A GOP State Senator reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. Here is the Playbook. 

Mastriano Tests Positive for COVID-19 at Meeting With Trump: The State Senator reportedly was made known of his positive COVID-19 result during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.

Biden helps Democrats rebound a bit in Southwestern Pennsylvania, but his party continues to take hits down-ballot: The results of the 2020 election show that Joe Biden, bolstered by his “Scranton Joe” persona, stanched the bleeding for the Democratic presidential ticket in blue-collar precincts of southwestern Pennsylvania, a region where voters had moved sharply toward Donald Trump in 2016. But it’s equally clear that Biden wasn’t able to do much to help his party further down the ballot.

As of Tuesday morning, we still are waiting for a call in a state Senate race and multiple congressional candidates have also yet to concede. 

Congressional Races 

All incumbents have secured another term in Congress, although a few challengers have yet to concede in their races. 

PA7: Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) has defeated GOP challenger Lisa Scheller. The AP called the race for Wild on Nov. 6. As of Monday morning, Wild leads by 16,163 votes (or by 4.2 points) with 98% of estimated votes reported. Scheller has not conceded in the race.

PA8: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) has defeated GOP challenger Jim Bognet. The AP called the race for Cartwright on Nov. 6. As of Monday morning, Cartwright leads by 12,213 votes (or by 3.6 points) with 95% of estimated votes reported. Bognet has not conceded in the race.

PA17: Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) has defeated GOP challenger Sean Parnell. The AP called the race for Lamb on Nov. 7. As of Wednesday morning, Lamb leads by 2.2 points (9,963 votes) with 97% of estimated votes reported. Parnell has not conceded in the race.

State Senate and House

Republicans have flipped four state House seats, (HD-33), (HD-55), (HD-123), and (HD-143), most notably unseating House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny). Democrats have flipped one seat in the Philly suburbs (HD-152). For the state Senate, Republicans have flipped one seat in western PA (SD-37), while Democrats have flipped one seat in the Philly suburbs (SD-9), and another race in western PA has not been called yet. 

State Senate 

SD-45: Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) leads GOP challenger Nicole Ziccarelli by 89 votes, as of Monday morning, according to DOS. 

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Wolf vetoes GOP-backed bill on limiting COVID-19 liability 
AP: Pennsylvania expands virus app to school-age phone users
Spotlight PA: Pa. counties reported no major issues with Dominion voting machines, a target of Trump and his campaign
Patriot News: Republicans silent on report of Pa. senator’s positive COVID-19 test 
Patriot News: Second Pa. Republican senator tests positive for the coronavirus 
Patriot News: All but one Pa. county is now seeing ‘substantial’ spread of coronavirus, officials say 
Patriot News: Work on Pa.’s road, bridge projects given the green light to continue for now 
Patriot News: Ex-state lawmaker found guilty in bribery case loses appeal of her convictions, probation sentence 
Patriot News: Which states have the most confirmed coronavirus cases (11/30/2020): Where does Pa. stand?
LNP | LancasterOnline: Sturla booted from leadership position after 12 years, Pa. House Democrats moving in a ‘new direction’
LNP | LancasterOnline: Was 2020 a breakout year for Amish voters? Here’s what the numbers show 
LNP | LancasterOnline: A look at Smucker’s priorities going into his third time in office, the upcoming lame-duck House session
Pennsylvania Capital-Star Senate Republicans silent as another lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Threatening primaries, Trump supporters make one last pitch for Pa. Republicans to block election results 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. hits hospitalization record as COVID-19 cases continue to climb 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: New state budget sets aside $16M for Pa. farmers hit by pandemic | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Republicans say Gov. Wolf commits to keep PennDOT projects going; administration sees ‘potential’ to avoid halt
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers continue election attacks, promise report on ‘sizable irregularities’  
PLSReporter: Wolf vetoes COVID-19 liability protection bill  
PLSReporter: Local control still rules the day for schools as COVID-19 hits ‘concerning milestone’ 
PLSReporter: Wolf vetoes bills that would exempt gun shops, carrying limitations from emergency restrictions
PLSReporter: Weekend recap: Courts reject two legal challenges to election 
Reading Eagle: PennDOT considers tolling bridges to fund repairs for highways and bridges
National Journal: Biden’s selected and potential cabinet members

