Democrat Roni Green wins the special election for the state House’s 190th District, while a few Democratic Congressional hopefuls in closely watched districts participated in their first debates of the year. Here is the Playbook. 

HD190: Roni Green Coasts to Special Election Victory: The business agent for SEIU Local 668 captured 86% of the vote in the West Philadelphia Democratic stronghold.

Reader Poll: PA Should Move Its Primary Date: In total, 79% of the votes signaled that the current primary date should be changed for 2024 presidential election, while just 21% voted to keep the current date.

Lancaster Stands Up Endorses Bernie Sanders for President: Lancaster Stands Up, a grassroots progressive community group that formed after the victory of President Donald Trump in 2016, endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential primary. In the release about their endorsement, they described Sanders as someone who “embodies the ethos of our organization,” while adding that they believe he is best positioned to defeat Trump in the general election. 

Dems Debate in PA1: On Tuesday afternoon, Christina Finello, an Ivyland Borough Councilwoman and Bucks County Deputy Director of Housing and Human Services, and Skylar Hurwitz, a technology entrepreneur and small business owner, participated in their first debate of the 2020 Congressional campaign. Both candidates are seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the 1st Congressional District in the Philadelphia suburbs in hopes of unseating Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks). 

PA10: DePasquale, Brier Debate: Eugene DePasquale, the state’s Auditor General, and Tom Brier, an attorney and author, participated in a debate on Tuesday evening at Widener University. Both candidates are seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the 10th Congressional District in hopes of defeating Rep. Scott Perry (R-York). 

Legislative Election Update: 

HD-58: Robert Prah Jr., a military veteran, educator, volunteer firefighter and former mayor of Smithton who is the Democratic nominee for the upcoming special election in the state House’s 58th District, received the endorsement from Service Employees International Union Local 668, according to the Tribune Review. 

HD-37: John Padora, a Clay Township resident who has spent the last decade working in precision manufacturing and is seeking the Democratic Party nomination, has received the endorsement from the PA Working Families Party, according to a release from his campaign. The seat he is seeking is held by state Rep. Mindy Fee (R-Lancaster), who won her most recent reelection bid for the seat in 2018 by 45 points over Democrat Suzanne Delahunt. 

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Bloomberg’s influence stretches far and wide
Spotlight PA: Protesters call on Pennsylvania AG to ‘show mercy’ and commute more life sentences
Inquirer: Democratic women in a Pennsylvania swing county are united — in anxiety and fatigue
Inquirer: In politically divided Pennsylvania, little-noticed new voters could have a big impact
Inquirer: Democrats are beating Trump in a key Pa. county he flipped from Obama, poll says
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘Chaotic and impulsive’: In new ad blitz, Dem super PAC goes on the offensive against Trump in Pa.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Erie lawmaker tells liquor regulators they need to spruce up rundown states stores in poor Pa. cities
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Saved by the bell? Phone call confusion scuttles state board’s vote on Reading charter school
PLSReporter: Road funding questions don’t get any easier for lawmakers as budget hearings heat up
Fox News: What are the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act?
KDKA: U.S. Senator Bob Casey Criticizes Attorney General William Barr For Ukraine Investigation
StateImpactPA: Constitution Pipeline project ends as builder cites ‘diminished’ return on investment
StateImpactPA: Class action settlement delivers $2 million to residents living near Clairton Coke Works
Daily Local News: House panel holds hearing on soaring costs of prescription drugs
WHYY Newsworks: Pa., N.J. have little say in the 2020 primary
KYW Newsradio: Pennsylvania lawmakers eye fix for potential delay of election results
PA Post: Pa. prison puts inmates in solitary confinement for dreadlocks, despite religious beliefs on uncut hair
National Journal: Lamb Gets Grilled on Fracking
National Journal: Jewish GOP Group to Run Anti-Sanders Ad During Tonight’s Debate
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania will take part in multi-state investigation of Juul
CNN: Two abortion restriction bills that forced tough votes for vulnerable senators fail in the Senate
Huffington Post: Senator Rips William Barr For Switching Focus From Opioid Fight To Giuliani’s ‘Propaganda’

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Democrat Roni Green wins special election to Pa. House from West Philly
Billy Penn: Philly’s Safehouse to open nation’s first supervised injection site after judge clearance
Inquirer: Philly City Councilmember Helen Gym has endorsed Bernie Sanders
Inquirer: South Philadelphia to become site of nation’s first supervised-injection facility next week, organizers say
Inquirer: A frustrated United Steelworkers chief says he did his best to keep Philly refinery open
Philadelphia Tribune: Ex-Philly Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown flip-flops, applies for DROP
Philadelphia Tribune: Philly’s finances might not be strong enough to ride out severe recession, officials, watchdog warn
Philadelphia Tribune: In Philly, library advocates demand $19.3M in new funding ahead of budget negotiations
KYW Newsradio: Judge issues order that clears way for safe injection site in Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Groundbreaking agreement by Philly’s major health systems promises more addiction treatment access
KYW Newsradio: Advocates renew campaign to get more money for Philadelphia’s libraries

