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🏈 Penn State (3-0) | Sat vs. Iowa
🏈 Pitt (1-2) | Sat vs. North Carolina
🏈 Temple (2-1) | Sat vs. Miami, Fla.
⚽ Union (14-6-8) | Sat vs. LAFC

What We’re Hearing
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick will appear on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Bob Matzie (Fri.), Rep. James Struzzi and Rep. Dan Williams (Sat.).

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Top Story

1. McCormick Launches 2nd Senate Bid In PA, Aims To Oust Casey

“Republican David McCormick announced Thursday that he will make his second bid for U.S. Senate in swing-state Pennsylvania, this time to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after losing in last year’s bruising and crowded Republican primary.

In a ballroom filled with supporters at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, McCormick — who had floated the possibility of running again since last year — accused Casey of rubber-stamping harmful immigration, economic, energy and national security policies of President Joe Biden.

“When Joe Biden says ‘vote,’ Bob Casey says ‘which way?’” said McCormick, who left his job atop one of Wall Street’s best-known hedge funds to enter politics. ” (AP)

Related

It’s Official: McCormick Will Challenge Casey For PA Senate Seat. “After months of “will he” or “won’t he,” Dave McCormick made it official on Thursday in Pittsburgh. He’s running again for the U.S. Senate.” (PoliticsPA)

• David McCormick Officially Launched His Second Run For Senate. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• McCormick Announces Second Try For U.S. Senate With Broad Republican Support. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Mccormick Jumps Into The Senate Race — And Confronts His ‘Welcome To Pennsylvania’ Problem. (POLITICO)
• Former Bridgewater CEO Dave McCormick Could Get Big Money Backing For Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Run. (CNBC)

Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events. “Thomas has attended at least two Koch donor summits, putting him in the extraordinary position of having helped a political network that has brought multiple cases before the Supreme Court.” (ProPublica)

Fetterman Gives Emotional Speech on Disability Access. “Sen. John Fetterman, who suffered a life threatening stroke before the 2022 midterm elections, became emotional when speaking about the challenges people with disabilities face on Thursday.” (Rolling Stone)

State

2. PA Republicans And Democrats Like Their Own Schools — But Believe Other Districts Are Failing Kids

“It’s a truism of modern politics that Americans don’t just have differing ideas about the direction their country should go: They practically live in different countries, insulated from each other by social media and partisan news.

But if you really want to see realities diverge, look at the debate over public schools. Some of us see buildings full of teachers doing their best in under-resourced institutions. Others see a mix of high-functioning districts and dead-end facilities that students need vouchers to escape … and still others fret about indoctrination centers teaching alien values.” (WESA Politics)

Related

Social Media Restrictions Proposed For PA Minors, Lawmakers Cite Mental Health Concerns. “Senate Bill 22 would task social media companies to verify a minor’s age through varied “commercially available best practices” including by phone, email or using a standardized form created by the Office of Attorney General.” (New Castle News)

Southerland Dismissed As PA HDCC Chair. “Trevor Southerland, the executive director of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee, was dismissed this week after it was discovered during audits that proper financial procedures had not been followed.” (PoliticsPA)

• PA House Democrats Fire Director Of Campaign Committee Over Money Mismanagement. (PennLive)

Planned Parenthood Launches Ad Campaign On Carluccio’s Anti-Abortion Resume. “The reproductive rights organization is launching a 7-figure ad campaign hitting Judge Carolyn Carluccio on her anti-abortion record. The ads feature The Keystone’s reporting and will air in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Markets.” (The Keystone)

PA Turnpike Gets First Federal Grants To Install EV Charging Stations At Service Plazas. “The grants, worth $3.9 million, increase the number of charging stations in the state awarded under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program to 61 and the total funding to $37.1 million.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Former York County Employees Describe ‘Toxic’ Work Environment

“High-level York County employees have been leaving since 2020, and many of them say a major reason why sits at the top: President Commissioner Julie Wheeler.

“The whole environment is toxic,” said one current employee, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation.

Four former and one current employee said in interviews with The York Dispatch that they feared retaliation and that Wheeler had attempted to stop them from being hired elsewhere in the county. Seven other former employees declined to comment.” (York Dispatch)

Related

The Election Whisperer. “The Main Line’s Rich Thau is the nation’s sole conductor of monthly swing voter focus groups in presidential battleground states. And he’s got some advice for both Biden and Trump” (Philadelphia Citizen)

‘To Hell With Them,’ Bob Brady Fumes At Working Families Party As Democrats Endorse Them. “Bob Brady keeps asking the question. If the Working Families Party wants voters to support its two candidates for Philadelphia City Council at-large, which Democrats get cut on the ballot?” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Rockey Endorsed by Forward Party For Allegheny County Executive. “Republican Joe Rockey has picked up another endorsement in his quest to become Allegheny County Executive.” (PoliticsPA)

• Andrew Yang’s Forward Party Backed Republican Joe Rockey For Allegheny County Executive. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Judge Tells Delaware County To Accept In-Person Votes From Residents Whose Mail Ballots Were Rejected. “Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge John Whelan ruled that such ballots must be counted, writing that the law must be “liberally construed” so as to “protect the elective franchise.” His ruling applies only to Delaware County.” (VoteBeat)

DEP: Funds Awarded For Mine Reclamation Projects In Cambria, Somerset Counties. “The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday announced $38.7 million in funding for six environmental restoration projects of abandoned mine lands, three of which are in Cambria and Somerset counties.” (CNHI News)

Fayette President Judge Refuses To Hear Arguments In Election Case. “A losing Republican candidate for the Fayette County board of commissioners appeared in court Thursday, hoping to present motions to support his contention that there were improprieties in the May primary.” (Washington Observer-Reporter)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Dressing For Democracy: Fetterman Owes The People A Decent Outfit. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• UAW Strike Is Exposing The Fraud That GOP Is The Party Of The Working Class. (Will Bunch)
• Gov. Shapiro is Forcing a False Choice by Abandoning Reproductive Health Alternatives. (Rep. Marla Brown)
• Erie’s Bayfront Parkway Project Showcases What Good Government Can Do. (Rep. Mike Kelly)
• PA Leaders And Presidential Hopefuls Should Commit To Aiding America’s Caregivers. (Rich Fitzgerald)
• State House Democrats Need To Do Their Jobs. (Stephen Bloom)
• Solidarity And Subsidiarity Call Us To Engage In Local Politics. (Emily Tekolste)
• When Public Health Collides With Policy And Politics, We Need To Ask: Have We Learned Anything? (Natalie Bencivenga)
• It’s Time To Give West Philadelphia Families A Choice. (Jabari K. Jones)

1 Thing

5. Becoming The Capital City

“If asked to name the capital city of Pennsylvania, most people who live outside the state would probably guess it’s Philadelphia. The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, and the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed there. Often called the “birthplace of America,” Philadelphia seems like a perfect location for a state capital.

The actual capital, though, is a small city called Harrisburg.” (AARP)

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