The special election to fill former state Sen. Mike Folmer’s seat takes place today. The SDCC names a new Executive Director. Here is the Playbook. 

Jeffries Ends Congressional Bid, Floats State House Run: On Saturday, the Republican candidate attempting to unseat Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) ended his congressional campaign and pledged to support Perry’s reelection effort, while also adding that he’s considering a run for another office in 2020.

SD43: Local Businessman Launches Democratic Primary Bid Against Costa: In a release about his intentions for the seat, Brittain says that career politicians and their donors dominate the political system and refuse to make systematic changes that are needed in society today.

SDCC Names Melanie Rose Executive Director: Rose, a Bucks County native, worked on Sec. Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign in Pennsylvania and has worked for a number of other Democrats in the state in recent years.

PA15: Thompson Announces Reelection Bid: Rep. GT Thompson (R-Centre) announced that he is seeking reelection for the 15th Congressional District. He will be kicking off his reelection bus tour, “Vision 2020: Building on Success” Friday, January 17 in Indiana County and plans to participate in more than 30 events through the following week in the counties in his district. 

Liberal Super PAC Targets Killion, Laughlin Races: American Bridge’s opposition research and tracking program is targeting races in four states in hopes to flip state legislatures blue. The two seats they are hoping to flip in Pennsylvania are held by state Sens. Tom Killion (R-Delaware) and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie).

Legislative Election Update: 

SD-23: State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) announced that he is seeking a fourth term in the state Senate. Yaw ran unopposed in his most recent reelection bid.  

HD-199: State Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland) announced her intentions to seek a second term in the state House. Gleim defeated Democrat Joseph McGinnis Jr. by 19 points in 2018. 

HD-120: Joanna Bryn Smith, an attorney, announced her intentions to seek the Democratic Party nomination for the seat held by state Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne). Kaufer ran unopposed in his most recent reelection bid. 

HD-105: Brittney Rodas, a policy and research analyst for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, announced her intentions to seek the Democratic Party nomination for the seat held by state Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin). Lewis bested Democrat Eric Epstein by less than 2 points to win the seat in 2018. 

HD-83: State Rep. Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming) announced that he is seeking reelection in the state House. Wheeland defeated Democrat Airneezer Page-Delahaye by 31 points in his most recent reelection bid. 

HD-21: John Waugh, a state revenue auditor, specializing in sales and use tax, announced his intentions to seek the Republican Party nomination for the seat held by state Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny). Innamorato bested incumbent state Rep. Dom Costa (D-Allegheny) by 28 points in the 2018 Democratic Primary. She was unopposed in the November 2018 election. 

Harrisburg & DC   
WFMZ: Special election on Tuesday to fill Pa. senate seat previously held by Mike Folmer
AP: Pennsylvania cranks up PR campaign to boost census response
AP: Pennsylvania orders gas well plugged in fight over methane
AP: Pot politics: Some Northeast states regroup on legalization
Inquirer: Daylin Leach was a #MeToo moment for Pennsylvania Democrats. But beating him won’t be easy. 
Inquirer: Early voting is coming to Pennsylvania in time for 2020. But it won’t be the same for everyone.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Your cheat-sheet to Tuesday’s special election in the 48th Senate District
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. lawmakers roll out bipartisan proposal aimed at curbing Medicaid fraud
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘Everyone counts:’ Rally kicks off Pa’s 2020 census push
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Bill to rollback natural gas drilling regulations clears House committee
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: House GOP retaliates against Wolf’s overtime proposal
KDKA: With No Clear Front-Runner, There May Be More Candidates To Choose From Come Pa.’s Presidential Primary
WITF: Wolf Says Despite GOP Compromise, Drilling Bill Still Poses Too Much Environmental Risk
PLSReporter: Special election preview: Voters to fill vacant state Senate seat on Tuesday
PLSReporter: Despite funding shortfall, Wolf Admin soldiers ahead with Census outreach effort
PLSReporter: ‘Our current laws are not set up to deal with this’: Shapiro, lawmakers roll out plan to combat provider-based Medicaid fraud
PLSReporter: Emily Kinkead kicks off campaign against incumbent Rep. Adam Ravenstahl
PLSReporter: Key House Republican: Wolf ‘put a gun to our head’ on minimum wage deal
PLSReporter: House Democratic Policy Committee discusses “social determinants of health”
StateImpactPA: DEP orders Range Resources to clean up its act on well that had garnered a then-record $8.9 million fine
StateImpactPA: Wolf says despite GOP compromise, drilling bill still poses too much environmental risk
StateImpactPA: Clairton plaintiffs to decide on U.S. Steel settlement
WESA: Advocacy groups say Pa. underfunds special education
KYW Newsradio: Legislation cracking down on sex trafficking to go before Pennsylvania House committee
Patriot News: It’s time to get tough with driller to resolve issues with natural gas well: DEP
Patriot News: Pa. lawmakers propose drug affordability board to regulate prescription prices
Patriot News: Pa. House passes bill to study exempting newer vehicles from emissions testing
Patriot News: Pa. House passes bill to study exempting newer vehicles from emissions testing
Patriot News: Will the escalator at the Pa. Capitol ever be fully operational again?
Times-Tribune: Casey talks issues ahead of 2020 election 
National Journal: American Bridge Targets 2 GOP State Senate Seats
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf vows to veto bill loosening rules for conventional oil and gas wells  
The Hill: Latino group launches committee to defeat Trump in 2020

