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Top Story

1. Josh Shapiro Raised Over $25M in Third Quarter; Mastriano $3.17M

“In what can only be described as jaw-dropping numbers, Democratic candidate for governor Josh Shapiro raised over $25.4 million in the third quarter and sits on a pile of $10.9 million entering the final stretch of the campaign.

While not a national record, it is an impressive sum for a gubernatorial candidate, overshadowing the $7.2 million that Gov. Tom Wolf raised for his reelection bid in the third quarter of 2018. Wolf pulled in $9.6 million in the same time period in 2014.

GOP opponent Doug Mastriano pulled in $3.17 million during the same period, spending just under one million. He has $2.57 million cash in hand headed into the final six weeks.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Shapiro Outspending Mastriano by 27-to-1 Margin, Finance Reports Show. “Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro outspent his GOP opponent state Sen. Doug Mastriano by more than 27 to 1, spending more than $27 million over the past four months.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Shapiro Breaks Records, as Mastriano Breaks Conventions. “Among the unwrittten rules of politics that Republican Doug Mastriano is trying to shatter this year is that staying competitive in the dollar race is necessary to win the Pennsylvania governor’s office.” (PennLive)

Mastriano Mocks Shapiro as ‘Little Josh.’ Shapiro’s Revenge: A Massive Bank Account. “State Sen. Doug Mastriano has always trailed state Attorney General Josh Shapiro in fund-raising in the governor’s race. Reports filed Tuesday show Mastriano has failed to narrow that gap.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lawmakers, Challengers Plan Fundraising Blitz Ahead of Friday Deadline. “Lawmakers and challengers are planning a fundraising blitz ahead of Friday’s quarterly deadline, the last big one before the November midterms, which are on track to be the priciest nonpresidential cycle yet.” (Roll Call)

Governor

2. In 2019 Interview, Mastriano Said Women Who Violated Proposed Abortion Ban Should Be Charged With Murder

“Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for governor in Pennsylvania, said in a 2019 interview that women who violated his proposed “Heartbeat Bill” law banning abortions after six weeks should be charged with murder.

The state senator from Franklin County was conducting an interview with WITF radio host Scott LaMar about the Heartbeat Bill which he originally proposed that year (now Senate Bill 378).” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Mastriano Said in 2019 That His Bill Would Treat Abortions as Murder. “As a Pennsylvania senator, Doug Mastriano, now running for governor, pushed a bill to limit abortion. He indicated that women violating it should be treated as murderers.” (NY Times)

GOP Governor Nominee Once Urged Murder Charges For Women Getting Abortions. “Doug Mastriano, a Pennsylvania state senator who is the GOP nominee for governor, once said that women who violated his proposed abortion ban should be charged with murder.” (Washington Post)

Mastriano Gets Boost From Trump To End a Difficult Campaign Day. “On a day when he was haunted by old remarks about abortion and dogged by fundraising woes, Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano got a shot in the arm from former Donald Trump Tuesday, as the former president joined him for teletown hall Tuesday night. ” (WESA)

Elections

3. Northampton County, A Bellwether in PA, Will Be Place to Watch on Election Night

“This year, Northampton County will be a place to watch on Election Night, first because of its history as a Pennsylvania bellwether, but also because the 8 p.m. ET poll closing time means it will be among the first swing counties to report results.

Only three times in the last century has the Northampton County winner in a presidential race not also carried the commonwealth and won the White House.
Competitive of late is an understatement: Trump carried the county by 3.4 percent in 2016. Four years later, Biden eked out a 1,233 vote county win —a margin of less than one percentage point.” (CNN)

Related

PA House Preview: Lehigh Valley. “We continue our series on the candidates for the Pennsylvania State House with a look at the Lehigh Valley.” (PoliticsPA)

Hotly Contested State Senate Race in Allegheny County Could Come Down to Abortion Rights. “Pennsylvania Sen. Lindsey Williams, a West View Democrat, is seeking her second term in the state Senate against a strong challenge from Pennsylvania Rep. Lori Mizgorski, a Shaler Republican.” (KDKA)

Race to Watch: State Sen. Todd Stephens Faces Off Against Challenger Melissa Cerrato. “Stephens faces a challenger this year who wonders whether his positions fall in line with the district.” (WHYY)

PA Republicans Are Gaining on Democrats in Registered Voters. What Does That Really Mean? “A detailed analysis of Pennsylvania voter registration data over two decades shows a state that is accelerating long-term political shifts along geographic and demographic lines.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

In Midterm Politics, Historical Analogies Work – Until They Don’t. “If history is any guide, Democrats do not have a chance — not even a small a chance — of keeping control of the House in the midterm elections. But the question is: Is history any guide?” (Washington Examiner)

State Rep. Candidate April Weaver Declines Debate With LNP Due to Lack of Time. “April Weaver, a Republican challenging Rep. Mike Sturla in the 96th Legislative District, has declined to participate in a debate to be hosted by LNP | LancasterOnline, citing a lack of time.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

Perry, Daniels To Face Off in TV Segment. Here’s How to Watch. “Five-term Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and Democratic challenger Shamaine Daniels will face off in a TV segment airing Wednesday.” (York Dispatch)

Galt, Rose To Participate in Tribune’s State House 6th District Forum. “The two candidates vying for the 6th District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take part in a question-and-answer forum.” (Meadville Tribune)

Around the Commonwealth

Proposed Constitutional Amendment May Inadvertently Raise PA Voting Age to 21. “One of the five proposed state constitutional amendments approved by Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg would appear to raise the voting age in Pennsylvania from 18 to 21.” (KDKA)

Inside PA’s Proposed ‘Parental Bill of Rights,’ Which Critics Are Calling Homophobic. “The “Parental Bill of Rights” legislation, as proponents call it, would prohibit schools in Pennsylvania – including public schools, charter schools and cyber charter schools – from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Mastriano’s Plan for PA School Choice. “Mastriano’s sometimes conflicting statements have overall shown an effort to work with a likely GOP-controlled Legislature to propel far-reaching school choice programs by shifting state funds to students rather than schools.” (AP)

Blair Leaders OK Non-Stop Counting. “Blair County leaders are offering assurance of round-the-clock vote counting of ballots beginning with the Nov. 8 election.” (Altoona Mirror)

Clearfield County Commissioner Tony Scotto Resigns Post. “In a surprise announcement at Tuesday’s Clearfield County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Tony Scotto announced he is resigning his post effective Oct. 10.” (Dubois Courier Express)

Commentary

• Why We Can’t Quit Our Toxic, Insatiable Appetite For Polls. (Frank Bruni, Patrick Ruffini, Amy Walter)
• White Nationalism Is a Political Ideology That Mainstreams Racist Conspiracy Theories (Sara Kamali)
• Krasner Ignores Victims and Sides With Murderers – Including My Parents’ Killer (Lisa Hart)
• Did GOP Lawmakers Overplay Hand With Amendment Package? (Tribune-Review)
• Abortions Are a Matter of Harm, Not Freedom (Jay Ambrose)
• Young Voters Are The Superheroes of Democracy (Dakota Hall)
• A GOP’s Hidden Disadvantage: An Unhappiness With Itself (David Byler)