Philadelphia 
Billy Penn: How ‘GOP rebel’ Al Schmidt became the voice of the 2020 Philly election — and Trump’s nemesis
WHYY Newsworks: Despite barrage of losses in court, Trump camp plans more long-shot election appeals 
WHYY Newsworks: ‘Don’t make any sudden moves’: Philly residents share experiences with police in hopes for change 
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. coronavirus update: More people hospitalized now than during spring peak
Inquirer: Controversial tax abatement bill pits Philly building trades unions against concerns for immigrant workers 
Inquirer: Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration prioritizes Philly renters in latest spending plan for federal coronavirus aid 
Inquirer: Philly hunger relief group Philabundance lost nearly $1 million in cyberattack 
Inquirer: ‘I feel stuck’: Philadelphians struggle with the effects of unemployment on mental health 
Inquirer: COVID-19 hospitalizations in Pa. and Philly climbing; controversial White House coronavirus adviser resigns; CDC vaccine panel meets today
Philadelphia Tribune: Philadelphia native reveals toll of gun violence in new ‘Weight of Death’ docuseries
KYW Newsradio: Despite COVID-19 spike, Pa. health officials say key decisions will remain in local hands

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Voters want clarification on 9th District race 
Daily Local News: Chester County officials worried about troubling COVID trend 
Bucks County Courier Times: Coronavirus cases hit 17,773 in Bucks County 
Bucks County Courier Times: St. Mary nurses, hospital to resume negotiations
Bucks Local News: Surge in COVID-19 cases forces Bucks County government to revert to appointment-only operations
Montgomery Media: Coronavirus continues to spread in Montgomery County

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: Rep. Mike Kelly And Sean Parnell To Appeal Pa. Supreme Court Loss Over Mail-In Ballots To SCOTUS 
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Executive Rich Fitzgerald Says ‘Symptoms Aren’t That Bad’ As Moderna Seeks FDA Emergency Authorization Use For Coronavirus Vaccine 
KDKA: Gun-Rights Group, Allegheny Co. Residents Sue Sheriff’s Department Over Coronavirus Shutdown 
KDKA: Pennsylvania Receives $3 Million In Funding To Protect The Homeless This Winter
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny County Health Dept. Reports 920 New Cases In 48 Hours
Post-Gazette: Gun rights coalition, Allegheny County residents sue over shutdown of county’s firearms division 
Post-Gazette: Receiving pandemic assistance funds? You may be asked to repay the state 
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers continue election attacks, promise report on ‘sizable irregularities’ 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County’s new covid case numbers recede slightly
City Paper: Allegheny County receives over $1.2 million to provide emergency cold-weather shelter to homeless population 
City Paper: An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Allegheny County

SWPA 
Tribune Review: Westmoreland elections board certifies more Nov. 3 ballots — but not 344 in undated envelopes
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Hospitals ‘strained’ with COVID-19 patients; 121 new cases in Cambria
Observer-Reporter: Washington County records new COVID-19 death
Beaver County Times: Beaver County officials ask residents to call before visiting courthouse 
Beaver County Times: Baden nursing home sees COVID-19 outbreak 
Beaver County Times: More than $1.3 million to address pandemic-related shelter needs