Philadelphia 
Inquirer: Daylin Leach was a #MeToo moment for Pennsylvania Democrats. But beating him won’t be easy.
Inquirer: ‘They shot my baby.’ Teen among dead as 7 killed, 12 shot in violent weekend in Philadelphia
Inquirer: Roosevelt Boulevard speed cameras are coming to these eight locations
Inquirer: Early voting is coming to Pennsylvania in time for 2020. But it won’t be the same for everyone.
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia gets new Register of Wills for first time in 40 years
KYW Newsradio: After years of waiting, Roosevelt Boulevard finally gets speed cameras 
Billy Penn: This North Philly rec center shut down under Mayor Nutter. Neighbors finally got it reopened.
Philadelphia Business Journal: Greater Philadelphia is one of the country’s hottest job markets, report says
Philadelphia Business Journal: ‘All of the easy sites are gone’: Philadelphia-area industrial market thrives amid new challenges
WHYY Newsworks: Supervised injection sites
WHYY Newsworks: Can Philly voters sway Iowa caucus-goers with postcards?
Philadelphia Magazine: Citywide Survey Says We Love the Fire Department, Agree to Disagree on the Water 

SEPA
Bucks Local News: Yardley Borough Council elects David Bria president; welcomes two new members
Bucks Local News: Lower Makefield Supervisors welcome new member, elect Weiss as chairman
Bucks Local News: ‘Memorial to the Lost’ calling attention to the impact of gun violence in Bucks County and beyond
Inquirer: Daylin Leach was a #MeToo moment for Pennsylvania Democrats. But beating him won’t be easy.
Souderton Independent: Telford Council reorganizes with change in leadership
Daily Local News: Chester County earns national honor for performance management leadership

Pittsburgh 
WESA: New Allegheny County Council Members Want To Improve Air Quality, But What Power Do They Have?
Post-Gazette: City-County Building approaches historic finish line
Post-Gazette: Proposed Social Security disability changes could cut off disabled recipients
Post-Gazette: As VA combats veteran suicide, a push to expand mental health services and fears of outsourcing
KDKA: With No Clear Front-Runner, There May Be More Candidates To Choose From Come Pa.’s Presidential Primary
KDKA: Pittsburgh Public Schools Uses Twitter To Field Questions And Suggestions On How To Improve District
KDKA: Port Authority To Hold Meetings Discussing Pittsburgh’s Public Transit
City Paper: Candidate Jerry Dickinson backs Green New Deal, criticizes Rep. Mike Doyle’s lack of support
City Paper: President of Delta Foundation Gary Van Horn resigns
Tribune Review: United Methodists talk more about potential split over same-sex marriage, gay clergy
Tribune Review: Gary Van Horn officially out at Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro, lawmakers back plan to fight Medicaid fraud
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Enrollment evolution: Four-year schools face ‘challenging time’ as students explore trades, community colleges
KDKA: ‘We Are A Safe Space’: Center In Beaver County Aiming To Help LGBTQ Community And Break Stigmas
Tribune Review: County commissioners leaning toward reopening Westmoreland’s 2020 budget
Beaver County Times: Midland steel plant to close in months without tariff exemption, company says
Beaver County Times: Women’s March rally planned for Saturday in Beaver
Beaver County Times: Hunting restrictions enforced by the Beaver County Conservation District

