Morning roundup
Mastriano vs. Shapiro for Pa. gov; GOP Senate too close to call; Harrisburg incumbents hang on despite party snub | Morning roundup
Liberty Bell in the Phillies outfield ๐

๐ Want this daily digest emailed to you? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and it’ll land in your inbox every morning.
Gov showdown set, but Republican Senate race remains tight
National politics focused on Pa. GOP primaries last nightย to see ifย Trump-backed candidates would sweep.ย It worked for governor, but not for Senate.
- Senate candidates Mehmet Oz (endorsed) and Dave McCormickย areย locked at 31%. A recountย isย triggeredย if the final margin isย within 0.5%. On the Dem side, John Fettermanย won easily, as expected.
Democratic gov nominee Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed, will face Republican Doug Mastriano. Conventional wisdom holds that as anย election-denier who favors total abortion bans, Mastriano will lose statewide —ย but pundits warn that might not be the case, Jordan Levy reports.
Incumbents mostly hang on to rep Philly in Harrisburg
Philly’s state legislative races were kind of wild this year, but the primary ended upย bringing few surprises, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch and Asha Prihar report.
- The most surprising winner was Tarik Khan, who unseated decade-long Pa. Houseย incumbent Pam DeLissio. In other races,ย even the party’s backing of challengers wasn’t enoughย to shake loose the incumbent.
Meanwhile, the Philly ballot questions all passed, giving Council say over the zoning board andย removing gendered language from City Charter — a pending change to whichย more than a third of voters said “no.”
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalledย
- In the middle of primary day, John Fettermanย had aย pacemaker put inย after his stroke.ย As he recovers, Pa. Senate Pro Tempore Jake Corman, who recently bowed out of the Republican for governor,ย will temporarily assumeย lieutenant gov duties. [NBC10/pa.gov]
- U.S. Rep Dwight Evans easily held his seat, despite challenger Alexandra Huntย mounting an attention-getting campaignย that centered sex work, Beatrice Forman reports. [Billy Penn]
- Voting was generally smooth in Philadelphia on a sunny Election Day, though aย citywide poll worker shortageย caused a few stumbles. [Billy Penn]
- Nina Elizabeth Ball’s journeyย as a poet and activistย led to her new position asย director of programmingย at the African American Museum. [Love Now]
- The New Zealand mud snail isย showing up in waterwaysย around the region. Smaller than a kernel of corn, it multiplies quickly, andย could pose trouble. [KYW/PennLive$]
- After asking Phillies fansย to choose a design, Citizens Bank Park’s outfield now has aย cool Liberty Bellย mowed into it. [PhillyVoice/@NBCSPhilly]
Weekly brief on gun violence preventionย (with PCGVR)
We publishย this reportย eachย week inย partnership with theย Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reportingย at the Community College of Philadelphia.ย
- Across Philadelphia, nonprofits and schools areย training teens in conflict resolution, with the goal of settling arguments before they devolve into shooting. [WHYY]
- Temple has launched theย Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting, which will focus on potential solutions to issues like gun violence and economic and health disparities. [Temple]
- Thanks to a new grant, theย Credible Messenger Reporting Projectย is looking for more community members who want to report on gun violence prevention. [PCGVR]
- The top reasons Philly studentsย feel there’s so much gun violence are 1) gang involvement, 2) the desire to be seen as cool,ย and 3) weak gun laws,ย per a new survey coordinatedย by Councilmember Thomas. [Tribune$]
- Reminder:ย Philadelphia’sย 211 anti-violence hotlineย is a free and confidential way to connect with services and resources. [phila.gov]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 47:ย Shootingย victimsย recordedย last week, vs.ย 33 the week prior [PPD Google Drive]
- 785:ย Shooting victimsย this year, down 1% from last yearย [PCGVR]
- 180:ย Year-to-dateย homicides, down 9% from last yearย [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney starts out opening a new playground atย James R. Lowell Elementaryย in Olney, alongside reps from the Trust for Public Land, the Philly School District, and the Sixers Youth Foundation (10 a.m.). He then heads to the other end of the city for another groundbreaking, this one for aย new welcome centerย at FDR Park (12 p.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
๐ย BP Quizzo is tonight!ย Our monthly trivia event about all things Philly lands at the home ofย Fishtown Iced Teas (RIPย Arctic Splash Cartons). Hosts Danya and Sakeenah are kicking it at the new patio at Interstate Drafthouse, so start assembling a team.ย Registration is free. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18).
๐บ At a South Philly block party withย live music, free food, and Indonesian dance, artist Josรฉ Ortiz-Pagรกn unveils “La Sombrilla,” a self-sustaining planter that will combat urban heat. (12 p.m. Saturday, May 21)
๐บ Theย Made On American Street Beer, Cider & Music Festivalย does exactly what it says, bringing all those things to the rejuvenated Kensington corridor. Tickets start at $40. (1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21)