April 22: Primary Day Countdown

Monday, Monday. The final day of the 2024 primary campaign. And “chag Pesach sameach” to those who celebrate as tonight is the first night of Passover.

PA Weather


Corry | Sunny, 56


Shamokin | Sunny, 59


New Holland | Sunny, 61

PA Sports


Sixers (0-1) | New York 104-111 | Mon. vs. New York


Pirates (11-11) | Boston 1-6 | Mon-Thu vs. Milwaukee


Phillies (14-8) | Chicago White Sox 8-2 | Mon-Thu vs. Cincinnati

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Sheryl Delozier.

Today’s Springsteen Lyrics. “Tonight I can feel the cold wind at my back, I’m flyin’ high over gray fields my feathers long and black, Down along the river’s silent edge I soar, Searching for my beautiful reward” – My Beautiful Reward

A Pennsylvania Politics Newsletter? Sign Me Up. Did you know that the PoliticsPA Playbook reaches over 7,200 subscribers? Add your name to the list and we’ll deliver all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. The Jewish Vote Could Play A Huge Role In 2024. Pennsylvania Is About To Put Up An Early Test

“Conversations with more than 30 political strategists, activists and voters outlined how that tension has put Jewish voters in an unfamiliar spot ahead of the 2024 elections: on the front lines of the fight for control of the White House and Congress. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Pennsylvania, the swing state with the largest Jewish population — about 300,000 voting-age Jews in a state President Joe Biden won by roughly 80,000 votes in 2020.

What’s more, the congressional district that includes Squirrel Hill features a primary Tuesday that is among the first electoral tests of sentiment on both sides of the conflict in Gaza and concerns over rising antisemitism in the U.S. Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, a “squad”-aligned progressive critical of Israel’s handling of the war and one of the first lawmakers to call for a cease-fire last year, will face Bhavini Patel, an Edgewood Borough Council member who has painted Lee’s advocacy as harmful to Biden’s re-election chances and out of step with her district.” (NBC News)

Related

How Progressive Ceasefire Advocate Summer Lee Defanged The Opposition Ahead Of Her Primary In Pennsylvania. “The freshman congresswoman from Western Pennsylvania ousted regional political royalty on her way to the state House in 2018, then overcame millions in outside spending, nearly all of it from pro-Israel groups, to win the Democratic nomination and her seat in Congress two years ago.” (CNN)

Casey Talks Campaign Goals, Issues, McCormick. “In a Saturday afternoon media availability, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. spoke on various issues, including his legislative achievements, delivering for Pennsylvania, as well as commenting on his Republican opponent Dave McCormick.” (PoliticsPA)

• Protestors Calling For Cease-Fire In Gaza Interrupt Sen. Bob Casey’s Visit To Lancaster City. (LNP)

This G.O.P. Senate Candidate Says He Grew Up on a Family Farm. Not Exactly. “David McCormick has often spoken about his modest upbringing on a farm in Pennsylvania. A close look at his past tells a different story.” (New York Times)

Pining For Pennsylvania: McCormick Seeks Do-Over In Fight For Crucial Senate Seat. “For McCormick, the race is a chance to learn from the 2022 midterm elections when Republicans lost the open Senate seat to Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) thanks to a contentious primary election that split the national GOP. ” (Washington Examiner)

PA-10: Pennsylvania Race Previews Democrats’ Plan To Focus Campaign On Democracy. “The competitive Democratic primary here Tuesday offers a preview of how Democrats intend to make democracy a central issue in competitive races for seats such as (Scott) Perry’s, which could help determine control of the narrowly divided U.S. House.” (Washington Post)

State

2. Five Races To Watch In Pennsylvania Primaries

“Pennsylvania will be one of the most closely watched states in November, with a high-profile Senate race and competitive House seats, not to mention it’s a pivotal presidential battleground.