NEPA
Times-Tribune: New commissioners may reopen 2020 budget, hike county taxes by 11%
Times-Tribune: Casey talks issues ahead of 2020 election 
Times-Tribune: Cummings quits as Dunmore solicitor 
Citizens Voice: U.S. Secretary of Labor tours Pulverman Manufacturing
Citizens Voice: White Haven Center lawsuit expected
Citizens Voice: Forty Fort works to save on projects to enhance borough
The Times Leader: Labor Secretary Scalia meets with Luzerne County business leaders

South Central 
York Dispatch: Special election Tuesday to fill former Sen. Folmer’s seat
York Dispatch: Hershey Republican drops out of race against Rep. Perry
York Dispatch: Special election: Here are the 19 York County precincts that will be voting Tuesday
York Dispatch: Rep. Grove leads bipartisan bill package combating $3B in Medicaid fraud
Carlisle Sentinel: Gleim seeks re-election to 199th District seat
Carlisle Sentinel: County sends letter to feds approving refugee resettlement under Trump order
Patriot News: Pa. House staffer to run for Pa. House seat representing part of Dauphin County
Patriot News: Pa.’s second lady, others urging residents to be like ‘the cool kids’ and be counted in the 2020 U.S. Census
Patriot News: Lifetime of service outlined in late Hummelstown mayor’s obituary, memorial details announced  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lawmakers at Farm Show 2020 tout future of local ag industry following farm bill legislative packages
York Daily Record: Pa. state Senate special election: What to know

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: U.S. Senator Bob Casey ready for Senate impeachment trial
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council considers purchasing former city pool
Morning Call: Voting security advocates seek to block use of Northampton County’s machines
Morning Call: How the Lehigh Valley’s comeback preceded Donald Trump, and how he benefits from it
Morning Call: Former Easton Mayor Tom Goldsmith, who oversaw Two Rivers Landing development, dies at 80

North by Northwest
Erie News-Now: Two State Senate Races in Pennsylvania Targeted by PAC – Laughlin Campaign Responds
Centre Daily Times: U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson announces reelection bid in Pa.’s 15th Congressional District
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Yaw announces his run for re-election
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Wheeland will run to keep House seat
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: DEP: Gas company failed to address methane leak for years
Post-Gazette: Bill that would halt Polk Center closure could advance this week
Erie Times-News: Super PAC to target Laughlin’s Pa. Senate seat
Erie Times-News: Political upgrade: Erie County’s new voting machines
Erie Times-News: 31 seek vacant Erie City Council seat

Opinion   
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Get ahead of the curve: U.S. should join Global Partnership on AI
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Benefits to readers: Library adds space and services
Salena Zito: Pennsylvania congressional races ready for 2020 bellwether role
Thomas J. Botzman: Expanding employer-provided educational assistance benefits students and workforce
John L. Micek: National polls say one thing, but Pa. focus group backs Trump on Iran, report | Monday Morning Coffee
Frank Pizzoli: Forget about selfies and social media. We need organic growth in Pa.’s LGBTQ community 
David Aizenberg: Lingering feelings of abandonment at Hahnemann | Perspective
David Masur and Alex Danovitch: How Philly can recycle better and save money doing it 
Chris Kelly: Reality Melts White House Snowflakes
Brian Katulis and Michael Rubin: U.S. policy in Middle East pushes action without strategy 
Dick Polman: Michael Corleone could teach Trump a thing or two about Iran

The Playbook was updated to correct the dates of the reelection bus tour from Rep. GT Thompson. His campaign followed up and corrected a mistake in their initial release and noted that the bus tour begins on January 17.