Over $117 Million Spent on TV Alone. This is the PoliticsPA Playbook.
Good Morning. 35 days until the midterms. And it’s National Coffee Day
Your Morning Pick Me Up. Pride (In The Name of Love). U2
PA Weather
Erie | Mostly Sunny, 70
State College | Mostly Cloudy, 71
Allentown | Partly Sunny, 74
PA Sports 
Phillies (88-74) | Tue at Atlanta (NLWC)
Eagles (2-1) | Chicago 7-27 | Sun vs. LA Rams
What’s Happening Today. The House convenes at 11 AM, while the gavel drops in the Senate at 1 PM.
Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s premier source for nonpartisan political news and analysis. Tips or press releases can be sent to steve@politicspa.com.
The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. For the web version, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
Top Story
“The new hot topic flooding the airwaves this election season is a ban on members of Congress trading stocks.
Candidates and groups in more than 80 races have spent upwards of $117 million on TV ads about stock trading by lawmakers, showing the potency of the “clean-up-the-government” message this year.” | Punchbowl News
Elsewhere
The Untold Origins of Trump’s Plan to Sharply Restrict Mail-In Voting. “Earlier this month, the Supreme Court blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump restricting voting by mail in ways that could have thrown the upcoming midterms into chaos. But the White House originally had far more disruptive plans, ProPublica has learned.” | ProPublica
Dems Hope Ire Over Trump’s Immigration Policies Sways Latino Voters in Pennsylvania. “Republicans made inroads with Latino voters in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley in 2024. Democrats are hoping backlash to Trump’s immigration agenda can help them win back votes — and the House.” | NPR
PA Democrats Have Mostly Positive View of Socialism As Progressive Candidates Secure Wins. “With recent victories by democratic socialists nationwide prompting a fierce debate about the future of the Democratic Party, most Democrats in Pennsylvania have a positive view of socialism — and nearly 40% consider themselves to be a democratic socialist, a new poll found.” | Philadelphia Inquirer
Fetterman, 33 Other Senators Accuse Homeland Security Secretary of Undermining Elections. “The Department of Homeland Security should halt its efforts threatening election security as the vital midterms approach more than 30 U.S. senators, including Sen. John Fetterman, wrote in a letter.” | PennLive
Senate Laterals College Sports Bill to House, But Forward Progress Uncertain. “The Senate on Monday approved sweeping bipartisan legislation to create the first federal framework governing college athletics amid an era of transfer chaos, skyrocketing costs and the growth of name, image and likeness. The final tally was 77-22, a rare bipartisan outcome on a major piece of legislation during a time of political division, with both Pennsylvania senators voting in favor. The measure’s fate in the House, however, remains unclear.” | Roll Call
State
“With just five weeks until Election Day, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) isn’t worried that his party will lose control of the legislature’s upper chamber. Instead, despite warnings of a “blue wave” in November, he believes Senate Republicans will widen their four-seat edge.
Pittman, speaking at the Pennsylvania Press Club, touched on numerous issues before lawmakers — including a proposal to ban lobbyists from giving gifts to lawmakers, which a House Republican tried to advance later that afternoon.” | Penn Capital-Star
Elsewhere
GOP Governor Candidate Stacy Garrity Touts Experience In Business, Military, State Government. “Garrity, a retired colonel in the Army Reserve, says she is accustomed to multitasking and working long hours. “I just act like I’m deployed, where you’re literally working 21 hours a day,” Garrity said.” | Tribune-Review
Josh Shapiro Seeks 2nd Term as PA Governor With Possible White House Bid on Horizon. “Shapiro is widely regarded to be a favorite to win reelection. Many pundits already are looking beyond this year’s race, predicting he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2028. Shapiro hasn’t announced plans to run for the White House.” | Tribune-Review
As Shapiro Pumps Money Into Downballot Democrats, Republicans Lean on Jeff Yass. “As Democrat Josh Shapiro continues to massively outraise his Republican gubernatorial opponent, he’s using some of that haul on more than just his own reelection. It offers a contrast with the GOP, whose gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity is in no position to help the party financially. Instead, Republicans are relying heavily on a longtime booster in their high-stakes downballot efforts — Pennsylvania’s wealthiest person, Jeff Yass.” | Spotlight PA
Pennsylvania Will Legalize Adult-Use Marijuana If Democrats Flip Three State Senate Seats in November, Legislators Say. “If Democrats succeed in winning control of the state Senate in November, Pennsylvania voters can expect to see rapid movement toward legalization of recreational marijuana, a group of pro-legalization lawmakers said Friday.” | WHYY
Around The Commonwealth
“NBC News took a road trip along I-80, hitting some of the most competitive congressional districts, including Nazareth and Hazleton, to find out what’s driving people’s votes in the midterms.” | NBC News
Elsewhere
In the 16th, A Repeat Showdown Between Incumbent Republican Jarrett Coleman and Democrat Mark Pinsley. “In the state’s 16th Senate District, voters will again choose between incumbent Republican Jarrett Coleman and Democrat Mark Pinsley, who is Lehigh County’s elected controller.” | Armchair Lehigh Valley
Trump’s Mass Detention Machine in Pennsylvania. “Philipsburg is a town with a history built on timber, industry, and coal. Industry has disappeared, and it’s been decades since coal was a significant employer. Yet one employer has remained in Philipsburg: GEO Group, the second largest for-profit prison company in the US.” | Mother Jones
Philly DEI Panel Endorses Parker’s Contracting Overhaul as Black Business Owners Warn of Consequences. “Several corporate leaders who advised the special committee’s work testified during a hearing that the shift away from race- and gender-conscious contracting would set the city back.” | Philadelphia Inquirer
Allegheny County Health Board Votes to Approve Paid Parental Leave Policy. “The Allegheny County Health Board voted Monday to approve county Executive Sara Innamorato’s proposed paid parental leave policy, advancing the legislation to the County Council.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Editorial
1 Thing
“The Pitt” will return for its third season on HBO Max in early 2027, but the Emmy Award-winning medical drama will make a stop in Pittsburgh even sooner.
The show, which follows the staff of the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, is in production for its third season. While most of it is filmed in Los Angeles, production will shoot some scenes in Pittsburgh in late October — and Steel City residents can appear as background actors.
Production will set up shop in Pittsburgh for several days in late October, when they’ll shoot some scenes from Oct. 27 through Oct. 29.” | USA Today Network
Thank you for starting your day with us.
An extra on “The Pitt”? Sign me up.
