4/2 Playbook: Shapiro’s Good Day

Governor Josh Shapiro delivered a keynote address on political violence in America at the 2025 Eradicate Hate Global Summit.

4/2 Playbook: Shapiro’s Good Day

April 2, 2026 | 8:05 AM EDT

Steve Ulrich

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????️ Headlines. Shapiro Holds Commanding Lead Over Garrity. Lehigh Valley Democratic Congressional Candidates Tout Their Credentials. Why PA’s Energy Boom Isn’t Lowering Power Bills. Hershey To Return To Classic Recipes For Reese’s.

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???? What We’re Hearing. “It’s basically a paper tiger. It’s not an actual congressional stock trading ban. It’s riddled with loopholes. So it wouldn’t actually solve the problem,” said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette.

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Top Story

1. Susquehanna Poll: Shapiro Holds Commanding Lead Over Garrity

“Yes, the date on the poll release is April 1.

Pennsylvania Republicans can only wish it was meant as a joke.

In the latest poll from Susquehanna Polling & Research, incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has a 22-point advantage over probable Republican challenger Stacy Garrity.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Stacy Garrity Is A Staunch Supporter of President Donald Trump. Will That Help or Hurt Her Campaign In Pennsylvania? “Garrity has continuously backed the president, often going out of her way to voice support for his political decisions that have little to do with her job as the state’s top fiscal watchdog.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Shapiro Raises $10M in First Quarter. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro raked in more than $10 million in the first three months of the year for his reelection campaign, his team tells Axios — a huge sum that shows off the fundraising chops of the potential 2028 candidate for president.” | Axios

Lawmakers Said They Wanted To Rein In Their Own Stock Trading. What Happened? “For a core group of believers, the last few months have brought frustration, broken promises and competing efforts.” | Roll Call

State

2. Lehigh Valley Democratic Congressional Candidates Tout Their Credentials During Primary Debate

“The four Democrats vying for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District squared off in their first televised debate Wednesday, highlighting their records and backgrounds ahead of the crowded May primary.

Bob Brooks, Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine answered rapid-fire questions before about 120 people at Moravian College’s Foy Concert Hall.

The candidates were in lockstep on topics such as reining in ICE enforcement, the need to lower the cost of consumer goods and their willingness to fight for the district in Washington.” | LehighValleyNews

Elsewhere

PA’s First Investment In Public Defense Allowed Offices To Hire Attorneys, Improve Case Management. “Pennsylvania’s first two years of funding indigent defense resulted in progress toward better services for criminal defendants who cannot otherwise afford their own counsel, according to reports released earlier this year.” | Spotlight PA

Sultana Off Democratic Ballot in 18th Senate Primary. “Democrat Taiba Sultana was removed from the May 19 primary election ballot, losing her chance to challenge incumbent Lisa Boscola for their party’s nomination in Pennsylvania’s 18th Senate District.” | Armchair Lehigh Valley

Shapiro Tells Erie Crowd No Decision About Future Until After Midterms. “On the eve of the first anniversary of the arson attack on the Governor’s Mansion, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on March 31 reflected on the toll the politically motivated incident took on him and his family during a stop at the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie.” | Erie Times-News

Mastriano Supporters Embark On Write-In Campaign For Republican Gubernatorial Nomination. “Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity has a challenger for the GOP nomination for governor … albeit a write-in candidate.” | PoliticsPA

Around The Commonwealth

3. Why PA’s Energy Boom Isn’t Lowering Power Bills

“Domestic energy production is at an all-time high, but it’s not leading to lower electricity bills.

Pennsylvania is doing its part for the local grid, producing record amounts of natural gas and exporting more electricity than any other state in the nation, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

But even that isn’t lowering costs for consumers, because Pennsylvania still isn’t producing and transferring enough energy.” | Axios Pittsburgh

Elsewhere

Smucker Tells Group States Should Stay In Charge Of Elections. “In a rare break with President Donald Trump, Lancaster County’s Republican Congressman Lloyd Smucker said he does not believe the federal government should be in charge of elections.” | LNP

In Lehigh Valley, FBI Director Kash Patel Touts Efforts To Stop Fentanyl Deaths. “FBI Director Kash Patel joined a group of state and federal law enforcement officers Wednesday in Allentown to brainstorm solutions to the fentanyl crisis. Hosted by U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, the closed-door session included the families of young people who have died after taking the cheap synthetic opioid, which is often mixed with other drugs leading to accidental overdoses.” | Allentown Morning Call

Harvie Ex-Running-Mate Dence Keeps Getting IBEW Money — Even After Reporting Failures Uncovered. “After it first came out in August 2024 that Falls Township Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff Dence (D) failed to disclose hefty campaign contributions, two things didn’t change: County election officials left him alone about it — and he kept getting money he would not report.” | Bucks Independence

Editorial

4. What Do You Think?

Why Aren’t We Thinking Critically About Our Politics and Democracy? | John Baer
The NFL Draft Is Coming To Pittsburgh. It Brings Economic Gains – And Hidden Public Safety Costs | Adam Annaccone
The NFL Tests Its Antitrust Exemption | Wall Street Journal
Pittsburgh’s Place In The New Space Race | Tribune-Review
Supreme Court’s Decision On Birthright Citizenship Will Depend On Its Interpretation Of 1 Key Phrase | Morgan Marietta

1 Thing

5. Hershey Says It Will Shift Back To Classic Recipe For All Reese’s Products After Criticism

“Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese’s founder criticized the company for shifting to cheaper ingredients.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have always been made with real milk chocolate or dark chocolate and peanut butter. But a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, like mini Easter eggs, are now made with a coating that contains less chocolate.

Hershey said that in 2027, it will shift those products to “their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes.”” | AP

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Steve Ulrich

Ulrich has worked as managing editor of PoliticsPA since January 2022 after spending two years as the Director of Elections in York (Pa.) County. Prior to that, he spent 35 years as a college athletics administrator. Send email to [email protected]