News & Brews December 9, 2024
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Who will challenge Shapiro in 2026?
The Inquirer reports that after last month’s “major GOP wins,” speculation is swirling about who might take on Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2026. Among the names being mentioned by others (without confirmation or denial from the actual folks themselves) are U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, former gubernatorial candidate Dave White, state Sen. Scott Martin, and state Sen. Greg Rothman. Meanwhile, others who are dispelling speculation and saying they will not run include former Pa. House Speaker (and current CP Board Member) Mike Turzai and Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday—who, when asked, frankly said, “That’s not happening.”
And the most popular person at Pa. Society is …
It’s the annual “Who’s who?” in Pa. politics. But among all the “who’s,” the Inquirer reports that the most popular “who” in the room this past weekend was Senator-elect Dave McCormick, who “was undoubtedly the star of this year’s … event.” Outgoing Senator Casey made the story’s sub-headline, and the Inquirer noted, “Casey also spent time in New York, in a more reflective mood.” Meanwhile, “Both spoke Saturday morning at the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association’s annual bipartisan luncheon at the ornate Metropolitan Club near Central Park. The candidates were seated with each other, and it was the first time they had spoken since Casey called McCormick last month to concede the razor-thin race days into a statewide recount.”
December is prep month for political candidates
While “normal” people are prepping for the holidays this month, many political candidates are already prepping for the April primary elections. (I know, seriously, can’t we just get through Santa Claus for now?) The Post-Gazette takes a look at this political prep month, noting that among the most important thing candidates can be doing right now is fundraising and shoring up support. As one person put it, “What you don’t want to happen is for someone to say they wish they had heard from you sooner and that they’ve already agreed to support another candidate.”
Pa. congressional race among country’s most expensive
Lehigh Valley News reports that the 7th congressional district race between incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and Republican challenger (and now Rep.-elect) Ryan Mackenzie was the 10th most expensive congressional race in the country this year, coming in at more than $38.2 million. “Records show Wild … raised $8.8 million … and spent all but $140,761 of it.” Mackenzie, meanwhile, “raised just over $1.7 million.” Beyond direct spending by the candidates, the majority of spending in the race “came from third-party organizations placing ads and running independent operations.”
CNN reports on Pa. case with Shapiro ties
CNN has a long-form story on the 2011 death of Ellen Greenberg, whose death was initially ruled a homicide but then inexplicably changed to a suicide despite the fact that Ellen had 20 knife wounds and nearly a dozen bruises. Her parents have spent the last 13 years fighting to have her official cause of death changed back to homicide, and one of their cases is now before the Pa Supreme Court. How does Gov Shapiro figure into this? The story notes, “The Greenbergs say they have spent more than $700,000 on their lawsuits and investigations. It has continued for more than a decade. It has drawn in a police department, a medical examiner’s office, the district attorneys of two counties, and the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office. And it has raised questions about how Gov. Josh Shapiro handled the case when he was attorney general.”