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News & Brews October 15, 2025

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How lawyers buy judicial seats in Philly 

If you think justice in Philly is always blind, think again. The Inquirer reports, “Three Philadelphia lawyers are poised to win ‘magic seats’ as city judges after being quietly nominated last month by Democratic ward leaders to fill vacancies on the Nov. 4 ballot.” These so called “magic seats … open up when incumbent judges file for retention but decide against running for reelection after the primary, allowing the parties to select nominees without the input of voters.” But Democrats aren’t hiding what it takes to win: doing favors for Democrats. “They were here helping us a whole lot,” Democratic City Committee chair Bob Brady said. “When ward leaders need free representation … whatever they need, whatever commiteeperson has a problem, Social Security, a will.”

Guilty plea in arson attack on gov.’s mansion 

Yesterday, Cody Balmer admitted to throwing Molotov cocktails into the governor’s mansion in April. PennLive reports that Balmer “also pleaded guilty to 22 arson charges and 21 reckless endangerment charges corresponding to the number of people in the mansion.” He was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison and was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution.

McCormick: Pa. should join federal school choice program 

In Pittsburgh yesterday, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick urged Pennsylvania to join the newly passed federal tax credit scholarship program, which will go into effect in 2027. “School choice does exist in our country today, it just exists for people that have the wealth to be able to send their kids anywhere they want,” McCormick said. “We want to make sure that opportunity, equality of opportunity, is there for every single kid.” The program requires opt-in by states, and Gov. Shapiro has not yet said he would join. Alongside McCormick yesterday, state Sen. Judy Ward, a strong school choice supporter, said, “I join with the others here to call on Gov. Shapiro to do the right thing and to tell the Trump administration that Pennsylvania wants in.”

ACA premiums poised to rise

The Center Square reports that yesterday, the “Pennsylvania Insurance Department formally announced the 2026 rates for those who purchase insurance through the [Affordable Care Act] from the state’s marketplace, Pennie.” And unless the federal government changes anything, the increases will be “significant.” Specifically, “The average increase across the marketplace is 21.5%…. The highest increase … was Ambetter Health of Pennsylvania, Inc. at 37.8%. The lowest was a decrease of 10.1% requested by Partners Insurance Company, Inc.”

A ‘surprisingly spirited’ Allegheny County Council race

WESA notes that Allegheny County Council races typically attract fewer dollars and less attention than other races, but one race this year is raising eyebrows as “campaign-finance records suggest Democratic incumbent [and Council President] Pat Catena may face a surprisingly spirited challenge from Republican challenger Bob Doddato.” Doddato has raised about $50,000 so far, and he said, “I was told from the get-go that if you’re challenging an incumbent and the county council president, you need to plan to spend $75,000.” Meanwhile, “On paper, Catena has raised $67,880,” but most of that is self-funding.

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