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March 18th Playbook

Happy Friday. Are there too many GOP candidates for Governor? Do Dems prefer a Hoodie or Blue Blazer? Steve Irwin, Summer Lee pick up prominent endorsements. Ad Watch. Philly Dems endorse Conor Lamb. Candidates will be door-knocking this weekend. Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Erie | Increasing Clouds, 53
State College | Mostly Sunny, 70
Haverford | Areas Dense Fog, then Sunny, 72

PA Sports
76ers | today vs. Dallas; SUN vs. Toronto
Flyers | d. Nashville, 5-4; today vs. Ottawa; SUN vs. NY Islanders
Penguins | d. St. Louis, 3-2 SO; SAT vs. Arizona
Villanova | Men today vs. Delaware; Women SAT vs BYU
Penn State wrestling | NCAA championships

News

Ad Watch: Governor’s Edition: The money has been secured … and now it’s time to spend it. Digital and linear viewers – you have been warned. Here are the latest TV advertisements that have been released by the campaigns for governor in our Commonwealth.

Irwin, Lee Pick Up 12th District Endorsements: Anything you can do, I can do better. Both Steve Irwin and Summer Lee, Democratic candidates for the 12th District nomination for Congress, announced endorsements from prominent names today.

Tell Us What You Think Of PoliticsPA: Thanks for being a loyal reader of PoliticsPA, Pennsylvania’s first political news website. In an effort to serve you even better, we want to hear the kinds of stories and information you’re most interested in reading.

Philly Dems Endorse Lamb: It isn’t every day that you find Philadelphians saying good things about Pittsburgh. Sure, it’s typically a sports thing – Phillies vs. Pirates; Flyers vs. Penguins; Eagles vs. Steelers. So, it is newsworthy that the Philadelphia Democratic Party reached across the state to offer its endorsement to Conor Lamb for the U.S. Senate nomination in the Commonwealth.

PA Governor Race: ‘Big GOP primary field for governor has party leaders worried’: The Associated Press reports that “a massive Republican primary field for governor in Pennsylvania is spurring growing discomfort among party leaders that a widely splintered primary vote could produce a winner who cannot beat Democrat Josh Shapiro in November’s general election.”

  • City & State PA: Shapiro unveils plan to cut cell phone tax, issue gas tax refunds
  • Post-Gazette: GOP governor candidate Lou Barletta says Pennsylvania could lead the way for U.S. energy independence
  • Tribune-Review: Republican gubernatorial candidate Jake Corman talks energy and gas taxes in Carnegie
  • City Paper: After Hours: Natalie Bencivenga interviews Josh Shapiro

PA Senate Race: ‘Pennsylvania Primary Pushes Democrats to Choose Between Competing Styles—Hoodie or Blue Blazer?’: The Wall Street Journal reports that a “Senate race in swing state will test whether Democrats prefer a centrist or populist—and which approach has the better chance against the GOP.” 

  • Observer-Reporter: GOP Senate, gubernatorial candidates outline their views at Southpointe forum
  • TalkRadio 1210 WPHT: Jeff Bartos Tells Why Republicans Will Lose If They Elect A ‘Political Tourist’
  • WTAJ: Jeff Bartos talks U.S. Senate campaign

‘Bernie Sanders endorses Summer Lee in 12th Congressional District race’: WESA reports that “state Representative Summer Lee is rolling out the support of a national political powerhouse today: Vermont Senator and former Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is renewing his support for Lee in her bid to replace retiring Congressman Mike Doyle.” 

‘Irwin scores backing of region’s top two Dems in 12th Congressional District race’: WESA reports that Congressman Mike Doyle and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald have endorsed Steve Irwin in the race for the 12th Congressional District.

‘Bognet, Marsicano enter Republican primary for 8th Congressional District’: The Citizens Voice reports that “two Republicans from Hazle Twp. — Jim Bognet and Mike Marsicano — filed to run in the primary election for Matt Cartwright’s 8th Congressional District.”

‘Libertarian who was barred from Dallastown council seat eyeing a bid for Congress instead’: The York Daily Record reports that “Dave Womack’s political career is off to an unconventional start, as the Dallastown Libertarian who was denied his elected seat because of 22-year-old “infamous crimes” has conceded the case, but is now working in advocacy and considering a congressional run.”

‘Pennsylvania House, Senate candidates frustrated by time crunch; ‘It gives incumbents the advantage’’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “candidates for the Pennsylvania Legislature on Thursday prepared for the frenzied effort of collecting hundreds of required signatures in 11 days — half the time allotted in previous election cycles — and many were not happy about it.”

‘Former State Attorney General Kathleen Kane charged with DUI after crash’: WNEP reports that “former State Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been charged for driving under the influence.”

