News & Brews September 9, 2026
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Pa. could decide balance of power in Congress
CBS News has a headline that encapsulates Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in the direction of the country. That headline reads, “These 4 Pennsylvania congressional districts could decide balance of power in Congress.”
“In the U.S. House of Representatives, as of Sept. 8, Republicans maintain a narrow, four-seat majority,” the story notes. “The Keystone State could again hold the key to which party controls Washington’s lower chamber, with experts pointing to four competitive seats, all currently held by the GOP, up for grabs in November.“ Those seats are in the 1st district (Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick), the 7th (Rep. Ryan Mackenzie), the 8th (Rep. Rob Bresnahan), and the 10th (Rep. Scott Perry). Once again, come November, all eyes will be on Pennsylvania.
Can exchange program bridge partisan divide?
PennLive reports that the newly launched Pennsylvania Legislative Exchange program, housed at the University of Pittsburgh, “aims to introduce lawmakers to communities that differ from their own in geography, economy, culture, politics and demographics.” Specifically, the program “will pair state lawmakers from opposing parties and send them to visit each other’s districts to build relationships and find common policy solutions.”
The program’s first “exchange,” which took place August 26, saw Democrat state Rep. Justin Fleming (Dauphin County) spend time with Republican state Rep. Jonathan Fritz in his Susquehanna/Wayne county district.
Per a press release, “Fritz hosted Fleming for a tour … with stops including visiting a premier summer sleepover camp, Camp IHC in Equinunk; showcasing the benefits of natural gas at a Repsol Compressor Station facility; seeing cutting-edge technology at the Susquehanna County Career and Tech Center; and closing out the day at Barbour Farms, a farm that thrives thanks to product diversification, unique personal touches and multiple generations’ contributing efforts.” Next up: Fleming will host Fritz in Dauphin County.
Lawmakers flock to ban flock cameras
As flock camera are (understandably) the latest target of opposition—given they can basically track everyone and store patterns of movement…gee, can you say intrusive?—lawmakers are in a rush to show they’re doing something about it. Spotlight PA reports, “As of early September, lawmakers in both major parties had introduced at least nine bills to restrict the use of or outright ban automated license plate readers — seven in the past six weeks.”
Meanwhile, on the gubernatorial front, both Gov. Shapiro and GOP challenger Stacy Garrity are backing a flock ban. Does this mean it’s a done deal in Pa.? Hardly. We’ve seen time and again how issues that have bipartisan backing still don’t make it through our divided legislature.
Pittsburgh area reflects on 9/11
Like so many, I remember exactly where I was on 9/11. Just as vividly, I remember standing two days later at Eagle Rock Reservation in New Jersey looking across the Hudson River at the giant cloud of smoke, dust, and debris filling the sky where the towers that had been a landmark to me since childhood once stood.
Thousands more have their own stories, and WESA reports on multiple events scheduled in the Pittsburgh area and surrounding region that will mark the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks that hit New York, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania—and all of America. As Friday’s anniversary approaches, I’ll be sure to share more on how Pennsylvania is remembering … and reflecting.
U.S. Rep. says he may challenge Fetterman
Surprising no one, Democrat U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio—who’s been a consistent critic of Sen. John Fetterman—said over Labor Day that he’s “thinking” of mounting a primary challenge to the senator. He’s not the only one, and PennLive reports that “other Democrats considered potential primary challengers to Fetterman in 2028 are U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle of Philadelphia and former Reps. Conor Lamb and Susan Wild.”
