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Top Story

1. 5 Key Moments That Shaped the Presidential Race and a Trump Victory

“Donald Trump’s decisive win Tuesday night over Kamala Harris represents a profound realignment of the American electorate, giving Republicans a blueprint for future victories and Democrats enough cause for soul searching to last a presidential term.

Trump gained ground in almost every district and demographic, storming back to the White House by likely seizing all seven battleground states and keeping states like Florida and Iowa firmly off the map for Harris. These shifts almost certainly stem from more than one moment in a campaign that lasted nearly two years.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Elsewhere

To Win Pennsylvania, Trump Did Exactly What He Needed To In Philly: Improved Slightly. “President-elect Donald Trump won one out of five Philadelphia voters in one of the strongest performances by a Republican presidential candidate in the deep-blue city in years, doing so by increasing his support in working-class communities across racial groups.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Donald Trump’s Growing Support Among Latino Voters Helped Him Clinch Battleground Pennsylvania. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• ‘It’s Simple, Really’ – Why Latinos Flocked to Trump’s Working-Class Coalition. (BBC)
• Trump Sets GOP Record With Latino Voters, Poll Says. (Axios)

In Concession Speech, Kamala Harris Says Nation Must Accept Election Results While Urging Supporters to Keep Fighting. “The Democratic vice president said the battle would continue “in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square.”” (AP)

• Democrats’ Election Abortion Strategy Falls Flat. (The Hill)
• Rural Leaders Say the Harris Campaign Was Too Slow to Reach Their Crucial Voters. (NOTUS)
• Trump Didn’t Win Pennsylvania. Kamala Harris Lost It. (The Intercept)

‘Something Great’ and ‘The World is Ending’ Echo in Post-Election Din. “Across the Pittsburgh region, from classrooms to care centers, Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House has shaken perceptions and altered horizons.” (Public Source)

State

2. Why AP Hasn’t Called the Pennsylvania Senate Race

“Pennsylvania’s Senate contest between Democratic incumbent Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick is still too early to call.

McCormick has a roughly 31,000-vote lead, which has been dwindling as outstanding votes continue to be counted. The roughly half-percentage-point margin between the candidates also qualifies the race for an automatic recount.

McCormick overtook Casey with about 80% of the estimated votes counted just before midnight on Tuesday. Casey initially had a lead over McCormick when just about 40% of the estimated votes had been counted, propelled in part by mailed ballots that have historically favored Democrats. McCormick was doing better in votes cast on Election Day.” (AP)

• As of 7:45 a.m. – McCormick 3,328,514 (48.92%), Casey 3,300,894 (48.52%)

Elsewhere

McCormick Maintains Decisive Lead In Last Stage of PA Senate Count; No Declarations Yet. “Nobody declared victory or conceded defeat in Pennsylvania’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race as of Wednesday afternoon, but staffers for Republican Dave McCormick say they are quite confident McCormick’s 27,620-vote lead will hold.” (PennLive)

Perry’s Re-Election Seems Assured, But No Victory Declarations Yet. “Scott Perry has not declared victory and Janelle Stelson has not conceded.” (PennLive)

‘Eager to Get to Work’: Bresnahan Beats Cartwright in 8th Congressional District. “Republican challenger and first-time candidate Rob Bresnahan Jr. defeated incumbent Democratic congressman Matt Cartwright, flipping the 8th Congressional District seat for the GOP and capping one of the nation’s most competitive Congressional races.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Susan Wild Concedes to Ryan Mackenzie. “Mackenzie declared victory just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, addressing supporters at his watch party in Allentown. As of Wednesday morning, he led Wild 51-49%, or by around 6,400 votes, with 99% of votes counted.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Which Party Will Win Control of the PA House? A Few Races Will Decide

“Control of the closely divided Pennsylvania House is on the line, with a handful of races still undecided.

At the moment, Democrats hold 102 seats in the 203-member chamber, giving the party control over the agenda and critical committees. All seats were on the ballot Tuesday.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Contest For Control of PA House Remains Close As Vote-Counting Continues. “Amy Bradley and Frank Burns both knew by early Wednesday afternoon who had been elected the next president of the U.S., but neither of them knew which one of them had won their head-to-head matchup for a state House seat in Cambria County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pennsylvania Senate Sees At Least One Seat Flip, But Republicans Maintain Firm Majority. “With only one race yet to be called, it appears that the partisan makeup of the Pennsylvania Senate will remain the same after Tuesday’s election.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Local Races

• Valerie Gaydos, Jeremy Shaffer Claim PA House seats in 44th, 28th Districts. (WESA)
• In Delaware County Races, Incumbents Sweep, Again. (Delco Times)
• Bucks County Election Results Tip Toward Incumbents in Split State Legislature. (Bucks County Courier Times)
• Chester County State Representatives and Senators Keep Their Seats. (Daily Local)
• Haddock, Ryncavage Retain Their Seats in Harrisburg. (Times Leader)
• Unofficial Results For State Senate and House Races in Central PA. (WPSU)
• Incumbent State Lawmakers Defend Their Seats, Rivera Wins Vacant 96th race. (LNP)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• A Tumultuous Election Ends, and Voters Choose Trump’s Grim Vision of Discord and Retribution. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• A Historic Comeback, and An Uncertain Future. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Pennsylvania Still Has Lessons in Wake of Election. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Donald Trump’s Second Term Could Utterly Transform America. Be Vigilant. (York Dispatch)
• Democrats Will Win Again Once the Economy Tanks. (Washington Monthly)
• Be Honest, America. This Is Who We Are: A Bitter, Broken Land That Wants Trump to Lead Us. (Will Bunch)
• Trump Wins 2024 Election. America Needs to Admit It’s Not ‘Better Than This.’ (Rex Huppke)
• Trump’s Win in Pennsylvania Was Really No Surprise. (John Baer)
• Trump Has Humiliated His Foes. (John F. Harris)
• McCormick Is The Leader Pennsylvania Needs. (Guy Ciarrocchi)

1 Thing

5. Just Click Your Heels Together

“A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” is on the auction block nearly two decades after a thief stole the iconic shoes, convinced they were adorned with real jewels.

Online bidding has started and will continue through Dec. 7.” (AP)

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