😞 Hi, Thursday. It’s the 56th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

PA Weather
☔ Mercer | Showers, 43
☂️ Bedford | Showers, 46
☔ Lebanon | Showers, 51

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (41-35) | Thu vs. Miami
🏒 Flyers (36-29-11) | Fri vs. Buffalo
🏒 Penguins (34-30-11) | Thu vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (5-1) | Washington 3-5 | Thu vs. Washington
⚾ Phillies (2-3) | Cincinnati 1-4 | Fri-Sun vs. Washington

What We’re Hearing
“If you give us the right reason to go out and vote, we’ll be there in masses.” – Cynthia Mota, Allentown’s first Latina city council president.

From Us to You
Did you know that the PoliticsPA Playbook reaches over 7,200 subscribers? Add your name to the list and we’ll deliver all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. F&M Poll: Pennsylvania Moving in More Positive Direction

“The latest poll from Franklin & Marshall College shows a more optimistic Pennsylvania, while offering mixed news for the presidential candidates and better news for the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

The good news for President Joe Biden comes in the form of a two-horse race against former President Donald Trump. After landing within the margin of error against the 45th president in February, the 46th president has more than doubled the 4.0% margin of error (MOE) in this survey with a 48-38% percent advantage. An additional 13% favored “someone else,” while just 1% indicated that they did not know.

When two other options were presented to the respondents in the form of Jill Stein (Green) and Robert Kennedy Jr. (Independent), the race moved within the MOE with Biden at 42% and Trump at 40%. Kennedy (9%) and Stein (3%) seemed to take more support from Biden, who was at 42-37% with the same question in February.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

A Small Proposed Electoral College Change That Could Be Huge. “Donald Trump and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed legislation that would take Omaha’s potentially decisive electoral vote out of play for Democrats, hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s Tuesday X post suggesting it.” (Semafor)

Trump Campaign, RNC Triple Fundraising In March To $65.6 Million. “With March’s fundraising, the Trump campaign and RNC said they ended the month with over $93.1 million cash on hand.” (Reuters)

McCormick Raises $6M In First Quarter, Including $1M of His Money: Campaign. “Dave McCormick, a former hedge fund executive who lost to Mehmet Oz in the state’s 2022 U.S. Senate GOP primary, raised $5.2 million and contributed $1 million to his election effort over the first three months of 2024, according to his campaign.” (PennLive)

Latino Voters Could Prove Vital In Battleground Pennsylvania. “There are more than a million Hispanic or Latino people living in the Commonwealth, according to recent census data. The Hispanic/Latino population has grown more than 40% in Pennsylvania since 2010.” (CNN)

State

2. Summer Lee Is PA’s Most Progressive Representative In Congress And Its Only Democrat Facing A Primary Fight

“U.S. Rep. Summer Lee is Pennsylvania’s most progressive representative and the state’s lone Democratic incumbent facing a serious challenger in April’s primary. Her race is a microcosm of the debate between progressive and moderate Democrats headed into the November general election, and it’s shaping up to be an early test of progressive strength against outside group spending.

A freshman Democrat and the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress, Lee won her primary in 2022 by less than 1,000 votes. She’s hoping to win reelection in the district, which includes parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, by focusing on constituent services and touting the more than $1 billion she’s brought home for projects in Western Pennsylvania.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

PA Lawmakers Stew As Shapiro Administration Prolongs Wait For Details On Proposed Higher Education Overhaul. “Some lawmakers say they have no feel at all on what the governor wants to do — or when — in terms of unifying 10 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities and 15 community colleges under one umbrella.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

These Pennsylvania House Primaries Will Decide Who Goes To Harrisburg Next Year. “Sixteen legislative districts have candidates on only one party ballot, meaning the winner takes all.” (Penn Capital-Star)

DoorDash Is Testing A Program In PA That Will Help Pay For Dashers’ Benefits, But Advocates Call It ‘Pennies’. “Food delivery app DoorDash is launching a pilot that will help its gig workers pay for benefits in Pennsylvania, and it has Gov. Josh Shapiro’s support.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA-07 Primary: GOP Candidates Give Their Takes On The Economy

“In recent interviews, the three candidates seeking the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District painted different strategies to battling inflation and improving the economy.

But one thing Kevin Dellicker, Maria Montero and Ryan Mackenzie all agreed on was who was at fault — President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Related

Luzerne County Republican State House Candidates Quarrel Over Withdrawal Offer. “A Republican candidate for a Luzerne County state House seat contends he was offered future campaign money to drop out of the race.” (WVIA)

In Crusade For Senate, McCormick Greets Supporters At South Philly Steak Shop Stop. “Getting a cheesesteak is a ritual for candidates looking to get photo ops that they hope will lead to a win in Pennsylvania.” (WHYY)

Bucks Commissioner DiGirolamo Withdraws Support for County Lawsuit Targeting Big Oil. “Last month, the three Bucks County commissioners entered the national debate over climate policy by filing a lawsuit against the world’s major oil companies, blaming them for local damages allegedly caused by global warming. On Wednesday, Republican Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo backed out.” (DV Journal)

Libertarian Candidate Announces Bid For Bucks Congressional Seat. “Bradley Cooper, of Newtown Township, has announced his candidacy as a Libertarian for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s First District.” (Newtown Patch)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Sajda ‘Purple’ Blackwell Is Best Democratic Choice For PA House District 10. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Media and Politics, Then To Now, Have Changed For The Worse. (John Baer)
• PA Must Address Unconstitutional School Funding. (Aaron Chapin)
• Three Pennsylvania Youth Talk About What They Want In Government On Next Gen PA: Older Folks Should Listen. (Joyce Davis)
• NBC News Sees Folly Of Ronna McDaniel Failure. (Dick Polman)
• The Argument Against Recreational Marijuana. (Jim Beerer)
• My Friends Had To Keep Looking Behind Them, Because They’re Jewish. (James D. Lucot Jr.)

1 Thing

5. Heavy Rains Spark Flooding in Western PA

“Well after the heavy rainfall that slammed much of Western Pennsylvania tapered off Wednesday, Pittsburgh’s rivers continued to rise as runoff from the soggy ground wound its way into the region’s creeks and streams.

The Ohio River, which had already spilled onto the North Shore river walks and the Mon Wharf hours earlier, was expected to continue rising into the night and crest early Thursday at 27 feet, which is considered a moderate flood stage by the National Weather Service.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook