September 9 Playbook: “Trumpapalooza” - PoliticsPA

politicspa.com · Steve Ulrich · September 9, 2026

# September 9 Playbook: “Trumpapalooza” - PoliticsPA

Author: Steve Ulrich Published: 2026-09-09T07:46:17-04:00 Source: politicspa.com (politicspa.com) Language: en

## Story

# September 9 Playbook: “Trumpapalooza”

September 9, 2026 | 7:46 AMSeptember 9, 2026 | 8:11 AM

## September 9 Playbook: “Trumpapalooza”

September 9, 2026 | 7:46 AM EDTSeptember 9, 2026 | 8:11 AM EDT

🏈 It’s a Football Wednesday. The NFL season starts tonight

🎶 Your Morning Pick Me Up. NFL on NBC Sunday Night Theme. Champions United

PA Weather🌂 Bradford | Chance of Showers, 81🌤️ Mount Carmel | Partly Sunny, 82☀️ Ambler | Mostly Sunny, 87

PA Sports ⚾ Phillies (81-64, -4.0 GB, +3.5 GB WC) | Houston 5-6| Wed vs. Houston⚾ Pirates (72-73, -5.5 GB WC) | White Sox 9-3| Wed at Chicago White Sox

📅 What’s Happening Today. The State House will convene a voting session at 5:45 PM at Congress Hall in Philadelphia

🔈 What We’re Hearing. Two Pennsylvanians will speak today at the RNC National Convention in Dallas – Rep. Rob Bresnahan between 6-7 PM and Sen. Dave McCormick between 7-8 PM.

📺 What We’re Seeing. The campaign for Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has released a new ad.

💬 Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s premier source for nonpartisan political news and analysis. Tips or press releases can be sent to steve@politicspa.com.

The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich (steve@politicspa.com). For the web version, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

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Top Story

## 1. Mackenzie, Bresnahan, McCormick To Speak at “Trumpapalooza” in Dallas

“Pennsylvania will be well represented at the podium as the Republican Party holds a midterm national convention in Dallas on Wednesday and Thursday.

A pair of GOP congressmen – Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-07) and Rob Bresnahan (R-08) – and Sen. Dave McCormick will be among the 109 officials, candidates and others as convention speakers at what RNC chair Joe Gruters is describing as a “Trumpapalooza.”

The convention, unusual in its timing, is a creation of President Donald Trump to rally his supporters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

With Control Of Congress on the Line, PA Republicans Head to Trump’s Midterm Convention in Dallas. “Key figures in Pennsylvania Republican politics — including the state’s top elected federal GOP official and several lawmakers in the middle of heated reelection campaigns — will participate in their party’s first-of-its-kind midterm convention this week in Dallas.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

These 4 Pennsylvania Congressional Districts Could Decide Balance of Power in Congress. “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.” | CBS Philadelphia

Meuser Pumps Brakes On Fetterman Switch. “As Pennsylvania political watchers frantically speculate on Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) next move, Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) has a word of caution: Don’t expect Fetterman to switch parties.” | Punchbowl News

What to Know About the 1st Congressional District Race in Bucks County. “Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is facing Democrat Bob Harvie in what is widely seen as his most competitive challenge yet.” | WHYY

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State

## 2. Fetterman’s Isolation From Democrats Grows Stark in Pennsylvania

“Around this time two years ago, Sen. John Fetterman was in high demand on the campaign trail, going county-to-county in Pennsylvania to help Democrats up and down the ballot.

Now, after two years of crossing swords with Democrats and backing some of President Donald Trump’s priorities, he’s nowhere on the stump.

No Democrat in the state wants to be seen with him. His approval ratings are better with Republicans — far better — than they are with Democrats. And a shadow primary of sorts is taking shape for Fetterman’s Senate seat in 2028, even if he runs again.” | AP

Elsewhere

Deluzio Says He ‘Might’ Challenge Fetterman For Senate Seat. “According to Merriam-Webster, the word “Might” functions primarily as a modal verb indicating possibility or uncertainty. In politics, it provides an open door to speculation for any and all political pundits. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17) propped that door ajar on Sunday when he indicated he ‘might’ mount a primary challenge to Democratic Sen. John Fetterman in 2028.” | PoliticsPA

PA Program Aims to Bridge Political Divide By Sending Opposing Lawmakers to the Other’s District. “The University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics has established a program that will pair state lawmakers from opposing parties and send them to visit each other’s districts to build relationships and find common policy solutions.” | PennLive

Pennsylvania Schools Race to Meet New Reading Mandates Ahead of 2027 Deadline. “New state mandates will require Pennsylvania public schools to use curriculum aligned with the latest research on how to teach reading, screen students’ reading proficiency three times a year and establish intervention plans for each student falling behind by the start of the 2027-2028 school year.” | PennLive

What to Know About the 142nd House District Race in Bucks County. “Republican incumbent state Rep. Joe Hogan is facing a challenge from Democrat Kristin Egan.” | WHYY

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Around The Commonwealth

## 3. PA Lawmakers Eye Limits, Outright Ban On Flock Cameras As They Prepare For Fall Return

“A bipartisan backlash against Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers is mounting in Pennsylvania, with lawmakers introducing bans and restrictions and both candidates for governor coming out against them.

The stampede of opposition in Pennsylvania and across the country comes amid a widespread anti-tech backlash on top of longstanding civil libertarian concerns around the expansion of government surveillance in the digital age.” | Spotlight PA

Elsewhere

She Was Mayor Parker’s Director of Youth Engagement. Now, She’s Planning to Run Against Her Former Boss in 2027. “Shania Bennett, who has not yet put together a campaign team or settled on a policy platform, faces an uphill battle to challenge Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s reelection bid next May.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Sara Innamorato’s Paid Parental Leave Push Is Personal, Political and Maybe a National Precedent. “The Allegheny County executive was a supporter of paid parental leave before her pregnancy, and it could become a signature reelection campaign plank. Blue leaders in red or purple states are watching.” | Public Source

Polling Pennsylvania: Data Center Discourse. “In December 2025, Pennsylvanians were roughly split on data centers being built in or near their community: 34% supported it, 42% opposed, 24% had no strong opinion either way. By July 2026, that had broken decisively. Support was down to 22%, opposition was up to 57%. The dam seems to have broken on data centers as a political issue.” | RealClear Polling

Allegheny County Council Proposes Bill That Could Regulate AI Use in Political Campaign Materials. “If passed, the ordinance would establish disclosure requirements for AI-generated campaign content used in races for county elected office beginning January 2027.” | Tribune-Review

Meet the Lehigh Valley’s Newest Political Bosses. “Northampton County Democratic Chair Baron Vanderburg and Lehigh County Republican Committee Chair George Rivera want to change the course of politics in the Lehigh Valley.” | Lehigh Valley Public Media

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Editorial

## 4. What Do You Think?

- Did Pennsylvania Learn From the Last Outbreak? | Tribune-Review - Remembering Flight 93 Through the Lens of Healing | Tim Lambert - Two Nations. Two Democracies at Stake | Thomas L. Friedman - America Should Move Beyond the Two-Party System | Wim Orth - ‘A Long Way to Go’: PA Earns a D in Report Grading State, Union’s Worker Protections | Colin Day - A Gen Z’s Perspectiv

Read the full story at politicspa.com

Pennsylvania News

September 2026