Hello Wednesday Morning. Did you see that Schwar-bomb last night?

PA Weather
New Kensington | Snow, Rain Showers, 45
Lock Haven | Chance Rain/Snow, 47
Tobyhanna | Increasing Clouds, 43

PA Sports
Phillies (1-0) | San Diego, W, 2-0 | WED vs. San Diego, 4:35 p.m.
Flyers (3-0) | Tampa Bay, W, 3-2 | WED vs. Arizona
Penguins (2-0-1) | THU vs. Los Angeles
76ers (0-1) | Boston, L, 126-117 | THU vs. Milwaukee
Union | Conference semifinal, THU vs. Cincinnati

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter and former Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Visit us online at PoliticsPA.com
Are you getting this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up for free and get your own subscription emailed to you every weekday morning.

Top Story

1. Oz Hopes To Preserve GOP Seat In Battle Against Fetterman

“Pennsylvania’s Senate race has been perhaps the most bizarre one in a crowd of absurd campaigns. What should have been a relatively sleepy race where Republicans attempt to hold a Senate seat has instead turned into an intensely personal race with two outsized personalities.” (The Independent)

Related

Oz Closing In On Fetterman. “Republican Mehmet Oz has narrowed Democrat John Fetterman’s lead in Pennsylvania’s bare-knuckle Senate election, and the two candidates are now polling inside the margin of error, according to a new survey shared exclusively with POLITICO.” (POLITICO)

John Fetterman Says He’s ‘Always Supported’ Fracking  – He Previously Said ‘I Don’t’ and ‘Never Have.’ “Pennsylvania Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman said in a national television interview last week that he has always supported fracking in his state, but in 2018 Fetterman said he never supported the industry and “never” will.” (CNN)

Giselle Fetterman, Forging On Through Her Husband’s Heated Senate Race. “As Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman recovers from a stroke while running for senator, his wife has emerged as a passionate voice — not only for him but for others” (Washington Post)

Inflation Is Still Voters’ Top Concern. We Take A Look at What Fetterman, Oz Say They Would Do. “For months, Pennsylvania’s Senate race has been dominated by abortion rights, crime, Mehmet Oz’s New Jersey ties, John Fetterman’s health, and Twitter trolling. But inflation is the issue that started atop voters’ minds — and it remains there.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

As a TV Doctor, Oz Embraced Climate Science. Now As a Senate Candidate, He Denies It. “While climate change has not emerged as a top issue in the contest between Oz and his Democratic rival, John Fetterman, it is nonetheless highlighting the shifting environmental stances of Oz, who is a medical doctor, not a climate scientist.” (Washington Post)

PA Candidates Talk Fentanyl As Midterms Approach. “With the midterm elections just three weeks away, crime remains a top concern for voters. In the key swing state of Pennsylvania, candidates are talking a lot about the nationwide fentanyl epidemic in the context of being tough on crime.” (Fox News)

Governor

2. Shapiro Talks Cities, Education and Elections During Lancaster Stop

“On the campaign trail, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro has faced many difficult questions from voters and media alike.

On Sunday, he may have faced his toughest debater in Lancaster.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Shapiro vs. Mastriano. Will The Jewish Democrat Become PA’s Next Governor? “According to the polls, Josh Shapiro should win the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race going away. But “according to the polls” has become a loaded phrase in American politics in recent years.” (Jewish Exponent)

Mastriano Says ‘Future Of The Nation’ Hinges On PA Governor’s Race. ““We’re going to take back this state. And it’s very important: It’s just not another gubernatorial race — I believe the future of the nation is hinged upon the outcome in Pennsylvania at the governor level.”” (Fox News)

Dems Could Flip Enough Governorships To Tie GOP For First Split In 55 Years. “For the first time in 55 years, this election season could end with Democrats and Republicans heading an equal number of state governments. ” (Newsweek)

Elections

3. Ad Spending Tops $300M in PA

“Haven’t been able to escape this cycle’s political ads, have you?

Turn on your TV … they’re there. Turn on your computer … they’re there. Ads, ads, everywhere.

And now we know why.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Candidates Can Lie In Political Ads. “With just three weeks to go before the midterm elections, the negative attack ads are ramping up, but they’re not necessarily truthful.” (CBS Pittsburgh)

PA Senate Committee Advances Bill Proposing Guidelines For Storing Marked Election Ballots. “The bill would implement universal storage requirements for completed ballots, including sealing them in plastic transportation containers with a list of contents to ensure security and documenting if — and why — seals are broken.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Some Republicans Want To Count Votes By Hand. Bad Idea, Experts Say. “Republican county officials, as well as candidates for statewide offices, suggest that counting by hand would be more reliable than machine tabulation. Research shows the opposite.” (NY Times)

Pennsylvania’s Role in Midterm Elections. “Pennsylvania’s role as a battleground state in the 2022 midterm elections is the focus of WPSU’s “Conversations Live” on Thursday, Oct. 20.” (WPSU)

Around The Commonwealth

PA-06: U.S. House Preview. “It will be incumbent Democrat Chrissy Houlahan against Republican challenger Guy Ciarrocchi in PA-06 that includes Berks and Chester counties.” (PoliticsPA)

Hearing On Mastriano Parental Rights Bill Invigorates Supporters, Riles Foes. “Parents from various corners of the state came to the Pennsylvania Capitol on Tuesday to express concerns about what they consider governmental overreach that is stomping on their parental rights when it comes to their child’s upbringing.” (PennLive)

• PA Weights Parental Bill of Rights As Gender, Race Issues Flare At Schools. (The Center Square)

As Pension Goes Broke, Bankruptcy Haunts Chester. “Now, with its police pension set to run out of cash in months, a state-appointed receiver is considering a last resort that cities rarely take: filing for bankruptcy.” (Bloomberg)

PennLive Editorial Board Meets With Third-Party, Independent Candidates. “The Editorial Board for PennLive and The Patriot-News (met) remotely with independent and third-party candidates for governor, the U.S. Senate, and House of Representatives” (PennLive)

HD 144: Questions Arise Regarding State Rep. Polinchock’s Aviation Record. “Bucks County State Rep. Todd Polinchock’s biography seems to spin his exit from the world of aviation two decades ago.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Wayne County Voters Split Between Two Senate Districts. “For the first time in at least a decade, Wayne County is split between two districts in the State Senate.” (Pocono Record)

• Voters Guide (Morning Call)
• SD 34: Greg Rothman vs. James Massey (PennLive)
• SD 48: Chris Gebhard vs. Calvin Clements. (LNP | Lancaster Online)
• SD 50: Michele Brooks vs. Rianna Czech. (New Castle News)

• HD 02: Bob Merski vs. Michael Pace (Erie Times-News)
• HD 112: Kyle Mullins vs. William Torbeck (Times-Tribune)
• HD 118: Jim Haddock vs. James May (Times-Tribune)
• HD 163: Mike Zabel vs. Ken Rucci (Delco Times)

Opinion

• ReAwaken America Proves That Christian Nationalism Isn’t Christian. (Jennifer Butler)
• This Election Season, Vote Like Our Democracy Depends On It. (Jill Sunday Bartoli)
• Who Will Decide This Election? (Mark Mellman)
• Meet The New Politics, Same As The Old Politics. (Stuart Rothenburg)
• My Experience Reveals The Abiding Good of a Diverse America. (Butler Eagle)
• Mastriano, Shapiro Practically Polar Opposites. (Bill Gindlesperger)
• Four Candidates, Four Religious Traditions. (Brandon McGinley)