‘Progressives have scored big in Philly politics. Here comes the establishment pushback.’: Philly Clout reports that “super PACs could spend big to influence the 2023 mayoral and City Council elections. Some may try to swing the city’s politics back toward the center after years of gains on the left.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics last week.

‘Pennsylvania’s sudden move to recall marijuana vapes raised questions. Were these products harmful all along?’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania’s health department mandated a recall of marijuana vaping products that the agency had previously approved for sale.”

‘Poll: Pennsylvania voters support domestic energy production’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “a new poll being released by the American Petroleum Institute finds broad support for domestic energy production and decreasing reliance on foreign sources amid the three-week-old Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

‘State lawmakers introduce bill that would prohibit smoking in Pennsylvania casinos’: WPXI reports that “two state leaders are taking action to ban smoking in casinos and other workplaces, like private clubs and bars, in Pennsylvania.”

‘Settling in: Wanda Williams has been mayor for 76 days; but Harrisburg’s always been her town’: PennLive reports that “in her third month in office, Williams has brought a new style to the mayor’s office, and renewed energy to fight some of the city’s longstanding problems.”
Legislative Election Updates

‘Yudichak will not seek reelection to the Senate’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “state Sen. John Yudichak Thursday announced that he will not seek reelection to the state senate.”

‘Murrysville Rep. Brooks won’t seek re-election, after being redrawn into a district with another GOP lawmaker’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, announced on Thursday he would step down, since his district was changed as part of the decennial redistricting process. The two-term lawmaker was drawn into a district with freshman lawmaker Rep. Jason Silvis, R-Apollo.”

‘Republican Announces Bid For 142nd Legislative District’: Levittown Now reports that “Joseph “Joe” Hogan, who is a resident of Middletown Township’s Langhorne section, announced his candidacy Thursday, two days after Farry, a Republican, announced he was planning to run for the state senate.”

‘Haddock running for state House seat in 118th’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Luzerne County Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts Manager Jim Haddock announced he is a Democratic candidate for 118th Legislative District.”

‘‘Lifelong resident’ seeks Republican House nomination’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “Ann Kaufman, a well-known local Republican and community leader, recently announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination for state representative in the 83rd House District, according to a news release.”

‘Rep. Matt Dowling says he’ll run again in 51st House District’: PennLive reports that “state Representative Matt Dowling (R-51) announced Thursday that he will be running for re-election in the 51st House District.”

Regional Spotlight: North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: PA Supreme Court upheld the state’s new legislative maps. What it means in Centre County
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Education secretary: ‘We have to figure out how to invest in those young folks’
Centre Daily Times: Former mayor accused of shooting at Pokemon Go players in parking lot, PA cops say
Centre Daily Times: Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Redding visits Bald Eagle schools for Ag Literacy Week
WJET: City of Erie receives grant for Afghan immigrants
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: ARPA funds on the table for future county meeting
Erie Times-News: Despite dress code questions, Erie City Council OKs westside bar’s $5K COVID relief grant

Opinion  
Bryan Cutler and Scott Martin: We must restore balance between Pennsylvania’s streams and the Chesapeake Bay
Nancy Guenst and Joseph G. Webster: The path to defeating Putin lies in ending our dependence on fossil fuels
Al Schmidt: The need for greater election security
John Baer: Now is the spring of our discontent. Thank gas prices, the pandemic and Russia’s war 
John L. Micek: Pa.’s pandemic experiment in virtual courts yielded mixed results | Thursday Morning Coffee
Dennis Markatos-Soriano: One key to beating record gas prices: more biking
Joyce M. Davis: Some Pennsylvania faith leaders have shown courage in saving lives and souls during COVID-19 | Social View
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Balancing values and vigilance
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Lancaster County girls wrestlers continue to make history in this Women’s History Month
Tony Norman: Just a few more questions about the Peter Spencer case…
Laura Smith: Early childhood education is life-changing. We need to support those who teach it 
Russell E. Morgan: Why we need an improved Peace Corps for the next generation
Joanna Otero-Cruz: Corporations, including the Phillies, need to do more to address domestic violence 
George Basile: By re-signing Odúbel Herrera, the Phillies are complicit in a culture of domestic violence 
Jenice Armstrong: Can I get an amen for Philly’s decision to commission a permanent Harriet Tubman statue? 
Peshe C Kuriloff: Reject The Curse of Low Expectations
Paul Muschick: How an Allentown soldier achieved immortality – as a model for statues across the country
Will Bunch: Marina Ovsyannikova’s courage should make U.S. stop our own war against protests 
Trudy Rubin: As Putin commits war crimes, how does his war on Ukraine end?

2 Responses

  1. Judging by the ads you published that they are using the Gov R’s are grievance candidates in the Trump mode. No Tom Ridge style candidates.

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