News & Brews November 6, 2026
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5 reasons the GOP lost in Pa.
PennLive gives a rundown of its five reasons Republicans lost in Pennsylvania. And it’s pretty much Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, and Trump. (The story gives a slightly different fifth reason, but we would edit this to “Trump” as well.) Specifically, the reasons include things like the cost of living and the Iran war. But all these point back to Trump. And the result? “A PennLive analysis found that of the 27 ruby-red districts in Pennsylvania, voters shifted more blue in 24 of them compared with how they voted in the 2024 presidential election. In three districts spanning across Crawford, Erie, Clinton and Blair counties, voters swung by more than seven percentage points.”
Analyzing election results: ‘It’s not that deep’
Sometimes understanding election results requires analyses of nuances, voting blocs, and the like. This time, not so much. As the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association’s Carl Marrara writes, “It’s not that deep. Voters were unhappy with Donald Trump, and Democrats offered an outlet to register the complaint. That’s as deep as it needed to be to win — and win big.” He’s right. But being “against Trump,” while a winning message this year, isn’t a policy agenda.
“Here in Pennsylvania,” Marrara writes, “I don’t envy the position the newly established Democratic trifecta finds itself in. The Independent Fiscal Office estimates a roughly $5 billion gap between ongoing spending and recurring revenue. Both parties helped produce the current budget, and both have enjoyed claiming credit for the good parts while pinning the bad parts on the other side and deploying it in a campaign mailer. With Democrats in control of the governor’s office and both legislative chambers, they will have considerably fewer places to forward the complaints.”
Shapiro still balking on school choice program
For forever and a day, Gov. Shapiro has refused to say whether he’ll opt Pennsylvania into the federal tax credit scholarship program that would give kids the opportunity to attend a school better suited to their needs. Instead of a decision, it’s just been excuses. With the elections over, Shapiro’s office continues to claim he’s still reviewing the program before deciding. The Center Square reports that now, a “coalition of program supporters sent a letter to Shapiro encouraging him to opt-in giving families access to educational support long financially out of reach.” (We at Commonwealth Partners are part of this coalition.)
Why AG Sunday is challenging corporate mergers
Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday spoke with the Philadelphia Inquirer recently on why his office has made antitrust a priority. “The whole purpose of antitrust is to make sure that illegal monopolies don’t exist,” Sunday explained. “When you have an illegal monopoly, it negatively impacts consumers because when they control all the things that an illegal monopoly controls, it impacts innovation. It drives prices up, and it’s just not lawful.” This is the reason “Sunday sued to block a media merger that had been endorsed by President Trump, and continued litigation against Ticketmaster after the federal government settled.”
Planned Philly bike ride is Jew-hatred on display
In case you haven’t heard, “On Sunday, November 8, on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, a group calling itself Philly Bike On Your Left plans to gather in Rittenhouse Square for a ‘Boycott Ride’ past six Philadelphia restaurants and food shops. Its flyer declares ‘No business for Zionists’ and ‘These Zionist establishments must go.’” Thus explains Rabbi Yonah Gross of Congregation Beth Hamedrosh in Wynnewood in an op-ed in Broad + Liberty denouncing the antisemitic event scheduled for this weekend. “Don’t be fooled. This isn’t a disagreement with Israeli government policy. It is a campaign to identify, stigmatize and drive out Jewish-owned businesses, turning the City of Brotherly Love into a place where Jewish business owners are made to feel unwelcome.” This despicable display of hatred should garner universal condemnation. Thankfully, multiple elected officials have denounced this event. It should be all.
