GOP candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate debated on Wednesday night in Lawrence County. Here is the Playbook. 

News   

‘Republican candidates for Pennsylvania governor and US Senate meet for primary debate’: WTAE reports that the GOP candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate debated Wednesday night in Lawrence County. 

‘GOP candidates make their pitch at governor debate’: The New Castle News reports that “election integrity, mail-in voting and Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro were topics of lively discussion at Wednesday’s Republican gubernatorial debate at the Scottish Rite Cathedral.”

‘House votes for GOP-favored congressional redistricting plan’: The Associated Press reports that “a plan to redraw lines for Pennsylvania’s congressional districts to account for a decade of population shifts passed the state House on Wednesday with a partisan vote that signaled lawmakers face more redistricting work ahead.”

‘McCormick makes Senate campaign official after Democrats ask for investigation’: WESA reports that “Republican David McCormick officially filed paperwork identifying himself as a U.S. Senate candidate Wednesday — after spending millions on TV ads and after state Democrats filed a complaint against him for doing so without registering sooner.”

‘Daniels jumps from Congressional race to Lt. Governor contest’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “congressional candidate Teddy Daniels is now Lt. Governor candidate Teddy Daniels.”

‘‘Why lie to me?’ Senate race rivals attack carpetbaggery’: The Associated Press reports that “the title of “Pennsylvanian” may not carry quite the cachet of declarations of fighting socialists or getting tough on China, but it’s increasingly the go-to weapon for Republican primary candidates in one of the nation’s premier U.S. Senate contests.”

‘Pittsburgh-area senate candidates call for Congressional stock trading ban’: Pittsburgh City Paper reports that “two Pittsburgh politicians and Democratic U.S. Senate candidates — Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-Braddock) and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Mt. Lebanon) — have also joined the crowd calling for congressional members from being banned from trading and owning stocks.”

‘Pa.’s bitter, chaotic redistricting cycle likely to reach crescendo in court’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Pennsylvania’s 2021 redistricting cycle has been convoluted and hard to follow. And now that it has bled into 2022, it’s likely that only further court action will clean up the mess.”

‘Dr. Oz super PAC greets David McCormick’s Pennsylvania Senate bid with fresh attacks’: The Washington Examiner reports that “the super PAC supporting Mehmet Oz, the popular television personality known as “Dr. Oz,” is launching an offensive against David McCormick as the competition intensifies between Pennsylvania’s top Republican Senate contenders.”

‘Candidates vie for 4th Legislative District seat after Rep. Curt Sonney announces retirement’: WJET reports that “two candidates are already throwing their names in the hat after the longest-serving member of Erie County’s legislative delegation says he will be retiring.”

‘Martell Covington enters race to fill Gainey’s state House seat’: WESA reports that “the contest to fill Mayor Ed Gainey’s state House seat got an election date on Monday. It will get a new candidate today, as state Senate aide and community worker Martell Covington launches his bid for the seat.”

‘How Pennsylvania’s many Republican gubernatorial candidates are trying to set themselves apart’: WESA reports that “GOP candidates are attempting to set themselves apart in a crowded field for Pennsylvania’s governor”

‘Bucks County Is Key to PA’s GOP Gubernatorial Primary’: Real Clear Politics reports that “long considered a Pennsylvania bellwether, suburban Philadelphia’s Bucks County is well-trodden ground for presidential hopefuls and down-ballot statewide candidates.”

‘With a proposed ban in N.Y., Erie lawmaker invites National Fuel Gas to relocate to Pa.’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the centerpiece to a New York climate action plan has some Pennsylvania lawmakers eyeing an opportunity to bring a natural gas company’s headquarters to the commonwealth.”

‘Columbia University Quietly Changes Mehmet Oz’s Position Amid Senate Run’: The Huffington Post reports that “TV doctor-turned-politician Mehmet Oz has apparently retired from clinical practice and his faculty role at Columbia University since announcing his Senate run in Pennsylvania.”

‘Pennsylvania redistricting plan puts incumbents, potential challengers in limbo: ‘It kind of has everyone nervous’’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “redistricting uncertainty weighs heavily” on “campaign planning.”

‘Three ‘America First’ Challengers May Take on Fitzpatrick in GOP Primary’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) may face three challengers in the May 17 primary, all espousing the populist conservatism championed by former President Donald Trump.”

