🦁 ☘️ Thursday. Who ya got? Nittany Lions or Fighting Irish?

🗞️  The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.

PA Weather
☁️ Ebensburg | Mostly Cloudy, Snow Showers, 19
🌤️ Shickshinny | Mostly Sunny, 29
☀️ Mohnton | Sunny, 30

PA Sports
🏈 Penn State (12-2) | Thu vs. Notre Dame
🏒 Penguins (17-17-8) | Thu vs. Edmonton
🏒 Flyers (17-19-5) | Thu vs. Dallas
🏀 Sixers (15-20) | Washington 109-103 | Fri vs. New Orleans

✝️ What’s Happening Today. It is a National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. Federal offices and the stock markets are closed and mail delivery is suspended.

📱 Social Media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media outlets for you to get the latest political news from around the Commonwealth: Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | LinkedIn

Top Story

1. Shapiro Challenged to Back U.S. Steel Lawsuit or Lose to Ohio

“Gov. Josh Shapiro faces a new challenge after the White House blocked U.S. Steel’s overseas acquisition.

Join the lawsuit the company filed alongside its would-be Japanese-owned buyer, Nippon Steel, and make sure Pennsylvania doesn’t lose more jobs to “friggin’ Ohio.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward threw down the gauntlet Monday during the Marty Griffin show on KDKA radio, referencing the governor’s infamous quote during his budget address in February 2024: build an economy that puts the Buckeye State’s to shame.” (The Center Square)

Elsewhere

Trump Might Still Have Sway in U.S. Steel-Nippon Deal. “President-elect Donald Trump’s comments Tuesday, touting a United Arab Emirates company’s planned $20 billion investment in U.S. data centers, could spark hope for the proposed takeover of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Democrats Warn Party Must Look Beyond ‘Blue Wall’ to Win. “Take the “blue wall” states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. For years the wall has been a Democratic mainstay and safety net of presidential politics, often catapulting the winner of the states to the White House. But because of population trends over the next six years, 2028 may be the last time Democrats can count on the states to help get them to 270 electoral votes.” (The Hill)

Biden Name to Remain On Two Roads In Scranton; Council Takes No Action On Residents’ Request For Removal or Ballot Referendum. “Scranton officials have no intention of removing President Joe Biden’s name from two local roads in his birthplace city.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

State

2. Meuser Considering Run for Governor

“Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser (R-9) tells abc27’s Dennis Owens that he’s seriously considering a run for Governor in 2026.

Meuser would likely face incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro who defeated State Senator Doug Mastriano in 2022 with 56% of the vote and a then-record 3 million votes.

Meuser was reelected in November to represent Pennsylvania’s 9th District, which covers 12 counties stretching from Lebanon County in central Pennsylvania to Bradford County on the northern border.” (abc27)

Elsewhere

Shapiro Tours PA Farm Show, Talks Budget, Bird Flu, Trump, More. “Governor Josh Shapiro took the annual gubernatorial tour of the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Wednesday, greeting attendees while also talking about agricultural investments in the state budget and the potential impacts of the incoming federal administration.” (PennLive)

Lt. Governor Sets Date for 36th Senatorial District Special Election. “Serving in his constitutional role as president of the state Senate, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis set the date for a special election in Pennsylvania’s 36th Senate District for Tuesday, March 25.” (PoliticsPA)

• Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons Leads GOP Straw Polls For 36th Senatorial District Special Election. (LNP | Lancaster Online)

PA Senate Democratic Caucus Announces Committee Chairs. “The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced its committee chairs for the 2025-26 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)

Lynne Ryan Announces Campaign for PA GOP Vice Chair. “As a new change in top leadership looms within the state’s Republican Party, now a woman has announced her candidacy – for the second-in-command seat: the PAGOP Vice Chair. Lynne Ryan, Chairwoman of the Lawrence County Republican Committee, has officially announced her candidacy for the role.” (Harrisburg100)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Justice Department Files Voting Rights Suit Against City of Hazleton

“The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to challenge the city council’s at-large method of election.

The lawsuit alleges that the city’s current at-large method of electing city council members results in Hispanic citizens having less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of choice, in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Philly Judge Accused of Bias Is Cautioned By State Judicial Board, But Will Avoid Sanctions. “The board’s confidential decision closes the case against Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Anne Marie Coyle without any charges in the Court of Judicial Discipline.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Tax Increases Not a Substitute For a Countywide Property Reassessment, Pittsburgh School District Argues. “Tax increases, it told visiting senior Judge Kenneth Valasek, are “not a viable long-term solution” to fix an Allegheny County assessment system that it describes as “broken and inequitable.”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Longtime Dauphin County Commissioner to Be Dethroned as Board’s Leader. “Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick may only have one week left as the county’s top leader, after his colleagues attempted to dethrone him Wednesday amid ongoing turmoil at the county.” (PennLive)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• The Surprising Grace of a Politically Divided State House of Representatives. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• PA Should Expand Income Tax Relief For Poorest Families. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• President Jimmy Carter Loved Fly-Fishing in PA. His Conservation Legacy Lives On. (Cindy Adams Dunn)
• A Free Press Needs to Press Freely – Against Power, Presidents and Profit. (John Baer)
• Let’s REIN It In, Pennsylvania! (Emily Greene)

1 Thing

5. Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese and Potato Donuts: Food Reviews at the PA Farm Show

“Getting food at the PA Farm Show requires patience, especially during peak hours, when lines can stack dozens deep, and wait times can be close to an hour. The way to beat the rush? Get there early.

The PA Dairymen’s Association’s new milkshake flavor for this year is mint, and the group also is offering a new pepper jack grilled cheese.

There are also samples of the farm show, like the PA Cooperative Potato Grower’s potato donuts — available in cinnamon sugar, plain, and powdered sugar varieties.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Thank you for starting your morning with us.
And reading the PoliticsPA Playbook