News & Brews January 24, 2025
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Pennsylvania gets a ‘D’ in education freedom
The American Legislative Exchange Council recently released its 2025 Index of State Education Freedom. And unfortunately, Pennsylvania earned only a ‘D’, ranking 37th overall among the 50 states. The index scores states on five categories: Education Freedom Programs, Charter Schools, Homeschooling, Virtual Schooling, and Open Enrollment.
Philly Dems opt (again) not to endorse Krasner
For the second time in four years, the Philadelphia Democratic Party has voted not to endorse a candidate in the race for District Attorney—essentially a “snub” to incumbent progressive DA Larry Krasner. “Instead,” the Inquirer explains, “the party will have an open primary that leaves it up to the 66 individual wards and their leaders to make endorsements for district attorney. That means each ward can list any candidate … on the sample ballots the party hands out on election day. They can also leave the slot blank.” So far, the only other Democrat to enter the race is former Judge Patrick Dugan.
Steel workers pen open letter to Trump
U.S. Steel workers fighting for their jobs have penned an open letter to President Trump “making it clear that they don’t want the iconic Pittsburgh company to sell to their competitor in Cleveland,” the Post-Gazette reports. The letter argues that Cleveland-Cliffs “doesn’t have the money or the know how to make U.S. Steel great again or to make the investments that Nippon has committed,” noting that Nippon’s “committed upgrades will breathe new life into our assets and a certain future for thousands of union jobs across the United States.” The workers are hoping to persuade Trump to back the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, a sale he has said he opposes.
Tracking Pa. voter registration trends
The Center for Politics has a 10-year retrospective of Pennsylvania voter registration trends. Among the key points: “All but 3 of the state’s 67 counties have seen the Republicans net registered voters since 2015.” And from 2015 to 2025, the total number of registered voters in the commonwealth increased from 8,032,363 to 8,836,167, a net increase of 803,804.
State rep. announces run for county judge
Republican State Rep. Torren Ecker (Adams and Cumberland counties) yesterday announced his candidacy for judge on the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. Ecker, who ran unopposed for re-election in November, has served in the House since 2019. He is an attorney by profession.
After election loss, former Dem. congressman has new role
Democrat U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright lost his northeast Pennsylvania congressional seat to Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in November. But WVIA reports, “The Lackawanna County commissioners appointed … Cartwright to the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority board during a meeting Wednesday.” In this role, which “carries no pay or benefits,” Cartwright will advocate for a Scranton-to-New York City passenger rail.