News & Brews August 26, 2025
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Pa. GOP General Assembly leaders endorse Garrity
Republican leaders in both the Pa. House and Senate yesterday announced their endorsement of state Treasurer Stacy Garrity for governor. The Delaware Valley Journal reports, “The coordinated endorsements underscore GOP leaders’ determination to avoid a repeat of the bruising 2022 Republican primary, when seven candidates battled for the nomination and the party declined to endorse. [Doug] Mastriano emerged as the nominee but lost the general election to Democrat Josh Shapiro by nearly 15 points.” For his part, Mastriano has been teasing another run. However, “Many Keystone State Republicans have made it clear they don’t want another Mastriano candidacy, one that political pros say would be doomed from the beginning.”
Street to step down as Pa. Democratic Party chair
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Sen. Sharif Street announced he will step down from his party leadership role as he campaigns for Congress. Street had drawn questions from within his own party regarding the conflict of interest in running for office while also leading the state party. The Inquirer reports that Street’s “official announcement made no mention of a replacement but Street is expected to endorse [Eugene] DePasquale at a Democratic event in Philadelphia this weekend.”
Now, SEPTA is getting sued
The Philly Inquirer reports that a group of SEPTA riders is suing the transit agency over service cuts. Attorney George Bochetto, who is representing the riders, wrote, “SEPTA’s planned service reductions are draconian in nature and will have a severe impact on racial and ethnic minorities and low-income citizens in Southeastern Pennsylvania without any legitimate basis.” Bochetto accused SEPTA of “committing a fraud on the public,” pointing to SEPTA’s nearly $400 million reserve fund. “There is no reason why these cuts are necessary.”
Shapiro’s latest position on SEPTA
Yesterday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said “he is open to using money from a special transit fund that pays for capital projects to help SEPTA reverse deep service cuts,” Spotlight PA reports. You’ll recall the GOP Senate passed a similar proposal a few weeks back, which Shapiro appeared categorically to oppose. Now, though, he says he’s “willing to transfer funding as ‘part of a broader package that focuses on recurring funding over a long period of time that funds mass transit in each of our 67 counties.’” Shapiro says his latest comments are not a change of position. The story also notes that Shapiro said “that he would not support a deal that diverts transit dollars to roads.” This is interesting as last year, he was more than willing to divert road dollars to transit.
A Dem divide in PA-07?
Since Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s win over former Democrat Rep. Susan Wild last year in the Lehigh Valley, this swing congressional district has been at the top of Dems’ target list for 2026. Wild, who opted against running again, is backing Carol Obando-Derstine, a former aide to former Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., in the Democrat primary. But not all Democrat leaders are sold on Obando-Derstine. Now, another Democrat—firefighters union leader Bob Brooks—is entering the race with the backing of Pa. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Democrat Rep. Chris Deluzio, and Sen. Bernie Sanders.