News & Brews September 16, 2024
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Pa. reacts to 2nd assassination attempt against Trump
It’s hard to believe we’re writing this, but the FBI is now investigating a second assassination attempt against Former President Trump, who, thankfully, was unharmed. The Delaware Valley Journal gathered reactions from some Pennsylvania elected officials, candidates, and others, with some suggesting the Left’s rhetoric against Trump—for example, comparing him to Hitler—is inciting violence.
Pa. House GOP primary results still not certified
With just 50 days until Election Day and absentee/mail-in ballots to military and overseas voters slated to go out very soon, the 117th House District Republican Primary race results are still not certified. The race—in which GOP challenger Jamie Walsh leads incumbent state Rep. Mike Cabell by five votes—had been embroiled in court battles since just after the April 23 election. On Friday, the state Supreme Court finally issued a ruling that “upheld a Commonwealth Court ruling that ruled one provisional ballot valid and another invalid.” The ruling does not change the current vote count. WVIA reports, “Luzerne County Director of Elections Emily Cook said the elections board will set a date to meet for a ‘first signing’ of the results. After that, candidates have five days to ask the county court of common pleas for a recount.”
Pa. is a loser in interstate migration
Data released by the IRS shows that from 2021-2022, Pennsylvania lost 21,700 people and $2.75 billion in income to other states. Relative to population, we saw a net loss of residents of 0.17%, ranking us 35th among states (with 1st being the highest net gain of residents relative to population).
Another mail-in ballot court ruling in Pa.
On Friday, the state Supreme Court issued a 4-3 ruling under which improperly dated mail-in ballots can be deemed invalid by counties (in accordance with state law). The AP reports, “The state’s high court ruled on procedural grounds, saying a lower court that found the mandate unenforceable should not have taken up the case because it did not draw in the election boards in all 67 counties. Counties administer the nuts and bolts of elections in Pennsylvania, but the left-leaning groups that filed the case only sued two of them, Philadelphia and Allegheny counties.”
Two third-party candidates will not appear on Pa. ballot
On Friday, the Pa. Supreme Court “sided with lower court decisions to block two third-party presidential candidates from the battleground state’s ballot in November’s election.” Not appearing will be “Constitution Party presidential candidate James Clymer — a placeholder for the conservative party’s presidential nominee — and Claudia De la Cruz of the left-wing Party for Socialism and Liberation.” The AP reports that the ruling gives “a win apiece to each major party.” Still set to appear as third-party presidential candidates are Jill Stein of the Green Party and Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party.