But there are only a handful of contested races in Tuesday’s primary. Just three House incumbents face primary challengers, while voters in two battleground districts will pick nominees for November.” (Roll Call)

Related

Republicans’ Defense Of The ‘Biden 16′ House Districts Starts With Pennsylvania’s Primary Election. “(Mark) Houck’s campaign to unseat fourth-term Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Tuesday’s primary could offer hints about swing-district Republican sentiment in one of the most volatile White House races in years.” (AP)

Biden Was Up Close And Personal In Pennsylvania. He Hopes It Can Help Him Win. “From his childhood home in Scranton to a union hall, to Wawa, Joe Biden is prioritizing smaller, more intimate campaign stops as he campaigns against Donald Trump.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Biden’s Soft Polling Among Young Voters Shows Need To Highlight ‘Wonderful Body Of Work,’ Shapiro Says. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Despite Initial Fears, Automatic Voter Registration Numbers Evenly Split. “With days remaining until the 2024 Pennsylvania presidential primary, the numbers belie any GOP fears of the measure strongly supporting Democratic efforts.” (PoliticsPA)

Bizzarro, Running For State Treasurer, Aims To Give Erie a Larger Voice Across The State. “It’s been a while since an Erie County resident ran for a statewide office ― and won. In fact, the last person to do so was former Gov. Tom Ridge, who won the governorship back in 1995. But Democratic state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro hopes to defy the odds this year.” (Erie Times-News)

Perry Is Only PA House Member To Vote Against Aid For Both Israel, Ukraine. “Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry voted against aid to Israel and Ukraine on Saturday, as enough Republicans joined Democrats to push the stalled legislation through the House.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. ‘Longtime Following’ vs. ’Fresh Vision’: Voters Predict A Toss-Up Between Cutler, Nissley On Tuesday

“Few Lancaster County politicos had heard of Dave Nissley last year when he began his primary campaign against state Rep. Bryan Cutler, the leader of Republicans in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives.

The businessman from Sadsbury Township had never run for office and wasn’t involved with the county Republican Party.

Now Nissley’s name is plastered onto roadside billboards and yard signs all over the Southern End district that Cutler has represented since 2007, even in its furthest corners bordering Chester County and Maryland.” (LNP)

Related

Chester County GOP Lawsuit Could Block Some Mail Ballots From Being Counted In Tuesday’s Primary. “In a complaint filed Thursday in the Chester County Court of Commons Pleas, the Republican Committee of Chester County asked a judge to block the county from counting ballots if they were returned by a single agent for multiple residents in a long-term care facility — potentially invalidating those ballots days before the state’s primary election.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

A Preview Of Voting Headaches South of Pittsburgh. “A dramatic commissioner meeting in Washington County on Thursday night over mail-in voting displayed the tension between Pennsylvania’s historical respect for local government and the need for uniform laws and guidance from the General Assembly.” (The Center Square)

Black Voters Matter Bus Tour To Cross PA Ahead Of Primary, Will Stop In Harrisburg. “Black Voters Matter will be bringing the “Blackest Bus in America” to Harrisburg and other Pennsylvania cities in the coming days to rally voters before Tuesday’s primary.” (PennLive)

PA House Primary Previews (PoliticsPA)

• Central PA (HD-80, HD-90)
• Northeast Philly, Delco (HD-159, HD-172)
• Philadelphia (HD-10, HD-181, HD-188, HD-190)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• City of Burned Bridges: Ed Gainey Has Isolated Pittsburgh. (Brandon McGinley)
• Sending PA National Guard Members To The Mexican Border Could Put Pennsylvanians At Risk. (Cam Pursel)
• Don’t Worry About The Democrats Who Won’t Vote For Joe Biden. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• If You Didn’t Mail In Your Ballot, Get To The Polls On Tuesday To Support Our Democracy. (PennLive)

1 Thing

5. Surprise! Bridges Are Getting Safer

“America’s bridge infrastructure — long seen as dysfunctional — has been steadily improving for the past 20 years.

Why it matters: The share of bridges rated poor by the federal government fell from 15% in 2000 to 6.8% in 2023.

By the numbers: Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan collectively house 40% of neglected bridges. One factor is the bridges’ age. Pennsylvania, which tops the list of neglected bridges, has 2,000 bridges built 100+ years ago.” (Axios)

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