News & Brews November 22, 2022

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Pa. House Majority Leader to step down from leadership role

Yesterday, news broke that Republican House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (Centre and Mifflin counties) will not seek a leadership post when House Republicans hold internal elections today. Reportedly vying for leader will be current House Speaker Bryan Cutler (Lancaster County) and Rep. Paul Schemel (Franklin County). Spotlight PA reporter Stephen Caruso gave a rundown yesterday of who’s tossed their hats into the ring for this and other GOP leadership roles, “as far as [he] can tell at the moment.”

GOP Lt. Gov. nominee DelRosso weighing options for the future

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Republican Lt. Gov. nominee Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso is ‘weighing her options’ following Doug Mastriano’s loss in the gubernatorial campaign. (While candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in the primary election, they run on the same ticket in the general.) DelRosso said she and her family are “going to think about the next steps.”

Pa. charter enrollment up as traditional public school enrollment down

Since the 2019-20 academic year, enrollment in Pennsylvania’s public charter schools has risen by almost 12%, while enrollment in traditional public schools has fallen by about 3%, the Center Square reports. The data is from a new report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, which found an overall 7% increase in charter school enrollment among 41 states studied.

How Fetterman outperformed Biden in most Pa. counties

The Erie Times-News reports that in all but 5 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, John Fetterman outperformed President Biden among voters: “Fetterman took 37% of the vote on average compared to Biden’s 35% average, but the former Braddock mayor doubled that two-point lead in many counties with more registered Republicans than Democrats.” How did he do it? The story points in part to the fact that Fetterman “spen[t] time and resources in communities he knew he would never win.”

‘Warning sign’ for Dems in Philly

Despite big election wins this year, Democrats could have cause for concern. The Inquirer reports that “Philly turnout plummeted,” which “raises questions about the city’s future role in statewide races….” The story continues, “If Philadelphia’s turnout drop had matched the state’s, about 84,000 more voters would have cast ballots. That could be foreboding for Pennsylvania Democrats….”

Conor Lamb exits electoral politics … for now

Following an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, Rep. Conor Lamb announced he will join the law firm of Kline and Specter, a trial attorney firm whose lawyers have donated heavily to Democrat political causes. He hinted, however, that he may return to public service “perhaps soon.”

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