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Top Story

1. Fetterman Releases Medical Update

“The campaign for Democratic candidate John Fetterman released a medical report from his doctor on Wednesday morning in an attempt to quiet detractors about his health.” (PoliticsPA)

• Fetterman Releases Doctor’s Letter, Saying He Can ‘Work Full Duty In Public Office.’ (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Fetterman’s Doctor Says He’s Recovering Well From Stroke. (AP)

Related

Mehmet Oz Said He Wouldn’t Take Corporate PAC Money. Then He Did. “Mehmet Oz said he wouldn’t take “one dime of corporate PAC money, not one dollar.” But his latest fund-raising report shows donations from major energy companies, law firms, and other big businesses.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Oz Focuses On China, Education at York Event. “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz spent much of Wednesday in York County, fielding questions at a Rotary Club event before heading to a Fox News town hall at the Valencia Ballroom.” (York Dispatch)

PA Physicians Group Shares Stories of Patients Following Oz Advice. “Dr. Belinda Birnbaum is one of roughly 150 Pennsylvania physicians who have signed a letter denouncing (Mehmet) Oz for “spreading misinformation and sharing factually incorrect medical advice” on his Emmy-winning television show.” (Erie Times-News)

PA Candidates Talk Fentanyl As Midterms Approach. “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. Mastriano Shapiro Both Guided By Their Faiths, But In Very Different Ways

Religion has become a primary focus in this year’s race to become Pennsylvania governor. Republican Doug Mastriano is claiming the legacy of William Penn and religious tolerance, but appears to welcome the support of Christian Nationalists. Democrat Josh Shapiro is an observant Jew but doesn’t look to his faith to solve secular policy questions. (PennLive)

Related

Mastriano Says He’d Bus Migrants To Biden’s Home State of Delaware, If Elected. “Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano on Wednesday vowed that if he wins election to Pennsylvania’s top office, he’ll begin busing illegal immigrants to President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware.” (York Daily Record)

PA’s Midterm Race Is Everything That’s Wrong With American Politics. “Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for governor, revels in conspiratorial and far-right rhetoric. And his party is OK with that.” (The New Statesman)

The Election Influencers. “To really understand an election, you have to understand the motivations — and the lives — of the Americans voting in it.” (CBS News)

Elections

3. The Lehigh Valley’s Race For Congress Is The Most Expensive in PA. Where’s The Money Come From

“The 7th district race, which covers the Lehigh Valley region, is the most expensive congressional race in Pennsylvania with a combined $8.8 million raised by both candidates throughout the election cycle.” (Morning Call)

Related

Ad Watch. The ads are coming fast and furious. First, the Congressional Leadership Fund turns its attention to hammering Democrat Susan Wild in PA-07. The Pennsylvania Democrats share a video with actor Kal Penn in their ‘Don’t Be Caught Naked’ campaign. And PA-06 incumbent Chrissy Houlahan released a video highlighting her background in supply chain management. State House candidates are getting in the fray as well, as HD 118 candidate Jim Haddock calls out his opponent.

PA-07: U.S. House Preview. “Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild meets Republican nominee Lisa Scheller in a closely-watched race.” (PoliticsPA)

• Muhlenberg College Polls Show Statistical Dead Heat. (PoliticsPA)
• PoliticsPA Poll Tracker. (PoliticsPA)

Prolonged Challenges By Losing Candidates Could Overshadow November Election Results. “Candidates may not be deterred by the fact that challenges to election results are rarely successful.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

York County Plans Hand Count of November Ballots After Meeting With Audit Group. “York County officials announced a plan Wednesday to hand count ballots from three random precincts in the upcoming Nov. 8 election after meeting with a group that has spread misinformation about the 2020 election.” (York Dispatch)

Latino Civil Right Groups File Lawsuit Against York County For Language Barriers In Voting. “The lawsuit cites the county’s failure to provide Spanish-language materials and assistance as required by the Voting Rights Act.” (WPMT)

Around The Commonwealth

PA-01: Incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick, Challenger Ashley Ehasz Set to Debate. “Both will have their chances to explain their positions to the public during Tuesday’s 2022 Congressional Debate at Bucks County Community College.” (Bucks County Courier Times) 

PA-02: Brendan Boyle Runs Again Against Aaron Bashir. “The four-term incumbent has been a champion of the working class, fighting for wealth taxes and minimum wage hikes.” (PhillyVoice)

PA-06: Candidates Forum Scheduled For Sunday. “U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, the Democratic incumbent, and Guy Ciarrocchi, the Republican challenger, will speak about their qualifications and why they are seeking the office.” (Reading Eagle)

PA-11: Smucker, Hollister Square Off In Respectful Debate. “For the first time in four years, Lancaster County’s Republican member of Congress on Wednesday debated his Democratic challenger before a live audience.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

PA-17: New Shaffer Ad Draws Fire From Democrats On Abortion. “A new ad from Republican Congressional candidate Jeremy Shaffer has reopened the abortion debate in the race for the 17th Congressional district — without using the word “abortion” at all.” (WESA)

Biden Closely Tends His PA Roots In Election Year. “As Democrats fight to keep control of the Senate, President Joe Biden has been practically absent from midterm election campaigning in pivotal states such as Georgia, Nevada and Ohio. But he keeps coming back to Pennsylvania.” (AP)

• President Biden Visiting Pittsburgh, Fern Hollow Bridge, To Tout Infrastructure Bill Ahead of Midterms. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Biden To Stop In Philly For Fundraiser With Fetterman After Visit to Pittsburgh Bridge. (WPVI)

Republicans Who Support Abortion Rights Are Fighting For Their Political Future. “Pennsylvania lawmaker Todd Stephens is the kind of Republican who has always counted on support from Democrats to help win his seat in the statehouse.” (POLITICO) 

• HD 114: Candidates Debate On Abortion, Guns and Other Issues. (Times-Tribune)
• HD 118: Haddock, May Face Off In Debate. (Times-Tribune)
• HD 119: Candidates Meet In Forum (Times Leader)

Opinion

• Fetterman vs. Oz. The Biggest, Dumbest Race For Senate. (The Intercept)
• After Decades of Discriminatory Enforcement, Rethinking Marijuana Laws Is Long Overdue. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Doug Mastriano Demands Out Support (Alan Guenther)
• The Fetterman-Oz Debate Will Answer Critical Questions. (John Baer)
• Why The U.S. House Has 435 Seats – And How That Could Change. (Steven L. Taylor)
• A Depressing Return To A Well-Worn Election Playbook – Because It Works. (Mary C. Curtis)
• Doug Mastriano’s Dangerous History Of Election Denial and Contemptuous Disdain For System. (USA TODAY)
• Reward Demagogues, Get More Demagogues. (Jonathan Bernstein) 
• When Voting, Remember That The Threat To Democracy Did Not End On Jan. 6. (Michael Berman)