Former State Representative and current Republican Senate candidate Sam Rohrer has begun a crusade against the Pennsylvania GOP State Committee’s endorsement of a candidate to run against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey. Rohrer believes “A closed nomination process is bad for the Republican party.”

The pressure is on for the state Supreme Court to make a decision on whether the newly drawn district boundaries are constitutional or not, as today marks the first day that local candidates can begin to circulate their petitions to qualify for the ballot.

State Sen. John Pippy who has served since 1997, announced today that he will not run for re-election.

As expected, Democrats and Republicans are already lining up for what will surely be a competitive race to replace Jane Earll in Pennsylvania’s 49th Senatorial District.

Just days after reports indicating that House Majority Leader Mike Turzai was “seriously considering” a run for Congress in the new 12th District, state GOP sources have told Roll Call that Turzai has decided not to jump into the race.

A new Obama campaign online ad in swing states (like Pa) boasts of job growth and enables users to send a physical postcard to someone they know.

Happy petition day, politicos! Good morning, and welcome to the Buzz.

Scranton Attorney Matt Cartwright is expected to announce his Democratic primary challenge to Rep. Tim Holden in Pa’s 17th congressional district at noon Tuesday.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords announced Sunday that she will be stepping down from Congress this week. Giffords survived a near-fatal gunshot wound in January 2011 in an attack that left six dead.

Last Wednesday, President Obama announced he would not grant a Presidential permit to begin building a pipeline through the nation’s heartland. In the time since, Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans have come out to criticize the President.