News & Brews March 27, 2025
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WSJ: A shock to the GOP from MAGA Country
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board has taken note of Pennsylvania’s 36th state Senate District special election in Lancaster County, where Democrat James Malone pulled off a victory over Republican Josh Parsons on Tuesday in the heavily Republican district that Trump won by 15 points. “Democrats are crowing that the outcome is a reaction to what’s happening down the road in Washington.” But, “Voter turnout in such races can be considerably smaller than in November, so the results aren’t always predictive.” Still, “nationalizing relatively sleepy local races can be politically effective, and Democrats hope to do the same thing next week in Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court election….” And, “Republicans might want to take this surprise loss in MAGA country as a warning.”
Senate committee votes to save women’s sports
Yesterday, the Pa. Senate Education Committee voted 7-4 to advance the Save Women’s Sports Act, which would protect women and girls from being forced to compete against biological males. The legislation was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Judy Ward (Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata & Mifflin counties). Voting against the bill were Democrat state Sens. Lindsay Williams (Allegheny County), Anthony Williams (Delaware and Philadelphia counties), Carolyn Comitta (Chester County) and Tim Kearney (Delaware County).
It appears Goldie Hawn didn’t work out?
In December, former Pa. Secretary of Education Khalid Mumin resigned from the post and took a new role with the Goldie Hawn Foundation. Well, now it appears that Mumin is heading back to the Reading School District—where he was superintendent from 2014-2021—to once again serve as superintendent. Not sure what happened on the Goldie Hawn front.
Meet the candidate taking on Larry Krasner
As part of a two-part series profiling candidates for Philly District Attorney, the Inquirer spoke with Democrat Patrick Dugan, who is challenging incumbent Larry Krasner in the primary election (no Republican has filed to run). “Dugan has been branded the ‘tough-on-crime’ candidate, and is straight from central casting.… But Dugan and those close to him say the tough guy exterior belies an inner softness and empathy that has guided much of his life.” And the reason he’s running boils down to two words: Larry Krasner. The story explains that Dugan “said he feels compelled to take on Krasner, who he believes has mismanaged the district attorney’s office and implemented policies that have dragged down the city.”
Senate committee votes to accelerate CNIT reduction
Doing what Gov. Shapiro campaigned on but then abandoned for two years, the Pa. Senate Finance Committee voted 7-4 yesterday to advance legislation that would accelerate the reduction of Pennsylvania’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) rate. Sponsored by GOP state Sen. Greg Rothman (Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties), the bill would reduce the CNIT from 7.99 percent to 4 percent immediately. On the campaign trail, Shapiro backed an accelerated reduction from the previous high of 9.99 percent. But during his first two years in office, he must have been too busy making TikTok videos to actually do anything about it. Without an acceleration, the rate would reach 4.99 percent in 2031.