Swing District Democrats find themselves in a tricky situation, a GOP candidate for Congress attempts to throw a party with a member of the Proud Boys, and a District Attorney receives good and bad press. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs. 

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Bobby Jeffries. While Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) joined President Donald Trump on stage at a rally in Hershey this week, his GOP challenger who claimed that the incumbent wasn’t “Pro-Trump” enough attempted to throw a party of his own, but that didn’t exactly work out. Jeffries planned an “America First Xmas Bash,” but the brew pub it was slated to be held at canceled the event due to one of the featured speakers being Enrique Tarrio, chairman of the Proud Boys, according to the York Dispatch. The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies the Proud Boys as a hate group known for “anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric.”

Swing District Dems. It’s been a real tricky week for Democrats in swing districts across the country, and Pennsylvania wasn’t different. On Tuesday, House Democrats officially introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump and announced the finalized USMCA trade deal. The issue of impeachment has dogged Democrats in swing districts, with outside GOP groups like America First Policies and American Action Network running anti-impeachment ads for over a month pressuring Democrats like Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna), who has yet to make a decision on impeachment, and Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny), who voiced his support for impeachment on Thursday, to oppose impeaching Trump. While it remains unclear how much of a role impeachment will play in these Democrats reelection bid, political observers agree that the progress on the USMCA trade pact will bode will for them in their districts. 

Larry Krasner. Every progressive Democrat wishes to get called out by President Donald Trump at one of his rallies. That happened this week for Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner when Trump called him “the worst District Attorney” and told Philly that they “better get yourself a new prosecutor.” That kind of attention in a city that voted overwhelmingly against him in 2016 would be sure to land an up arrow, but interactions with the local Philadelphia media the following day was a low point for Krasner this week. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office didn’t allow KYW Newsradio’s Crime and Justice reporter, Kristen Johanson, to participate in a news conference that was open to other media outlets. Krasner was asked by a local reporter if she had been barred from entering the news conference to which Krasner said that he did not “bar anybody” from attending and said he was “sorry to hear” if there’s been “some kind of miscommunication.” A spokesperson for the DA’s office said that only reporters who requested comment on the specific case that the press conference was addressing were notified of the press conference, but KYW Newsradio reports that Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Julie Shaw requested comment on the story, but was also not invited to the press conference. The spokesperson for the DA’s office said it was “security protocols” for part of the reason that Johanson was denied entry into the press conference. A number of Philadelphia journalists expressed their outrage over the situation on social media and stood by Johanson in the dispute. 

Bobby Henon. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the City Council Majority Leader will not retain the position as he fights a federal corruption indictment. While most have in Philadelphia have not called for Henon to resign as a result of the indictment received in the summer in connection with corruption in the electricians’ union, with the exception of Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and state Rep. Jared Solomon, the members have reportedly struck a deal that would make Councilwoman Cherelle Parker the next majority leader. Another part of the deal would make Councilman Curtis Jones the majority whip. 

Scott Wagner. No one really questions the former York County GOP Senator and gubernatorial candidate’s commitment to President Donald Trump’s agenda, but a move he made this week will certainly continue to help boost his support among this base. Pennlive reported that Wagner told Derry Township officials that he would cover the cost up to a maximum of $20,000 for Trump’s Hershey rally after residents complained about having to foot the $20,000 bill for Trump rallies in 2016 and 2017. 

Legacy of public service. Sadly, former state Sen. J. Doyle Corman, who served in the state Senate for 21 years, died on Sunday morning at the age of 87. Various leaders lauded the service of Corman and said that he will be missed. 

Anne Wakabayashi. Taking on a role for a 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful. The chair of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Commissioner on LGBTQ Affairs and previously with Emerge Pennsylvania and the state Senate Democratic Campaign Committee has accepted a role with Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s campaign in Pennsylvania. The AP reported on Thursday that Warren is the first Democratic presidential hopeful to hire field staff and open field offices in Pennsylvania. 

Leslie Osche, Kevin Boozel, Kim Geyer, and Rich Fitzgerald. This group of western Pennsylvania elected officials are the recipient of the inaugural Moe Coleman Award, named after the late social worker, public servant and founder of the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Geyer and Osche, Republicans, and Boozel, a Democrat, serve together as Butler County Commissioners, while Fitzgerald, a Democrat, is the Allegheny County Executive. The award was given to them for their ability to serve all constituents and work across the aisle. 

Lisa Michelle Moore. Longtime Kennett Township manager Lisa Michelle Moore was arrested on Tuesday and charged with embezzling millions of dollars in taxpayer funds over a seven-year period, according to the Daily Local News. Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said the case is “all about greed” as she used the money to buy designer clothes and expensive jewelry, while taking trips to Europe.  

TWEET OF THE WEEK 

Belsnickel comes tonight. Have you been impish or admirable? pic.twitter.com/wSN7XMGBwn

— Pennsylvania (@PennsylvaniaGov) December 6, 2019