‘Candidate for Pennsylvania Governor visits Erie’: WJET reports that “Dr. Nche Zama, a heart surgeon and resident of the Pocono Mountains, visited Erie on Wednesday after announcing his candidacy last spring.” 

‘County parties seek letters of interest for 116th District state House election’: The Citizens Voice reports that “the Luzerne County Democratic and Republican parties are seeking letters of interest from those who seek their party’s nod to run in the April “

‘President Biden called Philadelphia’s fire union head Monday to discuss last week’s Fairmount blaze’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “President Joe Biden on Monday called the head of Philadelphia’s fire union to discuss last week’s fatal blaze in Fairmount where nine children and three adults from the same family died.”

‘Germantown residents say their City Council person is abusing her power to help a political backer win a development contract’: WHYY reports that “a Germantown community group has filed a formal complaint against City Councilmember Cindy Bass, alleging the three-term lawmaker abused her power during a December community meeting called to discuss the future of the Germantown YWCA building, a long-vacant neighborhood landmark bemoaned as a neighborhood eyesore for close to two decades.”

‘Last chance to comment on new Pa. legislative districts looms’: The Daily Local News reports that “the public’s last opportunity to offer input into the proposed new House and Senate district maps in the Pennsylvania General Assembly will occur Friday and Saturday.”

‘Port Authority, operators union at odds over vaccination mandate’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the Amalgamated Transit Union will challenge whether Port Authority can mandate that its 2,600 employees — including 2,200 union members — receive vaccinations for the COVID-19 virus.”

‘Church groups in Pittsburgh area calling on Pa. attorney general to step in on Jim Rogers’ death investigation’: WTAE reports that “nine church groups in the Pittsburgh area are calling on the state attorney general to step in on the Jim Rogers death investigation.”

‘Residents request sanctuary committee’: The Altoona Mirror reports that “Blair County residents in favor of making the county a Second Amendment sanctuary told commissioners Tuesday that they should form an advisory committee to assist with the effort.”

‘Here’s who has applied so far to be Lancaster County’s next county commissioner, with applications closing next week’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “a church pastor, an attorney and a corporate leadership coach are among the five local Democrats so far who have submitted applications to fill the vacancy on the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners created by Craig Lehman’s resignation last week.”

‘Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew tests positive for coronavirus for second time’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew said Wednesday he has again tested positive for the coronavirus.” 

‘County charter amendment referendum might appear on primary ballot’: The Citizens Voice reports that “a referendum on a proposed amendment to the Luzerne County charter might appear on the May 17 primary ballot.”

‘Forty Fort advertising for mayor, council openings’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Borough council will convene for a special meeting next Tuesday to fill the vacant mayor’s seat left by former mayor Andy Tuzinski, as well as a vacant seat on council.”

‘Allentown NAACP Branch expresses dismay with new district lines, calls for state action’: WFMZ reports that “the Allentown Branch of the Pennsylvania NAACP has expressed “concern and dismay” at the currently proposed Pennsylvania State Senate map, according to organization leaders.”

‘County leaders respond to comments from Erie City Council President’: WJET reports that “Comments were made by newly elected City Council President Liz Allen during the first Erie City Council meeting of the year questioning the new Erie County leadership.”

‘Officials: Immigrant laborers here legally’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “with rumors of illegal immigrants flooding the county, the Lycoming County Commissioners went on record at their meeting — the rumors are untrue.”

‘Council expands budget work time’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “Williamsport City Council expanded the time it has to work on the 2023 proposed budget.”

‘Mail-in voting has grown dramatically in Centre County. A new position will oversee the process’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “with the number of people who vote by mail expected to increase in the coming elections, the Centre County Commissioners and salary board voted Thursday to add a new position that will focus solely on voting by mail.”

‘Bellefonte back to ‘Red Raiders’ after months of debate over name, Native American imagery’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “about nine months after making a major change, Bellefonte Area School District will return to being the “Red Raiders.””

‘Commissioners confront racial intolerance at meeting’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “in a show of unity, the Lycoming County commissioners recently condemned an incident last week in which an Asian-American resident who was making deliveries for an area restaurant was verbally attacked with racial epithets.”

‘Pa. official says data ‘suggest’ fewer people are being hospitalized with COVID-19 as main cause’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary says “initial data suggest that fewer patients are being admitted [to hospitals] specifically for COVID-19.””

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