???? Good Morning! Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms

???? PoliticsPA Playbook Headlines. Fetterman Says He’s Not Switching Parties. How Brooks Consolidated Support In His Primary Run For Congress.  Allentown Plays a Crucial Role in PA Primary. NY Eateries, Bars Ban ‘Philly’ Cheesesteaks From Menu

???? Your Morning Pick Me Up. A Hard Day’s Night. Ramsey Lewis Trio

PA Weather
????️  Springdale | Partly Sunny, 64
????️  Shippensburg | Mostly Sunny, 66
????️  South Philadelphia | Increasing Clouds, 69

PA Sports 
⚾  Pirates (21-17) | Arizona 4-2 | Fri-Sun at San Francisco
⚾  Phillies (17-21) | Athletics 1-12 | Fri-Sun vs. Colorado
????  Sixers (0-2) | Fri vs. New York
????  Flyers (0-3) | Carolina 1-4 | Sat vs. Carolina
⚽  Union (1-2-8) | Sat vs. New England

????What We’re Hearing. Is all the GOP money going to the “marquee” races? Or is something else afoot? In PA-09, Rachel Wallace outraised Rep. Dan Meuser, and for the third straight filing, has more cash on hand than the Republican incumbent, this time by a 2-to-1 count.

???? Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s premier source for nonpartisan political news and analysis. Tips or press releases can be sent to [email protected].

???? The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. 

Top Story

1.   Fetterman Says He’s Not Switching Parties. Here’s Why Everyone’s Talking About It Anyway

“Just as Sen. John Fetterman’s tension with his own party has grown since he began his term in 2023, so have the Pennsylvania Democrat’s unexpected friendships with Republican senators.

And as Democrats’ chances of flipping the Senate in November improve, Fetterman’s friends across the aisle have been opening their arms even wider.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Elsewhere

At the Races: Keystone State Holds Midterm Keys. “Pennsylvanians go to the polls in less than two weeks, and Democrats see the state as an opportunity to win back voters they lost in 2024, when Donald Trump carried the state, Dave McCormick unseated a Democratic senator and Republicans flipped two House seats. With Gov. Josh Shapiro at the top of the ticket, Democrats argue, it could be a chance for the party to bounce back in the Keystone State.” | Roll Call

Fitzpatrick’s Iran War Bill Stuck After He Voted Down 2 Others. “A war powers resolution that U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick introduced three weeks ago has languished in committee. The Republican representing Bucks County introduced the joint resolution aimed at requiring congressional approval for a continued war on Iran on April 16, the same day that he voted down a different Iran war powers resolution. That resolution had made it to the floor and then failed by one vote.” | Bucks County Courier Times

McCormick Gets Update On Homer City Data Center Project, Pitches Permit Reform. “Sen. Dave McCormick hopes to encourage similar projects by speeding up permit reviews at the federal level. He is sponsoring legislation that would require federal permits meant to prevent harm to waterways be granted or denied within one year of application. It would also limit court challenges to permits and increase the license for nuclear plants from 40 years to 60.” | WESA

State

2.  How Democrat Bob Brooks Consolidated Support In His Primary Run For Congress — And Why Some In His Party Are Angry About It

“In a crowded Democratic primary in the Lehigh Valley where the four candidates are largely in lockstep on key issues, one candidate is emerging as a clear favorite among the most prominent national and local Democrats to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in November.

The support for Bob Brooks, a former Bethlehem firefighter and current president of the statewide firefighters union, is unmatched by his opponents, who each have drawn varying levels of local support but nowhere close to what Brooks has received from prominent political figures, interest groups and fundraising machinery that are backing his campaign.” | Allentown Morning Call

Elsewhere

Suspected GOP-Connected TV Ad Attacks Brooks, Crosswell, Supports McClure. “A new TV ad attacking 7th District Congressional Democratic candidates Bob Brooks and Ryan Crosswell while boosting Lamont McClure is possibly backed by a Republican-connected Super PAC, according to a report by the online political site Punchbowl News.” | Armchair Lehigh Valley

Bob Harvie Hits at Trump and ICE In Year’s First Campaign Ad Ahead of Likely Race Against Brian Fitzpatrick. “Harvie will face grassroots candidate and climate policy expert Lucia Simonelli in the primary, but the commissioner’s ad is squarely focused on a matchup with U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in the fall.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

PA Senate Votes to End Auto Emission Inspections. “The state Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would end Pennsylvania’s emissions inspection program for non-commercial vehicles, splitting the legislative body along regional lines.” | PennLive

Around The Commonwealth

3.   Allentown Plays a Crucial Role in the 2026 Pennsylvania Primaries

“Allentown and the Lehigh Valley will play a pivotal role in Pennsylvania’s May 19 primary. Competitive congressional races and economic pressures are likely to shape voter’s decisions.

In a state that often determines national political balance, primary elections matter. In Allentown the focus is immediate and local: affordability, growth, and representation in a rapidly changing city.

At the center of attention is Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, which includes Allentown and has become one of the most competitive districts in the country.” | Impacto

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania’s Mail Ballot Dating Rules Have Been In Flux For Years. Here’s What You Need To Know. “As some Pennsylvania voters prepare to vote by mail in this month’s primary election, they could be forgiven for not knowing what they need to do with the date line on their ballot envelope.” | Votebeat Pennsylvania

Democratic PA Senate Candidates Flynn, Lake Face Off in Spirited Debate at University of Scranton. “Data centers dominated a debate between incumbent state Sen. Marty Flynn and Jeffrey Lake, his challenger on the Democratic ticket for the 22nd Senate District.” | WVIA

Could Change to PA’s ’60s-era Planning Code Make Building Easier? “A state committee will examine Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code to revamp the 56-year-old act that serves as a toolbox for local governments seeking guidance on developing their communities.” | USA Today Network

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• I Haven’t Changed. Here’s What Has | Sen. John Fetterman
• Sen. John Fetterman Just Said What Democrats Don’t Want to Hear About Themselves | Ben Smith
• Democrats Have a Fetterman Problem. Or Do They? | Chris Brennan
• Ala Stanford and the Barbie Double Standard | Eryn Santamoor 
• Nation Faces Renewed Threats to Black Vote | Hermene Hartman
• Did Amazon Just Deliver a Blow to Josh Shapiro’s White House Dreams? | Will Bunch
• Pennsylvania’s Film Jobs Depend On a Merger Washington Might Block | Rep. Jason Altmire

1 Thing

5.   NY Eateries, Bars Ban ‘Philly’ Cheesesteaks From Menu As Knicks-Sixers Fight Gets Greasy

“These New York food joints are 86ing the 76ers’ hometown sandwich. 

Restaurants and bars from Manhattan to Long Island were banning “Philly” cheesesteaks from the menu as the Knicks take on the 76ers in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Empire State spots said they were rebranding Philly cheesesteaks as “the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak,” “the Big Apple cheesesteak” and other cheeky names in response to The Post calling around to see if establishments were ready to dunk on the B-rate city.” | New York Post

Thanks for starting your weekend with us.
Them’s fightin’ words, Philly. See you Monday.