Monday, Monday. And to those who celebrate, “Shanah Tovah.”

PA Weather
Canonsburg | Mostly Sunny, 66
Mifflintown | Mostly Sunny, chance of showers, 69
Malvern | Mostly Sunny, 73

PA Sports
Phillies (83-69) | Atlanta, L, 8-7 | TUE vs. Cubs
Pirates (56-97) | Cubs, L, 8-3 | MON vs. Cincinnati
Penn State (4-0) | Central Michigan, W, 33-14
Pitt (3-1) | Rhode Island, W, 45-24
Temple (2-2) | Massachusetts, W, 28-0
Eagles (3-0) | Washington, W, 24-8

Happy Birthday
Belated cake and candles to CJ Mahler, legislative assistant in Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s office.

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Top Story

1. In PA, Shapiro’s Low-Key Style Poses Test For Dems

In Pennsylvania, statewide candidates have adopted the “in-your-face” mode of campaigning.

If it’s not clothing choices, it’s crudite. It’s health records and who you are, or have, been hanging with. Social media memes and high school-ish “he said, he said” back and forth.

Then, there’s Josh Shapiro. (AP)

Related

Shapiro, Mastriano Race Could Foreshadow 2024 in PA. “Whoever wins could teach his party a thing or two about what it takes to carry Pennsylvania.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• PA Remains Debate-Less After Shapiro Won’t Agree to Mastriano’s Terms. (Fox News)
• Josh Shapiro and Doug Mastriano Have a Chance To Strengthen Democracy – Just by Talking (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Cheney Says She’ll Campaign Against Mastriano, Lake Because of Their Election Denials. “Outgoing Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., reiterated this weekend that she would campaign against election deniers, singling out Republican gubernatorial nominees in Arizona and Pennsylvania who’ve floated conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential race.” (ABC News)

Senate

2. Oz Releases Medical Records

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Mehmet Oz released his medical records earlier today.

The Post-Gazette called upon both Oz and Democratic opponent John Fetterman to release their medical records and make their doctors available to the media, ostensibly to reassure the public of Fetterman’s health after his May stroke.

Manhattan physician Rebecca J. Kurth reported in a letter dated September 22 that Oz was in overall excellent health after seeing the candidate for a recent check-up. (PoliticsPA)

Related

Some Activists and Democratic Elected Officials Want to See More Reach From John Fetterman in Philadelphia. “They say he may not be spending enough time courting big-city voters — in particular, Black voters — and ensuring this key part of the Democratic base will have strong turnout in November.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

John Fetterman Has Reforged Every Political Office He’s Held. Now What? “His willingness to flout convention and knack for brand-building have helped him rise to fame anyway — and could offer clues about how he’d lead if he wins the seat that will help determine the Senate’s partisan balance.” (Erie Times-News)

Americans Trusted Dr. Oz On Health, But Will PA Voters Trust Him On Politics? “What remains to be seen is whether Oz’s capacity for self-reinvention will propel him to success in politics the way it has in other parts of life — or if it could actually be a liability.” (Erie Times-News)

The City of Philadelphia Could Decide The PA Senate Race. “While Democrats’ rising fortunes in the Philadelphia suburbs have justifiably elicited national attention, Fetterman’s team understands that high turnout in the city itself is a prerequisite for victory.” (HuffPost)

• Muhlenberg Poll: Fetterman by Five, Shapiro by Double Digits. (PoliticsPA)
• Pollsters Fear They’re Blowing It Again in 2022 (POLITICO)

Harrisburg

3. Looming Election Jolts Harrisburg Into Action, as PA Lawmakers Pass a Flurry of Bills, Cash In On Fundraisers

“Horse-trading, nose-holding, and a whole lot of cash.

The Pennsylvania Capitol this week jolted into action with just six more voting days before the pivotal midterm election, advancing a slew of bills with one common theme while lawmakers raced from fundraiser to fundraiser seeking to bolster their campaign coffers.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

PA Pension Fund Down Over $3 Billion in Tough Market, and Braces For Losses Ahead. “The drop in global stock and bond values has shaved about $3 billion off the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) during the second quarter, staff and consultants warned trustees in Thursday’s investment meeting.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

At Mastriano Rally, Zimmerman Reveals Subpoena. “State Rep. Dave Zimmerman, a Lancaster County Republican whose district includes New Holland and Ephrata, said Saturday that he received a subpoena from the federal government. He said that the FBI was trying to find him and that he had turned off his location services on his phone, apparently in an effort to evade or delay them.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

Around the Commonwealth

PoliticsPA’s Averages of Polls For Senate, Governor. Take a look at the moving average of polls for the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat and governor’s mansion. (PoliticsPA)

PA House Preview: Northeast. “We continue our series on the candidates for the Pennsylvania State House with a look at the northeastern corner of the Keystone State.” (PoliticsPA)

Ups and Downs. “The timing was exquisite. Fall began Thursday evening and right on cue, the cooler air poured into the Commonwealth. Time for our first Ups and Downs of the autumn season.” (PoliticsPA)

Krasner Tells State Committee He Wants to Testify at Hearings. “District Attorney Larry Krasner and Republican state lawmakers are sparring over the terms of a pair of hearings scheduled next week to investigate rising crime in Philadelphia and the role of the city’s top prosecutor.” (Metro Philadelphia)

• A ‘Political Stunt’: Philly’s Black Clergy, Officials Slam Krasner Impeachment Probe (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Commentary

• Jewish New Year a Time to Reflect (Reading Eagle)
• May The Least Bad Man Win (Keith C. Burris)
• At Stake in Mastriano vs. Shapiro, The Fate of Abortion Rights in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Why Mastriano’s Candidacy Presents a Special Danger to the Nation. (George Will)
• A “Once in a Lifetime” Candidate. (Selena Zito)
• Oz vs. Fetterman and the Future of the Nation (Joseph Sabino Mistick)
• “Begin As You Wish to Proceed” (Bernie Rabik)
• Misclassifying Workers as Contractors Costs Millions in Lost Revenue (John Galloway, Joanna McClinton, Pat Harkins)
• How Much Is Penn State’s Public-Private Hybrid Status Worth? (Tribune-Review)
• Christian Nationalism Is An Injustice to Christ and the Nation (Tim Solomon)
• Loss of Experienced Election Officials Imperils Our Democracy (LNP | Lancaster Online)