4/23 Playbook: Dems Lead By Six In New Battleground Poll

April 23, 2026 | 8:05 AM EDT

Steve Ulrich

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???? Headlines. Dems Lead by Six Points in Battleground Districts. State Senate Passes Bill To Protect Fairness In Women’s Sports. Power Struggle Shakes Dauphin County Democratic Leaders Ahead of Primary. Pittsburgh, You’re On The Clock.

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???? What We’re Hearing. The House Majority PAC, the Democratic super PAC, is placing $272 million in initial TV and digital reservations, including $20M in Pennsylvania. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Speaker Mike Johnson-aligned super PAC, is booking $153 million-plus in its first wave of fall ad buys. In PA-10, as an example, the HMP is allotting $3.474M, while the CLF is putting up $2.9M.

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Top Story

1. Dems Lead by Six Points in Battleground Districts in New CPR Poll

“For Republican candidates running in competitive House districts, The Cook Political Report’s Battleground District Project is a flashing red warning light for the fall.

In an exclusive poll of districts rated by The Cook Political Report as Toss Up, Lean Republican or Lean Democrat — districts which President Donald Trump won by an average of two points in 2024 — Democrats hold a six-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, 50% to 44%.

If that advantage were to hold come November, any district Trump carried by 10 points or less could be in significant danger of flipping into Democratic hands.” | Cook Political Report

Elsewhere

What Is Latest Trump Approval Rating? Here’s What Polls Say For US, PA. “How are Americans feeling about President Donald Trump’s performance today? Do Pennsylvanians concur with the national Trump job approval rating? Trump’s overall presidential approval rating has been sliding since the first historic government shutdown in October. Now, since the start of the Iran war, it has dropped to its lowest this term.” | USA Today Network

Future For Voter ID Bill Unclear in Senate. “Five weeks ago, Senate Republicans said they were bracing for an extended fight as they kicked off debate on their marquee election overhaul bill. Now, they have quietly set aside what’s known as the SAVE America Act.” | Roll Call

PA-7 Democratic Candidates Discuss DOGE Cuts and Congressional Divisiveness. “Lehigh Valley Public Media asked former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell, former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and energy engineer Carol Obando-Derstine about governing in this era of divisiveness and their thoughts on the shrinking federal workforce.” | LehighValleyNews

Trump, Shapiro, McCormick Applaud Decision Keeping Two PA Coal Plants Running. “The Keystone and Conemaugh Generating Stations were previously scheduled to cease operations on Dec. 31, 2028. However, the consent decree would allow the plants to continue operating through 2032 due to upgraded wastewater treatment equipment at both plants.” | The Center Square

State

2. State Senate Passes Bill To Protect Fairness In Women’s Sports

“By a 30-17 vote, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed S.B. 1293 that provides for sport activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed; and creating causes of action for harm suffered by designation.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward, would require public schools and colleges to label sports teams as male, female or coed. The legislation states only biological females can join teams designated for women. The bill would also allow students to take legal action if they are harmed by violations of this rule.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania Unions Know That Money Talks. “The Commonwealth Foundation has released a study on trade union and government union PAC money that flowed to Pennsylvania politicians in 2025. As you might guess: it’s a lot.” | Broad + Liberty

Your Complete Guide To The Candidates For Lieutenant Governor. “In this year’s lieutenant governor primary, incumbent Democrat Austin Davis is running unopposed while the party-endorsed Republican, attorney Jason Richey, has a long-shot challenger in former UPS executive John Ventre.” | Spotlight PA

Shapiro Joins Patriots Owner Kraft To Urge Common Cause In Fight Against Bigotry. “It was a bold choice, no doubt: holding an event in Pittsburgh about bridging painful differences, and then having the owner of the New England Patriots attend. But if you can make that work, can world peace be far behind?” | WESA

Around The Commonwealth

3. Power Struggle Shakes Dauphin County Democratic Leaders Ahead of Primary Election

“Dauphin County Democrats have been winning the battle to turn the county blue and end decades of Republican dominance.

But can they survive the battle with themselves?” | PennLive

Elsewhere

Can Allegheny County Ban ICE From Wearing Masks? It’s Complicated. “The drive hit a setback Wednesday, when an appeals court judge in California ruled that forcing federal agents to identify themselves is likely unconstitutional.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two Pennsylvania Lawmakers Defy Political Norms, Building Friendship, Faith, and Bipartisan Results. “State Representatives Jared Solomon, a Democrat from Philadelphia, and Jesse Topper, a Republican from Bedford and Fulton counties, share how they have built a genuine friendship across political, geographic, and cultural lines while delivering bipartisan progress in Harrisburg.” | PR Newswire

Do Young People Follow Politics Closely? “New research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that, “fewer than a quarter of Americans under age 30 say they follow politics in the United States closely.”” | Erie News Now

Cognetti Presents Positive Outlook In 2026 State of the City Address. “Mayor Paige Cognetti described a Scranton that’s less analog, safer in part thanks to technology and providing for its residents during the annual State of the City address.” | WVIA

Editorial

4. What Do You Think?

The Draft Pittsburgh Needs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Commonwealth Court Wants to Compel Complicity in Abortion | Broad + Liberty
It’s Time To Tax Fast Fashion | Shelley Rogers
The Court’s Coming Ruling and Democrats’ Political Dilemma | J.T. Young
‘Democracy Is On The Ballot?’ Don’t Believe A Word Of It. | Kyle Sammin
At Penn, We’re All Jews Now | Jonathan Zimmerman

1 Thing

5. Pittsburgh. You’re On The Clock

NFL Draft Dave DiCello — photo by Dave DiCello

“It’s been a long, long pregame, but we’re getting near kickoff time for the NFL Draft.

Thousands will roar — or gasp, or groan — at the stadium and at watch parties throughout the region. We have a list of those, ranging from VIP pricey with former and current Steelers to more humble and budget friendly.

For those coming to town, we have guides to bars, breweries, restaurants and attractions near the stadium, along with some other fun stuff, like some special concerts at two new Pittsburgh plazas.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I appreciate you starting your day with us.
“With the first pick …” See you tomorrow to discuss.

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]