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Mastriano a ‘Point Person.’ Oz a “Yes” to Same-Sex Marriage. Can Daniels Challenge Perry in PA-10? Here is the Playbook.

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News

1. Mastriano Described as ‘Point Person’ in Fake Electors Plan

The New York Times is reporting that it has reviewed emails from people connected to the campaign of former President Donald Trump, providing more insight into efforts to overturn the election.

The emails show a particular focus on assembling lists of people who would claim — with no basis — to be Electoral College electors on his behalf in battleground states that he had lost.

The campaign lawyers appointed a “point person” in seven states to help organize those electors willing to sign their names to false documents. In Pennsylvania, that point person was Doug Mastriano, Republican candidate for governor.

The story does say that Mastriano needed further assurances to go along with the plan. “Mastriano needs a call from the mayor. This needs to be done. Talk to him about legalities of what they are doing,” she wrote, adding: “Electors want to be reassured that the process is * legal * essential for greater strategy.” (New York Times)

Related

• A Q and A With Doug Mastriano’s Running Mate Carrie DelRosso. “As she looks to ascend to the position of lieutenant governor and win her first statewide race, DelRosso spoke with City & State about her rise, her top priorities as lieutenant governor and what her relationship with state Sen. Doug Mastriano – the Republican nominee for governor – looks like heading into this year’s general election.” (City & State)
• DelRosso Raised More Than Any Other Republican House Rep. in Pennsylvania. “DelRosso is the representative for House District 33 and is running for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in 2022. DelRosso raised $2.1 million and spent $1.8 million between Jan. 1, 2021, and Jun. 16, 2022.” (The Center Square)

U.S. SENATE

2. Oz a “Yes” on Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Mehmet Oz says he supports the right to same-sex marriage, joining several GOP lawmakers in that stance.

“Dr. Mehmet Oz believes that same-sex couples should have the same freedom to get married as straight couples,” campaign spokesperson Brittany Yanick said in response to a question about whether he supports the measure.

The Senate is considering “The Respect for Marriage Act” that would codify same-sex and interracial marriage at the federal level. The official Republican Party platform still defines marriage as between one man and one woman. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

• Toomey Will Support Dr. Oz, But Stays Mum on Mastriano. Retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania is throwing his support behind Trump-endorsed Senate nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz, The Dispatch has learned. “I intend to be as helpful as I can be to Dr. Oz,” Toomey said in an interview in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. It’s unclear whether his support will translate into an appearance on the campaign trail. “I don’t know what form it takes, but I’m going to be helpful.” (The Dispatch)
• Kathy Barnette Declines to Commit to Dr. Oz Endorsement in Pennsylvania Senate Race. “Conservative commentator Kathy Barnette, who came in third in Pennsylvania’s Senate Republican primary, is “having discussions” with Dr. Mehmet Oz’s team about endorsing her former rival, she told the Washington Examiner in an interview Tuesday.” (Washington Examiner)

U.S. HOUSE

3. PA-10: Can Daniels Make a Run at Perry?

“At face value, it would not appear that the race in PA-10 between Republican incumbent Scott Perry and Democratic challenger Shamaine Daniels would be close.

Predictive models have all favored Perry in a big way. Perry has $920,213.30 in the bank entering the second half of the year, while Daniels has $55,983.17 cash on hand. So why focus on this race?

“Someone like Scott Perry shouldn’t be allowed to be our representative, because he’s betrayed his oath of office,” says Daniels.” (Politics PA)

Related

• U.S. Rep. Scott Perry Votes In Favor of Bill That Would Protect Gay Marriage. “(Last) Tuesday, 47 Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican whose district includes parts of York County, joined all Democratic members of the House to pass the Respect for Marriage Act.” (York Daily Record)
• Shamaine Daniels Has a Real Shot at Usurping Scott Perry in November. “It’s an uphill battle for Shamaine Daniels in PA’s 10th Congressional district, but she’s likely to turn heads no matter the outcome.” (Al Di’a)

Around The Commonwealth

Judge to Decide if Pennsylvania Sufficiently Funds Education. “A decision about whether Pennsylvania’s method of funding public education meets the state constitutional requirement that lawmakers provide “a thorough and efficient system” was left in the hands of a state judge Tuesday when argument wrapped up in the long-running case.” (Associated Press)

Fired Up Young Progressives Are Jumping Into Philly Politics. Will The City’s Democratic Machine Douse Their Flame? “A wave of millennials and Gen Zers have been moving into Philadelphia politics over the past decade, shaking up the organizations that form the bedrock of hyperlocal government — the city’s 66 wards. These wards, and the committees that determine their leadership, are traditionally considered a starting point for getting involved in the political scene. But in some areas of the city, the young progressives trying to join the ranks of the Democratic Party have not felt welcomed.” (Billy Penn)

Challenge Over Control of Local GOP Continues. “The struggle over control of the Republican leadership has played out publicly since early May, when the established county GOP committee sued three members of the Butler PA Patriots group who formed a nonprofit of the same name. Now, two of the men who founded that rival group are among those claiming leadership positions in the established party.” (Butler Eagle)

Ousted Shamokin Councilman Gets County Prison In Terroristic Threats Case. “The Shamokin city councilman removed from office earlier this year because of his criminal record is headed to prison. Visiting senior Judge Harold F. Woelfel Jr. Tuesday sentenced Joseph J. Leschinskie, 36, to 6 to 36 months in county prison. He had been found guilty in May of a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threats.” (PennLive)

Opinion

• Mastriano’s Plan to Arm Teachers Is The Ultimate Madness (Lloyd E. Sheaffer, Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Pennsylvania’s Budget for County Election Offices Will Have Unintended Consequences (Seth Bluestein, Rachel Orey, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Speed of Fern Hollow Replacement a Win for City and PennDOT (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The Upside Down World of the Pennsylvania Senate Race (Selena Zito)
• Why So Quiet on State-Related Money, Gov. Wolf? (Tribune-Review)
• ‘Massive Resistance’ Goes Both Ways (Leonard Pitts, Jr.)