News & Brews July 17, 2026
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Shapiro aims to elect down-ballot Dems
POLITICO reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro “is pouring $3.3 million into a coordinated campaign launching this weekend to help Democrats in the nation’s biggest swing state flip four congressional seats and secure a governing trifecta in Harrisburg for the first time in three decades.” The effort “is the latest step in the aggressive down-ticket push Shapiro is mounting in the midterms that will serve as a critical test of his coattails and of his political acumen ahead of a potential presidential run.”
Yep, we still have a structural deficit
“Despite budget reprieve, Pa. still faces an underlying $5B deficit, fiscal agency finds.” I admit this headline made me shake my head. Well duh. When the latest state budget increases spending, deploys “tricks” to make the numbers look better, and does nothing to address the structural deficit, of course the deficit is going to persist. The story notes that per the state Independent Fiscal Office, “Pennsylvania will likely spend about $5 billion more than it brings in over the next eleven-and-a-half months.”
Stelson outraises other candidates
Democrat Janelle Stelson, who is seeking again to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, was the top fundraiser among all Pennsylvania congressional candidates in May and June, the Center Square reports. “Stelson … raised $1.67 million from April 30 to the end of June, while Perry raised just under $780,000 during the same time frame.” Pennsylvania, of course, is home to four of the most watched U.S. House races this year, including the Perry-Stelson matchup. The only Republican incumbent in a competitive seat in Pa. to raise more than the challenger was Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
Senate Dems not keen on Mastriano nomination
PennLive reports that Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano “faces significant Democratic opposition to his confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic.” This opposition was on display at a confirmation hearing yesterday. The Republican Senate majority could still make the way smooth for Mastriano’s confirmation, however.
Dems see state legislatures as key to strategy
The progressive Pennsylvania Capital-Star considers how Democrats are seeking to flip state legislatures across the country this November, viewing statehouse races as “a critical opportunity to oppose policies enacted by the federal government’s GOP trifecta.” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said, “2026 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform state legislative power.” And, of course, Pennsylvania is high on the list.