock)
• The Blue State, Big City Lesson for Democrats. (David L. Bahnsen)

1 Thing

5. Lego’s Philly LOVE

“Lego is releasing a 3D version of Robert Indiana’s iconic Philly LOVE sculpture ahead of its 55th anniversary next year, Axios Philadelphia’s Isaac Avilucea writes.

The set is available for pre-order ($79.99), with shipments beginning Jan. 1.”

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