It’s Special Election Day in Pennsylvania. Time to vote in the 36th Senate and 35th Legislative Districts. Polls open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Pump It Up. The inimitable Elvis Costello

PA Weather
Portersville | Mostly Sunny, 46
Palmyra | Mostly Sunny, 58
Palmerton | Mostly Sunny, 56

PA Sports
Flyers (28-35-9) | Tue vs. Toronto
Penguins (29-32-11) | Tue vs. Tampa Bay
Sixers (23-49) | New Orleans 99-112 | Wed vs. Washington

What’s Happening Today. The House convenes for an 11 a.m. voting session. The Senate holds court at 1 p.m.

What They’re Saying. “This is an outrageous national security breach and heads should roll.” –  Rep. Chris Deluzio. “This stunning lack of operational security by @SecDef is just another illustration of his gross incompetence.” – Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. “We don’t care what the media says,” a Trump adviser said. “We can easily handle what would kill any other administration. This will blow over.”

Social Media. Join us on Twitter and Bluesky at @PoliticsPA

Top Story

1. ICYMI. The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

“The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.

I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

This is going to require some explaining.” (The Atlantic)

Elsewhere

Democrats Host Town Halls to Hear From Voters, Fire Up Supporters – But Is Their Message Resonating? “At a “People’s Town Hall” on Thursday held by the Democratic National Committee, in a church located in a Pennsylvania district that Democrats lost to Republicans in 2024, party leaders fired up the crowd when slamming the White House and congressional Republicans over Medicaid, federal government cuts, and other issues.” (ABC News)

Streaming, TV Respond to Shifting Political Winds. “At any moment, entertainment programming may reflect the culture or it may lead the culture. Sometimes it does both simultaneously to advance the industry’s ultimate goal: making money. With a second Trump administration, there’s some evidence of entertainment companies’ desire to reflect the outcome of the November 2024 election.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Capital-Star Q&A: Congressman Brendan Boyle Talks Budget, ‘DOGE Bros,’ and Blue Collar Workers. “Boyle spoke about a wide range of issues including the challenges facing the panel, the impact Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is having on Pennsylvanians, winning over blue collar workers, and his optimism that Democrats will win the House back in 2026.” (Penn Capital-Star)

State

2. Voters Will Break 101-101 Deadlock With Special Election For Pennsylvania House Vacancy

“Voters in a western Pennsylvania district will determine Tuesday if Democrats will hold onto a bare one-vote majority and keep control of the state House of Representatives.

The chamber has been tied at 101 to 101 since incumbent Rep. Matt Gergely, an Allegheny Democrat, died in January.

A Democratic win would keep Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia as the chamber’s presiding officer. But if Republicans pull off a win in the Democratic-leaning district, they will be able to replace McClinton and install their own members as committee chairs.” (AP)

Elsewhere

Deluzio, Dems Make Late Push in Lanco’s State Senate Race. “Those of age might remember George Burns’ line from “Oh, God” when he said as the Almighty that the “last miracle I did was the 1969 Mets. Before that, I think you have to go back to the Red Sea. That was a beauty.”” (PoliticsPA)

Self-Deleting Message Apps Confound PA’s Public Access Law, Senate Panel Hears. “When government officials do the public’s business using apps that automatically erase their messages, transparency and accountability take a hit, open records advocates told Pennsylvania lawmakers Monday.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Fetterman Is Getting Heat From Conor Lamb and Other Democrats For Joining Sen. McCormick’s Book Tour. “It’s been more than two months since Sen. John Fetterman held a public event in Pennsylvania, stopping by the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. Next on his schedule: appearing at an event in Pittsburgh to promote Republican Sen. Dave McCormick’s new book about mentorship — Fetterman’s latest display of bipartisanship that is rankling Democrats in his party.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Why Are Developers Backing O’Connor? Some Want a Pittsburgh Mayor Who Will Take Their Calls

“County Controller Corey O’Connor is attracting serious money to his campaign to unseat Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, indicating that the May 20 Democratic primary could be highly competitive and O’Connor will be able to reach voters through advertising as much as, and perhaps more than, the incumbent.

While the $1 million O’Connor has reported raising since launching his campaign in December comes from various sources, a PublicSource analysis found that at least one in every four dollars he received came from professionals, executives and political action committees involved in building and selling housing and commercial real estate.” (Public Source)

Elsewhere

Allegheny County Council Member to Introduce Bill Placing Term Limits Question For County Elected Officials on Fall Ballot. “Executive, council members and row offices would be limited to three terms in office; currently, only the executive is term-limited.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA Food Banks Are Facing Millions In Federal Funding Cuts As They Fear Increased Need. “Philabundance, the region’s largest food bank, is staring down an 18% drop in what it can spend on food next fiscal year. In central Pennsylvania, a food bank serving 27 counties will have nearly $2 million less for milk and fresh vegetables provided by local farmers in the area.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Federal Judges Award Rare Injunction to Striking Pittsburgh Journalists, Who Are Mulling What Happens Next. “The order from the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals represents a major victory for workers engaged in what is now the longest ongoing strike in the United States.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Growth Mindset: State, Local Leaders Strive to Reverse Rural Population Decline. “While Pennsylvania is best known for its marquee metropolises of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, its beating heart is, arguably, found within the farms, forests and rolling mountains that thousands of rural communities and their residents call home. But this reality is in jeopardy.” (Altoona Mirror)

Young America’s Foundation Files Complaint Against Gettysburg College to Department of Education. “The complaint lists a number of offices, student organizations, academic programs and events related to diversity and inclusion, and urges the OCR to investigate the College for alleged federal law violations.” (Gettysburgian)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• After Trump’s Attacks On Universities, Campuses Realize: If It Can Happen There, It Can Happen Here. (Jack Ramirez)
• Gutting the National Endowment for the Arts Would Be a Huge Setback For Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Representation Matters: Why We Need Diverse Teachers in Pennsylvania Schools. (Lacey Anderson)
• Trump Plays Recession Roulette With the American Economy. (Alan S. Blinder)
• Organizations That Believe in DEI Should Follow Major League Baseball’s Lead. (Brandon Wetherbee)

1 Thing

5. ‘Double Sunrise’ Will Be Visible This Weekend

“Just weeks after a total lunar eclipse turned the sky blood red, there’s already another celestial event that has people talking – a partial eclipse that will create a unique sunrise Saturday.

Dubbed a “double sunrise” by Live Science and Forbes, the moon’s silhouette will give the sun a crescent shape, and, as it rises on March 29, viewers will see what appear to be “two separate ‘horns’ emerging from the horizon.”

If the weather cooperates, the phenomenon will be visible to some degree in Pennsylvania.” (Nexstar)

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