News & Brews May 4, 2026
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
Did Shapiro back Garrity in ‘24 in retaliation v. Dem?
Axios reports that per Democrat Bob Brooks, who is running for Congress with Gov. Shapiro’s endorsement, Shapiro “secretly helped” GOP state Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s 2024 reelection bid after Democrat nominee Erin McCleland “criticized Shapiro as a potential VP pick.” If true, this “could become a liability if Shapiro runs for president in 2028, as many expect. It also could feed the idea — held even by some Shapiro supporters — that he can be vindictive, take critiques too personally and be willing to push aside allies to get ahead.” Brooks claims he “misspoke.” (Ah, the famous “misspoke.”)
Inside the GOP effort to court Fetterman
Democrat U.S. Sen. John Fetterman has repeatedly said he has no interest in switching parties. But this hasn’t stopped Republicans from trying to persuade him. POLITICO reports that Senate Republicans and Trump are working to persuade Fetterman “to switch parties or at least become an independent to ensure Republicans retain power in the chamber.” Per multiple GOP officials, “Trump has made the sell, offering his patented total and complete endorsement plus a financial windfall to the Pennsylvanian. A handful of Senate Republicans are also gently feeling out Fetterman and responding to his concerns over the prospect of defecting from the Democratic Party.”
Trades unions back data center push
The AP reports, that as “unionized workers are employed on a huge number of massive data center projects and scrambling to recruit new apprentices to feed the explosive demand,” unions have “become an ally of tech giants and tech-friendly government officials” backing the construction of new AI data centers.
‘Shapiro’s vacancies create quorum controversy’
Broad + Liberty’s Beth Ann Rosica writes of a curious scenario now existing on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Today, just five of the commission’s 11 seats are occupied, yet. Gov. Shapiro has not made appointments to fill the vacancies. Because of how statute is written, however, the commission can still conduct business as a “quorum” can be defined as a majority of those appointed, not a majority of the seats that are supposed to be appointed.
Dems hope to flip this Bucks/Lehigh senate seat
The Inquirer reports that two Democrats are vying for the chance to take on Republican state Sen. Jarrett Coleman in hopes of flipping this red state Senate seat blue. Teacher and Penn Ridge School Board member Bradley Merkl-Gump is facing Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley (who lost to Coleman 54% to 46% in 2022). Coleman has drawn Democrats’ and Shapiro’s ire simply for being a Republican (of course) but also for his dogged push for transparency on issues including taxpayer-funded flights for Shapiro and taxpayer-funded upgrades to Shapiro’s private home.