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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Centerfield, John Fogerty.

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Top Story

1. Analysis: What James Malone’s Special Election Victory Means

“It has never happened in the 36th Senatorial District since the area was reconfigured in 1983.

This was Republican-owned land in northern Lancaster County, as only four GOP representatives previously held the seat in Harrisburg.

The earth quaking under your feet this morning was the sound of Democrats celebrating a monumental flip, as East Petersburg borough mayor James Malone pulled off the upset, defeating the chair of the Lancaster County commissioners, Josh Parsons, by 482 votes.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania Upset Underscores Democratic Enthusiasm. “An upset victory in a state Senate race in Pennsylvania is the latest development to give Democrats hope of growing grassroots enthusiasm in the first few months of President Trump’s second term.” (The Hill)

Democrat Upset In Pennsylvania Special Election Is Not About Backlash To Trump. “Democrat political watchers are elated at the stunning special election upset in a Pennsylvania state Senate race in solidly Republican Lancaster County, but their rush to cite Trump-hatred as the cause isn’t based in reality.” (The Federalist)

‘Shock and Disbelief’: Democrats’ Victory in 36th State Senate Race Stuns Lancaster County. “It had been a running gag in Lancaster County politics these past few months that maybe county Commissioner Chairman Josh Parsons would flub the 36th Senate District race. The sheer improbability of that suggestion made it funny.” (LNP)

• Republican Josh Parsons Concedes to Democrat James Malone In 36th Senate Race. (WITF)

Democrats Take Hope From Upset Win in a GOP-Leaning Pennsylvania State Senate District. “Democrat James Andrew Malone narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, scoring an upset for a party roiled by infighting since President Donald Trump’s victory.” (AP)

State

2. Houlahan Blasts Trump Officials’ Signal Blunder: ‘The Threat is in the House’

“U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan joined other Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee in harshly criticizing Trump Administration officials over the texts concerning military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen that were included in a group chain that was held on an unsecured messaging app, Signal.

Houlahan blasted CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who confirmed he was on the chat, for suggesting Democrats were putting politics before national security by focusing on the discussion of airstrikes on Signal.

“I find it offensive for you to accuse me, as a Democrat, of not caring about national threats,” Houlahan said, according to a video of the hearing.” (West Chester Daily Local)

Elsewhere

Bob Casey Calls Current Moment a “Time of Real Peril” As He Urges Democrats to Fight. “The former senator says protecting SNAP and Medicaid should be at the forefront of the debate.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Organizers of Fetterman, McCormick Event Mum On Venue Details As Protesters Mobilize. “Dana Kellerman plans to protest Saturday in Pittsburgh. She just doesn’t know where yet. It all depends on where U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman will be.“Nobody seems to know,” Kellerman said Wednesday afternoon.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

PA Experts Say Trump’s Executive Order on Elections Is Dangerous, But Unlikely to Take Effect. “Pennsylvania election officials and experts said Wednesday that it’s highly unlikely a sweeping executive order from President Donald Trump seeking to require proof of citizenship for voters and altering rules for administering elections will take full effect.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

EMILYs List Sets Ambitious Course to Flip U.S. House in 2026, With Sights Set On Four PA Seats. “In Pennsylvania, the group is targeting Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mackenzie, Robert Bresnahan and Scott Perry.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Four Ways PA Could Fix Its Campaign Finance Laws to Reduce the Power of Money In Politics. “Legislative leaders deny that campaign donations buy either access or influence. Still, even the appearance of an arrangement in which monied interests get preferential treatment is enough to hurt belief in government, experts say.” (Spotlight PA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA Republicans Send Bill Banning Transgender Women From School Sports to Senate Floor

“The bill, passed out of the Senate Education Committee and which defines “sex” as strictly male or female and assigned at birth, would prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports from grade school through college. It makes no mention of transgender boys participating in athletics.” (LNP)

• Parents of Trans Colonial Athlete Speak Out Against PIAA Rule Change: ‘Having Her Play Sports With Males Would Be Cruel.’ (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Patrick Dugan Wants to Cap His Military and Judicial Career By Becoming Philly’s Top Prosecutor. Can He Win? “Dugan has been branded the “tough-on-crime” candidate, and is straight from central casting. But those close to him say the tough guy exterior belies a sense of empathy that has guided much of his life.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State Rep. Peter Schweyer, Others Decry President Trump’s Plans to Cut U.S. Department of Education. “Schweyer, majority chairman of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, said in a Thursday statement that shuttering the U.S. Education Department could impact Pennsylvania school districts financially and operationally.” (LehighValleyNews)

Members Sue PA Teachers Union Over Personal Data Hack and Theft. “At least three members of the state’s largest teachers union allege the union negligently failed to prevent a personal data theft last summer, then waited months to tell them and more than 500,000 others about it, according to federal lawsuits.” (WVIA)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Is Swing State Pennsylvania Swinging Even More In Some Areas? (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• A Pennsylvania Special Election Offers a Warning For Republicans. (Chris Brennan)
• A Shock to the GOP From MAGA Country. (Wall Street Journal)
• McCormick’s Anti-Fentanyl Legislation is a Repeat of the Same Failed History of the War on Drugs. (Christopher E. Kelly)
• If There Were No Fox News, Would There Be a President Trump? (Tom Moran)

1 Thing

5. I Am a PA Political Policy Advisor and Jeopardy Champion. Who Is Josh Weikert?

“Josh Weikert is now a four-day Jeopardy! champion with a total of $59,202. But there’s more to him than just his game show smarts.

He is from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and is a life-long fan of Jeopardy!. Weikert took the online test for more than 10 years before finally getting the call to come on the show. He then had one month to prepare for his episode.

The game show contestant is an associate professor of political science and chair of the Department of Civic Engagement at Immaculata University. He is a policy advisor for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is a simple affairs officer for the U.S. Army.” (TV Insider)

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