News & Brews October 20, 2026
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Pa. Senate majority is ‘biggest prize’ in midterms
PennLive reports that the most pivotal gain or loss for Pa. Republicans or Democrats this year will be the state Senate, where Republicans hold a 27-23 lead and Democrats are hoping to change that. Indeed, holding the Senate “may be the thing [Republicans] are most committed to, given the sudden devaluation of conservative priorities that would occur if Democrats achieved a Pennsylvania trifecta – winning the governor’s office, and majority control of both the state House and Senate.”
“Why does Senate control matter so much? As long as a GOP majority is needed for a budget package or other major legislation to reach the governor’s desk, Republicans have real leverage to at least fight for their top priorities and, at times, bargain for wins…. They have also been able to somewhat limit Gov. Josh Shapiro’s aggressive asks for new spending.” But if Democrats win the Senate and a trifecta, “they would relish the opportunity to move on issues like gun control, legalizing (and taxing) marijuana, raising the state’s minimum wage, boosting mass transit spending and extending anti-discrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.”
‘A Democrat convert to school choice’
Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), whose great-grandparents were killed at Auschwitz, writes in the Wall Street Journal that rising antisemitism “is entering our neighborhoods and schools and putting innocent lives in danger. For Jewish families, choosing a school is increasingly about more than academics. Parents want their children to express their Jewish identity openly and receive a quality education without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence.”
Yet, “Not every school is equally prepared to ensure safety amid rising antisemitism. When parents feel their child’s school is unsafe, they need to be able to find a different one where their child can learn without fear.” That’s why Moskowitz supports the new federal tax credit scholarship program and urges other blue-state governors to opt their states in. (Or, in Pa.’s case, a blue governor in a divided state.)
Some GOP candidates show Shapiro in ads
The Inquirer reports that some GOP legislative candidates in competitive races are showing Gov. Shapiro in their campaign ads—due, of course, to Shapiro’s popularity. This approach isn’t unheard of. In Cambria County, Democrat state Rep. Frank Burns ran ads last election cycle aligning himself with President Trump in order to appeal to his district’s voters. Shapiro has made it clear, though, that he has no affinity for these GOP candidates.
Drake Energy Forum kicks off
The Oil City Derrick reports that the first day of the Drake Energy Forum in Venango County yesterday focused on “the need to update and expand energy infrastructure to meet growing demands fueled by data centers.” The “panelists all agreed that one of the largest impediments to expanding the power grid and pipelines that carry natural gas to power plants and consumers is the permitting process, which can take years in Pennsylvania. What’s more, the frequent changes to regulations create an added layer of uncertainty, which panelists said discourages investment.”
Allegheny County to vote on paid leave tonight
WESA reports that the “Allegheny County Council appears poised to vote on a controversial parental-leave requirement” this evening. As I shared yesterday, the proposal is projected to cost $300 million and destroy up to 1,500 jobs. And even though a “no” vote should be a no-brainer, history has proven elected officials don’t always vote in accordance with common sense or basic economic principles. Yesterday, the Pa. Chamber of Business and Industry “called on council members to delay the Tuesday vote. ‘We urge you to at least take time to consider [economic] impacts and engage with employers to fully understand the impact of this policy before proceeding to a vote.’” But it looks like council members may ignore the chamber and vote anyway, claiming an “urgent” need. (Everything is urgent, of course.)
