News & Brews February 3, 2026
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How to watch Shapiro’s budget address
Gov. Shapiro is scheduled to deliver his fourth budget address this morning at 11:30 a.m. to a joint session of the General Assembly. And PennLive reports that he’ll do so “with a structural deficit to confront, ongoing funding pressures and a reelection campaign ahead.” Indeed, “Revenues totaling some $46.7 billion did not cover last year’s $50.1 billion budget — signed into law by Shapiro five months late in November — forcing one-time fund transfers to make up the difference that won’t be available this year.” Because of this, some lawmakers think he won’t pitch big new spending plans. We’ll see. You can watch the livestream of the budget address here.
Not all polls are created equal?
A few weeks ago, PennLive announced a new “partnership for political polling” with a Harrisburg-based public affairs group. Well, it appears not all polls are created equal. At least according to Jim Lee, the president of Susquehanna Polling and Research (which was rated the most accurate pollster for battleground polling in 2020 and is an invitation-only member of the American Association of Independent Pollsters). Yesterday, Lee sent a letter to PA Media Group/PennLive expressing “great concern” over the partnership due to the poll’s “unscientific, non-probability sampling technique” which is “not only frowned upon by the polling industry when it comes to election/voter polling, but highly problematic and erroneous.”
Hit a little close to home?
A few weeks ago, UnHerd ran a piece critical of Gov. Shapiro. It was titled, “Josh Shapiro’s Harrisburg problem: the 2028 hopeful can’t fix his own backyard.” The piece described Harrisburg as “trapped in a post-pandemic doom loop, a place many Pennsylvanians avoid because of high crime, boarded-up storefronts, and chronic homelessness that range just beyond the glittering green-domed capitol building.” The piece got its share of criticism, as Shapiro doesn’t govern Harrisburg City. But it looks like it might have hit a nerve. PennLive reports that yesterday Shapiro made “impromptu” visits to “businesses in downtown Harrisburg … in a show of support for what he described as an upcoming state-backed revitalization plan, as residents and businesses continue to voice concern about an economic slump in the city.” Coincidence? You decide.
A big Shapiro donor & the Epstein files
PennLive reports, “LinkedIn co-founder and billionaire Reid Hoffman, who newly released emails show traveled to Jeffrey Epstein properties, gave over $1.5 million to Gov. Josh Shapiro from 2021 to 2023.” Shapiro’s latest campaign filing posted this week shows Hoffman gave him another $500,000 in 2025. Hoffman also gave to other Pa. Democrats, including U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and former U.S. Reps Susan Wild and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. “Shapiro’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from PennLive.”
Pa. House special election set for May 19
The special election to replace former GOP state Rep. Seth Grove of York County, who resigned last week, has been scheduled for May 19, which coincides with the primary election. Already, the race for the seat is on. The York Daily Record reports that George Margetas will seek the Republican nomination. Margetas, “a York County native, is well known as a local criminal defense attorney and serves on the West Manchester Township board of supervisors, having previously served a decade as a member of the West York school board.”