The first round of ads hit the airwaves in the race for the 37th state Senate district. Happy Presidents Day politicos, here is the Playbook!

SD37: Iovino, Raja Open With Positive Biographical Ads: The Democrat’s first ad details her military service. The Republican’s ads show his background as an immigrant starting a business and family in the Pittsburgh area.

Walsh Announces Bid for Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas: The state Representative from Westmoreland County cited the need for conservative judges in his campaign release.

February 15th Ups & Downs: A former Executive Director gets tapped by President Trump for an important position in the Department of Labor, while a former Dem staffer gets a position in a 2020 presidential campaign. Turmoil ensues at two of the state’s largest newspapers and the Democrats select their candidate for PA12. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Harrisburg & DC
AP: In first year, Pennsylvanians paid out $132M for medical pot
AP: Senate paying ex-security chief’s legal bills in lawsuits
AP: Prosecutor explains challenge to Mumia Abu-Jamal hearing
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In Harrisburg, every day is Groundhog Day for bad ideas (and some good ones) | Friday Morning Coffee
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: As work for welfare battle continues, Wolf admin will put a new spin on old jobs programs
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Here’s how Pa’s Congressional delegation reacted to President Trump’s emergency declaration
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Trump averts a shutdown – but Pa.’s Congressional delegation splits on the White House’s end run on border funding
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Former Pa. GOP staffer tapped for top U.S. Labor Dept. post
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Democrat Iovino hits TV screens ahead of state Senate special election
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Republican Raja cites immigrant’s story in state Senate special election ads
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Harrisburg Police herald recovery of more than 600 illegal firearms.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In first year of medical marijuana, 80,000+ Pennsylvanians okayed to toke medicine
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: What’s stopping municipal gun control laws across Pennsylvania? Costly lawsuits, for starters.
PLSReporter: Democrats reveal plan to combat workplace harassment, discrimination  
PLSReporter: Southeast PA lawmakers aren’t backing down on pipelines, despite action on Mariner East project  
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – February 11, 2019  
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
StateImpactPA: PA to begin its own process of setting health limit for two PFAS chemicals

Due to the holiday, this is an abbreviated version of the Playbook. All sections of the state will be included in tomorrow’s Playbook.