????  Today’s #PoliticsPA Playbook. McCormick Says He Will Recuse Himself From Issues Specific To Meta. State Leaders Welcome Data Centers. Residents Don’t Want Them. Bucks County Withdraws From ICE Partnership. What Gritty Makes.

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????  What We’re Hearing. “Three more Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-06), said they’re being investigated for participating in a video that encouraged service members to defy illegal orders

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Top Story

1.   McCormick Says He Will Recuse Himself From Issues Specific To Meta With His Wife’s New Leadership Role

“U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick plans to recuse himself from Senate business specifically related to Meta — the powerful and far-reaching technology company that his wife was tapped to lead this week — while continuing to seek a prominent role on issues like artificial intelligence and social media guidelines that sometimes impact the company.

The Pennsylvania Republican said he was taking precautions to avoid potential conflicts of interest as Dina Powell McCormick becomes the Facebook parent company’s president and vice chairman, reporting to founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elsewhere

PA-08: Cognetti Campaign Raises More Than $640K, Entering 2026 With $778K In Hand. “Paige Cognetti, a Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District seat, announced Wednesday that her campaign has raised more than $640,000 in the final quarter of 2025 and enters the New Year with more than $778,000 cash in hand.” | PoliticsPA

PA-01: Facing Tough Midterm Fight, Rep. Fitzpatrick Bucks GOP On Health Care Costs. “Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick faces a tough reelection fight and recently bucked Republican leaders to force a vote on an issue that’s important in his district: rising health care costs.” | NPR

PA-01: Democratic Challengers to U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick Court Voters In Horsham Town Hall. “Democratic hopefuls Tracy Hunt, Lucia Simonelli and Rob Strickler held a town hall Tuesday at the Horsham Township Community Center to captivate voters in the purple seat that encompasses all of Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County. Bob Harvie, who is also a Democratic candidate, declined an invitation to join them.” | WHYY

PA-07: Marine Vet Ryan Crosswell Aims To Flip GOP-Held Pennsylvania Congressional Seat. “Crosswell, a former Republican who also served as a federal prosecutor, is touting his pro-Israel bona fides as he fights for the Democratic nomination against Rep. Ryan Mackenzie” | Jewish Insider

SCOTUS Says Candidates Can Challenge Voting Laws. Republicans Are Ready to Take Advantage. “In a major win for lawmakers, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that candidates have the right to challenge election laws, which could open the doors for a potential flood of lawsuits ahead of this year’s midterm elections.” | NOTUS

State

2.   Many PA Residents Don’t Want Data Centers In Their Communities. State Leaders Are Welcoming Them

“Pennsylvania residents across the state, from Allegheny to Lackawanna Counties, have expressed concerns about planned data centers and their impacts on energy prices, water usage, and pollution. In a recent poll, 42% of Pennsylvanians said they do not want one built in or near their community. Yet many state and local lawmakers — even skeptics — have accepted the proliferation of data centers in Pennsylvania as a fact of life.

“I’ve had people tell me, ‘Well, just let’s bar them. We’ll prohibit them,’” state Sen. Gene Yaw told Spotlight PA. “Then let’s go to the library and burn all the books too while we’re at it.”” | Spotlight PA

Elsewhere

Shapiro Tours Farm Show, Deflecting Campaign Chatter While Focusing On Agriculture. “Gov. Josh Shapiro made his annual visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Wednesday, making time to sample the produce and take in the grandeur of the butter sculpture, while trying to deflect talk about his 2026 re-election campaign.” | PennLive

PA Voters Disapprove Of Trump, Shapiro Starts Re-Election Bid On Strong Footing: Poll. “The survey, conducted by the Harrisburg-based Bravo Group communications firm in partnership with PennLive, found that 57% disapprove of Trump with 49% saying they “strongly disapprove.” Forty percent said they either somewhat or strongly approve of the president.” | PennLive

State Sen. Cris Dush To Run For Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor. “State Sen. Cris Dush, a Republican who represents a large part of Centre County, is running for lieutenant governor, he said in an interview Wednesday evening. He joins just one other Republican looking to join a ticket likely to be led by Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the gubernatorial hopeful endorsed by the Pennsylvania GOP.” | Centre Daily Times

Reelection Announcement Roundup. “Here is a list of members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who have announced their intention about running for reelection in 2026 as of January 14, 2026.” | PoliticsPA

Around The Commonwealth

3.   Bucks County Withdraws From ICE Partnership

“The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that it is withdrawing from its 287(g) partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The 287(g) program is named for Section 287(g)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and supervision. 

“After careful evaluation, I have determined that the certain public safety costs of this ICE partnership are greatly outweighed by any potential public safety benefits that this partnership may offer,” Sheriff Danny Ceisler said.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Democrats Really Can Compete in Rural America. “The results for the 2025 election cycle send a powerful message regarding strategies that connect outside of urban centers.” | The Nation

Montana Dems Hire Former PA Mayor As Executive Director. “The Montana Democratic Party announced the hiring of Emily Marburger, a Pennsylvania political operative, as the party’s new executive director.” | Daily Montanan

Near-Record Share Of Americans See Big Business As Greatest Threat To U.S. “The share of Americans who see business as the country’s biggest threat, compared with government and labor, is near a high last reached more than two decades ago, when accounting scandals rocked the corporate world.” | Axios

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Can a Little Trump Pushback Really Push Trump Back? | John Baer 
• New Partnership For Political Polling Will Power Pennlive’s Election Issue Coverage | John Luciew
• Biology Is On Trial — And Girls Are Paying The Price | Beth Ann Rosica
• Trump Won’t Create Safeguards For AI, So PA Legislators Must | Rep. Melissa L. Shusterman
• Pittsburgh Can’t Hit Its Stride Without Public-Private Cooperation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Pennsylvania’s Skill Game Industry Deserves Fair Regulation, Not Casino Lobby Obstruction | Joe Calla
• Selling a Home Is Too Taxing | Jeff Yass and Stephen Moore
• PA Is Not a Great Place For Women to Own Businesses | Athan Koutsiouroumbas
• The Grid Is Warning PA | William DesRosiers

1 Thing

5.   Gritty’s Salary Might Make You Rethink Your Career Choice

“Gritty is paid to get ish done.

Why it matters: The staggering salaries of fan faves like Gritty are more than those of many hard-working Americans, per a new analysis of the highest-paid mascots in 2025.

Driving the news: The Philadelphia Flyers mascot makes about $250,000 a year, nearly as much as Josh Shapiro, the nation’s highest-paid governor.” | Axios Philadelphia

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