4/30 Playbook: SCOTUS Weakens Voting Rights Act

April 30, 2026 | 8:13 AM EDT

Steve Ulrich

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???? PoliticsPA Playbook Headlines. US Supreme Court Limits Use of Race In Congressional District Remaps, Diluting Voting Rights Act. Races to Watch In PA’s Democratic Primary. Private Water Company vs. Chester. Public vs. Private Playoffs in PIAA?

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Top Story

1. US Supreme Court Limits Use of Race In Congressional District Remaps, Diluting Voting Rights Act

“On Wednesday, the Supreme Court delivered an opinion sharply weakening a major portion of the federal Voting Rights Act.

The opinion in the case, Louisiana v. Callais, could reverberate for decades. The court’s conservative majority significantly curtailed the consideration of race when drawing legislative maps.

Until now, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has limited states from using maps that dilute the voting power of minority citizens. Republicans could ultimately secure up to 19 U.S. House seats nationally directly because of the Supreme Court’s decision.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania Lawmakers, Candidates Respond to SCOTUS Voting Rights Decision. “An extremely complicated case with extremely important repercussions on the nationwide Congressional map — in 2026, potentially, but definitely in 2028, 2030 and 2032. How are Pennsylvania’s lawmakers and candidates responding to the decision?” | PoliticsPA

What a Weakened Voting Rights Act Means In Today’s America. “The latest ruling lands in a more multiracial, more mobile country that looks nothing like it did in 1965, raising fresh questions about how voting protections apply to a rapidly evolving electorate.” | Axios

PA Republicans Are Mostly Backing the Iran War or Staying Quiet Ahead of a Deadline For Congress to Assert Its Authority. “Only one of Pennsylvania’s 11 Republican lawmakers in Congress has suggested President Donald Trump would be breaking the law if he continues the war without approval.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Where Garrity and Shapiro Stand On Broadband, Federal Cuts, and Other Key Rural Issues. “While Pennsylvania’s two major party candidates for governor are both prioritizing helping rural communities, their approaches to some major issues — like how to handle broadband installation and federal program cuts — could lead to significantly different results for the people who live in the state’s more remote areas.” | Spotlight PA

State

2. These Are Races to Watch In Pennsylvania’s Democratic Primary

“This election year will usher in a showdown over the post of Pennsylvania governor and pitched battles for several commonwealth congressional seats that could tilt the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The drama is primarily on the Democratic side, as the party selects nominees to replace an outgoing congressman and take on vulnerable GOP representatives.” | USA Today Network

Elsewhere

PA-01: Bob Harvie Said He Doesn’t Support Open Primaries. Fitzpatrick Calls It An ‘Insult To Independent Voters.’ “Tensions have already started boiling over in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District as U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick threw an early jab at his likely Democratic challenger Tuesday evening.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

PA-03: Sans Stanford, Dems Rabb and Street Meet For PA-3 Debate on Wednesday. “Wednesday’s televised debate between Democratic candidates in the PA-3 primary made headlines before it even started. The hourlong debate, hosted in WHYY’s Studio 2, was missing one key candidate: Ala Stanford.” | City & State

PA-7 Congressional Candidate Calls For Judge To Throw Out Lawsuit Over $162,000 Debt. “Litigation between Lehigh Valley congressional candidate Bob Brooks and his former mother-in-law likely will stretch out beyond the May primary election, after a hearing Wednesday set the table for legal arguments this summer.” | LehighValleyNews

Pennsylvania House Passes Bills That Would Allow Digital Driver’s Licenses, Vehicle Registrations. “Pennsylvania is one step closer to allowing digital driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations after the state House passed bills this week approving the use of the technology.” | CBS Philadelphia

Advocates Push For ‘Skill Games’ Tax As Lottery Losses Hit Programs For PA Seniors. “Cuts to senior programs — like those announced earlier this month in Allegheny County — will worsen if state lawmakers do not act to replace declining revenue from the Pennsylvania Lottery, said Rebecca May-Cole, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging.” | WESA

Around The Commonwealth

3. From Public to Private? Future of Pennsylvania Reservoir Remains Unclear

“Catherine Miller has a message for private investors interested in buying the Octoraro Reservoir: It’s not for sale.

“That is not in the interest of our ratepayers,” said Miller, who heads the anti-privatization campaign for the Chester Water Authority (CWA), which owns the 520-acre impoundment in southeastern Pennsylvania. This tranquil setting, though, has turned into a legal battleground over the past decade, pitting the CWA and its ratepayers against a private water company and a cash-strapped city: Chester, PA.” | Bay Journal

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania School Cell Phone Ban Backed, With Many Exceptions. “A state House committee on Tuesday moved a step closer to eliminating a major distraction in schools by passing a bill which – with many exceptions – would prohibit student cell phone use during the school day.” | The Center Square

Innamorato: We Used the NFL Draft to Fund Pittsburgh’s Future. “Last week’s National Football League (NFL) draft in Pittsburgh, and its ensuing festivities, was a record-breaking success, attracting over 800,000 fans to the event, but Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato wants to focus on the draft’s lasting impacts on the local community.” | The Keystone

York Hired Host of Consultants, Many Without City Council Oversight. “York City Mayor Sandie Walker hired at least eight consultants since taking office, signing a series of contracts just below the reporting threshold that would require City Council scrutiny.” | York Daily Record

Supervisor Calls Police to Muncy Township Building. “State troopers arrived in the aftermath of a prematurely-adjourned Muncy Township meeting last night, with attendees questioning whether their right to peaceful assembly had been violated.” | NorthCentralPA

Editorial

4. What Do You Think?

Voters Can Be Disenfranchised Now | Adam Serwer
The Supreme Court’s Vote Ruling Empowers Minorities. Now Dems Will Have To Earn Their Votes | Alicia Nieves
PA’s 5 Former Governors Show Current Leaders How Bipartisanship Should Work | John Baer
SEPTA’s Decision To Focus On Housing, Not Parking, Is A Win For Southeastern Pennsylvania | Philadelphia Inquirer
Let’s Do It Again, Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Was NFL Draft a Failed Fundraiser or a Promotional Bargain? | Tribune-Review
Report on America From a Townie Bar | David Mills
While Trump Builds Ballrooms, Pennsylvania Families Lose Healthcare and Food Assistance | Sen. Jay Costa
Setting the Record Straight On Dauphin County’s Democratic Endorsement Process | Kelly D. Summerford
The Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission Cannot ‘Get Stuff Done’ | Broad + Liberty
We Know How To Stop Speeding Here, So Why Not Everywhere? | Rep. Tarik Khan

1 Thing

5. PA House Passes Bill Allowing PIAA to Split Public, Private Playoff

“The state House advanced legislation Wednesday that would allow the PIAA to separate public and private schools into different postseason playoff systems.

The passage of House Bill 41 allows the PIAA, the governing body for Pennsylvania high school athletics, to separate boundary and non-boundary schools for postseason games.

Boundary schools are public schools that serve students living within a specific, designated geographic area. Non-boundary schools, which include private, Catholic and charter schools, have no geographic restrictions and can draw students from anywhere.” | PennLive

Thanks to you for starting your day with us.
Thanks April. It’s been fun. See you tomorrow.

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]