🐪 Hump Day. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook.

PA Weather
⛈️ Vandergrift | Mostly Cloudy, chance of storms, 81
⛈️ Grantville | Afternoon storms, 89
⛈️ Boothwyn | PM Heavy Rain, 96

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (62-34) | All-Star break
⚾ Pirates (48-48) | All-Star break
⚽ Union (4-9-10) | Wed vs. New England

🎤 Today at the RNC. The Pennsylvania Delegation will hear from Eric Trump, former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, and Rep. Mike Kelly at its morning breakfast. Today’s theme is “Make America Strong Again.”

👂 What We’re Hearing. The Commonwealth Foundation has produced a full-page print ad calling out Gov. Josh Shapiro saying he “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done” that will run this week in Milwaukee, as well as in Chicago during the DNC.

🗞️ Today’s Headlines From The Swing State >> Your Inbox. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Vance Adds Little to Trump Ticket in Pennsylvania, Some Political Experts Say

“The freshman senator from Ohio is now on the Republican ticket with Donald Trump. But JD Vance is a relative newcomer to politics and some analysts aren’t sure he is the best choice for a running mate – or if the pick will swing the race at all.

“If you are drawn to Trump’s politics, or find them revolting, Vance just seconds that,” said Chris Borick, a pollster at Muhlenberg College.” (WITF)

• What Does Vance VP Pick Mean for PA Politics? (DV Journal)
• ‘They’re Counting on Pennsylvania’: Smucker Says VP Nominee Vance Will Help GOP Win PA. (LNP)
• Why Vice Presidential Picks Matter: Significant Moments in History and Transfers of Power. (Tribune-Review)

Related

Wild Among Dems Looking to Halt Biden’s DNC Virtual Nomination. “As the Democratic National Committee (DNC) prepares a virtual roll call to solidify the nomination of Biden as the party’s candidate, some Democratic members of Congress are voicing their objections and considering putting them in writing.” (PoliticsPA)

Biden Plans to Propose Supreme Court Reforms, Including Term Limits. “President Joe Biden is planning to unveil proposals that could dramatically reshape the Supreme Court, including term limits on justices who now sit on the court for life, according to a person familiar with the deliberations.” (Bloomberg)

McCormick Says Election is Choice Between ‘Strength and Weakness’ at RNC. “Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick cast the November election as a choice between the country’s “greatness or its sad, disgraceful decline” as he spoke on the stage of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Casey, McCormick Have About $8M in Cash; McCormick Loans Campaign Another $2M. (PennLive)

Democratic National Committee Investing $15 Million in 7 Swing State Parties, Including PA. “Democrats are trying to offer political counterprogramming to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, announcing $15 million to fund campaign operations in seven key swing states — even as some in the party have urged President Joe Biden to bow out of November’s election.” (AP)

State

2. Bullock, Kinsey Resign From State House. Special Elections Set For September 17

“In the never-ending game of musical chairs in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Reps. Donna Bullock (D-Philadelphia) and Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia) announced their resignations from the chamber.

Bullock, who represented the 195th Legislative District, and Kinsey, who represented the 201st District, stepped aside on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, leaving the Democratic caucus with 100 representatives.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Trump Rally Shooting Pushes Pennsylvania Governor Into the Spotlight. “The attempted assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania put Gov. Josh Shapiro in the spotlight as he took on a consoling and unifying role following the incident.” (The Hill)

Shapiro Administration Tells PA Court It Will Not Defend State Ban on Medicaid-Funded Abortions. “Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday said his administration won’t defend in court a state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used on abortion.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Know Your PA GOP Delegates. “There are 67 delegates and 67 alternates from the Commonwealth that are representing Pennsylvania at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.” (PoliticsPA)

Cartwright Again Tops Pennsylvania’s U.S. House Delegation Raising $1.68 Million in Q2. “Rep. Matt Cartwright’s campaign raised $1.68 million from April 4 to the end of June, according to the latest campaign finance records.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Stelson Doubles Up Perry in Fundraising in Central PA District. “Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson made a statement with her second quarter fundraising numbers.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Federal Funding Comes Through For Harrisburg’s I-83 South Bridge

“Kicking off the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced more than $5 billion in Large Bridge Project awards through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) competitive Bridge Investment Program, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive $500 million for the I-83 South Bridge Replacement Project in Harrisburg, Pa., to replace a bridge originally built in 1960, and widened in 1982, that carries more than 125,000 vehicles per day over the Susquehanna River. The bridge is the major cross-river connection in Downtown Harrisburg and is key to intermodal connectivity – ultimately linking Pennsylvania’s capital region with Baltimore.” (FHWA)

• Buttigieg to announce $500 million for I-83/South Bridge replacement project. (PennLive)
• Feds to Award $500 Million Grant For Major New Harrisburg Bridge That Had Been Set For Tolling. (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Related

Donald Trump’s Shooter Used the Most Popular Rifle in America. The AR-15 and Pennsylvania, Explained. “The AR-15 has become a symbol of the gun rights debate and the choice of mass shooters in Pennsylvania.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Heightened Security at Trump’s Butler Rally From Unrelated Iran Threat Still Failed to Stop the Gunman. “The 20-year-old was able to scale a building and fire at the former president despite the presence of a SWAT team inside, Secret Service chief says.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

How Does PA’s New School Funding Work and How Much Will Your District Get? “Funding for Pennsylvania’s K-12 public education system is the centerpiece of the 2024-25 budget deal approved last week – both in terms of sheer dollar value and the legal issues that have surrounded it.” (PennLive)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• The Trump Shooting Has Led to a Political Blame Game. If We Keep Playing, We Are Doomed. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
• Hillbillies Don’t Need An Elegy and the U.S. Doesn’t Need JD Vance. (Susan Campbell)
• It’s Still the Same Game, With the Same Stakes. (Gene Collier)
• Not Your Father’s (or Grandfather’s or Great-Grandfather’s) GOP. (Stuart Rothenberg)
• Let’s Clear the Air on Politics and Parkinson’s. (Ed Rendell)

1 Thing

5. How Did ‘Hoagie’ Get Its Name?

“There are few foods more associated with Philly than the hoagie. The sacred sandwich can be found across the city and in the hearts of many Philadelphians — yet the origin of the sandwich’s name is contentious and oddly mysterious.

Have you ever wondered why we call it a “hoagie”? Where did the name come from? Does anyone else besides Philadelphians call it a hoagie?” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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