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre officials working on budget compromise 
Citizens Voice: County buildings reopened to public; strict measures in place 
Citizens Voice: 2 Luzerne County nursing homes see large COVID-19 outbreaks 
Citizens Voice: 104 new COVID-19 cases in Luzerne County
Times-Tribune: Judge approves city payroll tax, but imposing it uncertain 
Times-Tribune: Commissioners meet this morning to vote on county budget 
Times-Tribune: 2 Luzerne County nursing homes see large COVID-19 outbreaks 
Times-Tribune: Cognetti appoints Judge Scranton fire chief
Philadelphia Gay News: Advocates call for resignation of homophobic school board member
The Times Leader: Talks to continue on Wilkes-Barre’s 2021 budget 
The Times Leader: Report on 2019 care shows higher-than-expected mortality rates at 2 local hospitals 
The Times Leader: 104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County; 2 new deaths

South Central 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Sturla booted from leadership position after 12 years, Pa. House Democrats moving in a ‘new direction’
LNP | LancasterOnline: Was 2020 a breakout year for Amish voters? Here’s what the numbers show 
LNP | LancasterOnline: A look at Smucker’s priorities going into his third time in office, the upcoming lame-duck House session
LNP | LancasterOnline: Pa. rental relief program ends with potentially millions of dollars in assistance unspent  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County reaches 500 COVID-19 deaths 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Monday’s COVID-19 updates: Lancaster County gains 545 cases over a two-day period 
LNP | LancasterOnline: COVID-19 deaths increasing in Lancaster County and spreading more broadly beyond nursing homes
Patriot News: Republicans silent on report of Pa. senator’s positive COVID-19 test 
Patriot News: Own a small business in Harrisburg? Here’s how you can get some help to get your business through the winter 
Patriot News: Robb Hanrahan announces upcoming return to CBS 21
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: Number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Cumberland County jumps to 109 in Monday’s data report; 83 new cases for county 
York Dispatch: Negotiations in Harrisburg over PennDOT’s $600M budget shortfall continue
York Dispatch: Four new COVID-19 related deaths in York County on Sunday, health department reports

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: As Allentown City Council squeezes more spending initiatives into budget, controller says revenue estimates are too optimistic 
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 4,268 more cases on Monday; hospitals and intensive care units ‘strained’ 
Express Times: Northampton County taking steps to prepare for first death penalty trial in COVID-19 era 
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: 4,268 new cases; Thanksgiving weekend causes slow reporting, but rates are still climbing; hospitalizations continue to rise; Lehigh Valley sees 204 new cases | Pa. COVID-19 county map (11/30/20)
Reading Eagle: City Council debates what happens if Reading Downtown Improvement District goes away 
Reading Eagle: Berks County awards coronavirus-related funding to Northeast Berks Chamber 
Reading Eagle: Berks adds 82 coronavirus cases

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Pa. justice: In suing, congressman set out to ‘play a dangerous game’ at voters’ expense
Erie Times-News: Erie homeless shelters to share CARES funding
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Williamsport budget work sessions begin tonight
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Pennsylvanians enjoy Sunday hunting for first time
Centre Daily Times: Nov. 30 update: Pa. reports almost 9,800 COVID-19 cases over weekend; Centre County has 91

Opinion  
Frances Upshaw: If Florida can raise its minimum wage, Pennsylvania can, too 
Joseph Otis Minott: Pa. doesn’t have to choose between good jobs and a healthy environment 
Alison Perelman and Jon Geeting: Without advocates in City Hall, Philly’s small businesses are unfairly expected to white-knuckle it 
Conrad Benner: Safer at Home vs. Christmas Village: A tale of two City Halls 
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Many deserve credit for completing fall sports season that appeared in peril
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Time for compromise 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Invest in innovation
Tony Norman: Abandon hope all ye who enter Allegheny County Jail
David Murrell: Another PA Republican Tests Positive for COVID, This Time Mid-Meeting with Trump
Ann Farnsworth-Alvear: Penn’s $100 million to Philly schools is no permanent substitute for PILOTs
Sean P. Quinlan: Rudy, Trump keep chasing the white whale of voter fraud. It only ends one way 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Small business sidewalk sale