September 14 Playbook: The Races Defining the Midterms

September 14, 2026 | 8:07 AM EDTSeptember 14, 2026 | 5:02 PM EDT

Steve Ulrich

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🔈 What We’re Hearing. “It’s long past time for our federal government to step up, take (AI) seriously, and put up some guardrails — both here at home and on the global stage.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro.

🔈 What We’re Also Hearing. “Asked about his party’s legislative plans, Rep. Dan Meuser said, “Accentuate all the positives, minimize all the negatives.” He added he would like to see “more domestic energy production” and tackling fraud in government programs.

💬 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. For the web version, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

Top Story

1. The 50 Races Defining the 2026 Midterms

“Republicans have a chance this fall to beat Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in a state that proved pivotal to Trump’s return to the White House.

That doesn’t mean they expect to.

Shapiro faces Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in November, and the potential 2028 presidential contender appears to be running far ahead of her. A decisive win would lift Shapiro further in a 2028 conversation expected to be enormously crowded.

It could also determine whether his party takes the House.” | MS Now

Elsewhere

How Republicans Secretly Got Fetterman For Their Convention. “According to three sources familiar with the talks, the idea for Fetterman to make the appearance emerged over the summer, as organizers of the Dallas convention sought what they called an “Oh sh*t” moment.” | Axios

’It Will Take A Big Tent’: Deluzio Talks About the Stakes For 2026, AI, Immigration, and Fetterman. “Congressman Chris Deluzio is seeking a third term representing Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, which straddles Beaver County and a broad swath of Allegheny County suburbs. But in an interview with WESA, he made clear that while he was focused on his Nov. 3 contest with his Republican rival, Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy, he was also thinking about this political moment more broadly.” | WESA

Obama Calls For Dems to Focus on AI. “Former President Barack Obama is urging Democrats — including 2028 presidential candidates and congressional leaders — to more aggressively focus on a comprehensive AI agenda, warning in a closed-door fundraiser that the technology is at an inflection point. Already on Sunday, at least two potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates addressed the issue of slowing the pace of cutting-edge AI development, or otherwise keeping their products from launching pandemics or cyberattacks.” | Politico

Empire of Grift. “Slowly, the Brazilians were learning the same lesson as other American allies around the world: The United States of America is no longer the entity they knew. And American power is no longer deployed solely by trained diplomats and reliable officials, working through state channels. Informal envoys, private companies, online grifters, and hardened ideologues both inside and outside the government matter more.” | The Atlantic

State

2. Your Complete Guide to the Candidates For Governor

“The 2026 election for Pennsylvania governor is fast approaching.

Voters will decide whether Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro should spend another four years as the state’s chief executive or grant his Republican competitor, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a turn at overseeing a vast state bureaucracy that implements programs and policies ranging from elections to environmental policy.” | Spotlight PA

Elsewhere

Here’s What Shapiro’s Huge Edge Over Garrity in National Campaign Contributions Looks Like. “As of June, the governor held a 38-to-1 cash-on-hand lead over Stacy Garrity in his re-election campaign. Who’s funding the governor’s race?” | Public Source

Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Campaigns in ‘Unsafe’ Philly After Taking in Temple-Penn State Football Game. “The state treasurer criticized Shapiro on taxes and transgender athletes and said state regulations are making it harder to do business in Pennsylvania.” | WHYY

Trump and Shapiro Face High-Stakes Political Tests in Pennsylvania’s Midterm Election. “Trump’s final two years as president and a possible White House run for Shapiro could hinge on what voters decide in November” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The New Threat Election Officials Fear: Trump’s Federal Government. “Election officials are contemplating ideas that once sounded outlandish, such as troops seizing voting machines, the president dictating last-minute rules, or rogue officials blocking certification.” | Washington Post

Around The Commonwealth

3. How These Four History-Making House Speakers Are Trying to Protect the Future of American Democracy In Their States

“Addressing the crowd packed into Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia on Thursday, Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton and three other Black House speakers from around the country outlined the steps they’re taking in their state legislatures to safeguard the future of American democracy under President Donald Trump’s administration.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Elsewhere

Inside a Philadelphia Barbershop, Black Men Debate Their Political Past and Future. “Ever since Democrat Kamala Harris lost the presidential election to Donald Trump two years ago, political strategist Khalil Thompson has been traveling the country to figure out why Black men inched toward a white Republican rather than a Black woman.” | AP

Data Center Opposition Is Growing in Philadelphia. “Anti-data center fervor has arrived at Philadelphia’s doorstep. The coalition group No Data Centers in Philly is kicking off a campaign Monday calling on Mayor Cherelle Parker and elected leaders to impose a moratorium on data centers.” | Axios Philadelphia

PA State Police Will Begin Seizing Skill Games Machines On Oct. 14. “The Pennsylvania State Police expect to begin seizing ‘skill games’ — even non-operable ones — on Oct. 14, the day after the expiration of the state Supreme Court’s stay of an order finding the machines to be illegal.” | PennLive

Clowney is New County Commissioner. “The Adams County Court of Common Pleas entered an order on Friday morning naming Mark Clowney as the county commissioner to replace Marty Qually, who resigned to accept a position with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.” | Gettysburg Times

Editorial

4. What Do You Think?

The Winding Road From Old-School Conservatism to Donald Trump | David M. Shribman
Legal Weed May Be Coming, Pennsylvania Needs A Plan Now | Meredith Buttner Schneider
Legalize E-Tab Skill Games to Protect VFW Posts in PA | James Brown
Shapiro’s Latest Power Grab — Governing By Regulation | Beth Ann Rosica
Big Loads Are Big Part of Data Centers | Tribune-Review
SAVE America Act v. Packing Supreme Court: Devil in the Details | Star Parker

1 Thing

5. The Beatles in Pittsburgh

The Beatles performed their only concert in Pittsburgh on this day in 1964, before an audience of 12,603.

Tickets for the show cost $5.90. The venue was the Civic Arena, the world’s first major indoor sports stadium with a retractable roof.

The support acts were, in order of appearance, The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, and Jackie DeShannon. | The Beatles Bible

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Steve Ulrich

Ulrich has worked as managing editor of PoliticsPA since January 2022 after spending two years as the Director of Elections in York (Pa.) County. Prior to that, he spent 35 years as a college athletics administrator. Send email to [email protected]