SEPA
LevittownNow.com: Democratic Candidates Face Off In First Debate Of 2020 Congressional Campaign
Bucks Courier Times: Wolf, Shapiro to campaign for Harold Hayes, Democratic candidate in 18th District special election 
WHYY Newsworks: Despite differences, Bucks Democratic hopefuls agree on this: defeating Fitzpatrick
Daily Local News: Local lawmakers turn to experts to find solution to opioid crisis
Bucks Local News: Yardley Borough Council welcomes Uri Feiner to the council table

Pittsburgh 
WESA: Kass, Other Candidates, Face Petition Challenges
WESA: PennDOT Faces Big Costs And Dwindling Resources
WESA: County Police To ‘Build Bridges’ With Wilkinsburg Following Dispute Over Shelton Acquittal 
Post-Gazette: Protesters want Shapiro to approve more commutations
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy presents proposed spending plan for new parks tax to council
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County sued over maintenance of voter rolls
Post-Gazette: Wilkinsburg public safety forum attracts large crowd
KDKA: Pa. House Representative Austin Davis Resigns From County Democratic Committee
KDKA: City Council Wrestling With How To Spend New Revenue From Parks Tax
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: City Director is MIA; Mayor Says He’s Selling Pittsburgh
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Investigation Into PPS Supt. Anthony Hamlet’s Unauthorized Cuba Trip Cost Over $100K
KDKA: U.S. Senator Bob Casey Criticizes Attorney General William Barr For Ukraine Investigation
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh’s financial outlook boosted by credit rating agency 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Peduto turns to Twitter to offer his judgement on new Strip District office tower plan
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh receives bond rating boost from stable to positive
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh ordinance would ban ownership of crocodiles, alligators and turtles 
Tribune Review: Disinformation and hacking could threaten 2020 elections, former U.S. attorney warns
City Paper: Protesters call on AG Josh Shapiro to pardon more prisoners serving life sentences

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Democrat running for 39th legislative district seat
Observer-Reporter: Pa. releases county-by-county guides for new voting systems
Beaver County Times: Casey: Resources diverted to ‘Russian propaganda, political smears’
Tribune Review: 58th District candidate Prah gets backing of SEIU
Altoona Mirror: Council refining trades licensing
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Former Johnstown Councilman ‘Red’ Pinizzotto dies

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Senior citizens raise concerns over ‘Medicare for all’
Times-Tribune: Scranton council hires law firm employing former councilwoman, donated to mayor’s election campaign
Times-Tribune: Scranton residents sue city, collection firm over delinquent trash fees
Citizens Voice: County vehicle fee will end at the end of 2021
The Times Leader: $5 Luzerne County vehicle fee will end Dec. 31, 2021, council decides
The Times Leader: Luzerne County government ‘evolving,’ manager says

South Central 
Patriot News: Democratic rivals Tom Brier, Eugene DePasquale square off in race to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry this fall
York Dispatch: Chronister shrugs off PHRC, potentially prompting second round of public hearings
York Dispatch: York City Council looks to new budget software after $1.3M system falls short
York Dispatch: Want to see what happened between a York County judge and city cop? You can’t

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: After meeting with interfaith group, Allentown mayor decides to nominate Gregory Edwards for NIZ board after all
Morning Call: Labor group won’t participate in Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade after quarrel that started with elderly man hit by candy
Reading Eagle: Physician is running to represent southeastern Berks County in Harrisburg

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Poll: Trump trails Democrats in Erie but ‘race is tight’
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Local officials argue impact of prevailing wage law
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Ad hoc committee creation next step on City Hall decision
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: County commissioners welcome grant for levee

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Baffling endorsements: County Democrats should simply trust voters
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Paying more at Airmall: Street pricing must be enforced at the airport
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Hearing our universe: Fast radio bursts coming from space
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Release the video of cop and judge
Mike Turzai: Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai: Banning fracking would destroy Pennsylvania’s economy
Dennis L. Martire: The blue-collar conundrum
John L. Micek: 3 things about the economy Dems need to sweat in Pa. And 3 things they don’t |Tuesday Morning Coffee
Amy Kurland: To make Philly politics more ethical, make the Office of Inspector General permanent 
Deanna Burney: Philly teachers need more support and respect to stay in their jobs 
Brianna Baker: Ideas We Should Steal: Redistributing Medication 
Fletcher McClellan: Will the voters who stayed home in 2016 turn out for Bernie Sanders in 2020?
Michael J. Cozzillio and Craig N. Moore: Warren and Landrieu? That could be just for the ticket for 2020 Dems
Will Bunch: Media, political elites who didn’t see Trump in 2016 are blowing it again with Bernie Sanders 
Jenice Armstrong: Muggers got just $7 from this Center City nonprofit founder. She could’ve helped them get jobs that pay way more. 
Josh Middleton: Live A Greener Life
Gene Therapy: Of Gutenberg, Ghostbusters, and the future sweep of print journalism
Tony Norman: Stuck on the island of misfit Democratic elites