News: On a call the day before his reelection kick off, Josh Shapiro and his campaign team told top donors that they plan to raise $90 to $100 million according to two sources. That's $20+ million more than the current PA gubernatorial fundraising record (set by Shapiro in 2022.)

Inbox: 18 Philadelphia Democratic state legislators, including Speaker Joanna McClinton, call in a joint statement for an end to ICE raids and detentions, accountability for its agents, and for "our Commonwealth and all local governments to renounce collaboration with ICE."

On MS Now last night, Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed the Minnesota ICE killing of Renee Good in similar terms as his reelection announcement. "This is a scary time," he said, arguing Trump's policies bring "chaos, cruelty and corruption." youtu.be/sSymRW8vGQ8?...

News: State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin) says he is NOT running for Pennsylvania governor in 2026, leaving an open path for GOP establishment candidate Stacy Garrity who currently faces no serious competition for the party's nod.

State Rep. Brian Rasel (R., Westmoreland) wants to require all students at any public institution of higher learning that accepts state dollars to take "a one-credit class on how communism and socialism pose threats to American ideals."

Inbox: Josh Shapiro will start 2026 with over $30 million in his PAC, per campaign spox Manuel Bonder. That's roughly three times more than either Tom Wolf or Ed Rendell had entering their reelection campaigns.

New: Control of the Pennsylvania legislature -- and of the commonwealth's policy agenda -- is up for grabs in 2026 as both major parties defend one chamber while trying to flip another. Expect expensive races from the 'burbs to farmland to coal country. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01...

A company known as "FullPAC" has run ads on two of my feeds this weekend, pitching its stock by noting that political campaigns are "one of America's top-growing industries...powered by technology, data and the American people."

Boilo Day > Christmas Day

New: Powered by dark money, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court retention races cost at least $18.7 million -- making it among the top 5 most expensive retention races in American history. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/12...

Why is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority advertising on my fortune cookie fortune.

Today in Access Harrisburg? Influencers at the governor's mansion, a bipartisan housing agenda is brewing for 2026, and the burgeoning market for politico-signed baseballs. All this and more if you subscribe.

Inbox: State Reps. Dan Miller (D., Allegheny) and Josh Siegal (D., Lehigh) have resigned, a spokesperson for House Speaker Joanna McClinton says. The special elections for their seats will be on Feb. 24. Candidates will be picked by local party members.

News: An amendment to enshrine abortion access into Pennsylvania's state constitution has passed the Democratic-controlled state House 102-101. It goes to the GOP-controlled state Senate, who are unlikely to take it up.

The state House is now debating an amendment to add abortion rights to the Pennsylvania Constitution. Follow here: www.youtube.com/live/tFFyemY...

One area of bipartisan agreement in Harrisburg? Opposition to Trump's AI preemption executive order. Both Senate tech committee chair Tracy Pennycuick (R., Montgomery) House tech committee chair Joe Ciresi (D., Montgomery) put out critical statements on it yesterday.

A Pennsylvania judge asked a lawyer arguing against a state rule extending discrimination protections to gay and transgender people if his firm had used AI to write its filing in the case, citing hallucinatory citations. www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

News: A bill to ban the sale of vapes not yet approved by the FDA in Pennsylvania, slashing the amount that can be sold in the commonwealth down to a few dozen, is on its way to Gov. Josh Shapiro's desk after passing the state House 147-56.

Inbox: State Sen. Lindsey Williams (D., Allegheny) is introducing a ban on the "surveillance pricing" which charged different customers different prices at the center of a recent @consumerreports.org investigation of groccery delivery app Instacart.

ICYMI: Pennsylvania Medicaid recipients will no longer have access to Ozempic and other similar drugs for weight loss after a quiet move by the Shapiro administration to save the state money amid growing budget woes.

In your inbox, if you subscribe to @spotlightpa.org's Access Harrisburg: A retiring state lawmaker will lead an advocacy group while in office, a bill to restrict most vape sales is close to the governor's desk, and a rundown of Josh Shapiro's recent media blitz. Plus much more!

Team PA is partnering with a Pittsburgh-based "AI Strike Team" to "cement [Pennsylvania's] leadership in the New AI Economy," Joanna Doven, a former mayoral aide, PR consultant, and establishment Democratic challenger who runs the team, said. www.post-gazette.com/business/tec...

Today in 1805, abolitionist journalist William Lloyd Garrison was born. In 1831, he founded The Liberator, which popularized opposition to slavery, and was almost lynched in 1835 for this work. But he did not stop the presses until Dec. 1865, after the 13th Amendment became law.

News: Penn State University's faculty -- including full and part time professors at the main and satellite campuses -- have filed for a union election with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board with SEIU Local 668, setting up the state's largest union election in decades.

SEIU, who are organizing the Penn State faculty into a union, are holding a rally in the rotunda.

New: Pennsylvania's Medicaid program quietly axed coverage of GLP-1s for weight loss, reversing an expensive two year old coverage expansion as state policymakers increasingly grapple with the commonwealth's shaky long term financial picture. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/12...

Inbox: There will be no SEPTA strike, pending approval of a tentative agreement between the transit agency and its operators' union. In a release, the union credits Gov. Josh Shapiro and his staff. "Without the Governor’s intervention we would have been on strike this morning."

Gov. Josh Shapiro "has quietly and methodically tightened his grip on Pennsylvania's Democratic machine in recent months — recruiting key congressional candidates, clearing the field for them and remaking the state party," reports axios. His 2028 chips, they note, are on 2026.

More 2026 news: Kofi Osei, a stalwart opponent of water privatization and Democratic Towamencin supervisor, is running against GOP state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick. Her exurban Philly district will likely be a closely watched as Democrats try to flip the upper chamber.

“It’s David vs. Goliath,” Jeff Yass said. “I represent David.” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Inbox: Democrat Elizabeth Moro, a Chadds Ford author and cafe owner, will again run against former prosecutor and GOP state Rep. Craig Williams in a swingy exurban state House seat straddling Chester and Delaware counties. She came within 4 points of defeating Williams in 2024.

Five Democratic Pennsylvania state legislators want to "prohibit the political weaponization" of SNAP or other food assistance programs by allowing the state to dock federal payments or place liens on federal property equivalent in value to unlawfully lost funding.

This is the best profile anyone has done of Josh Shapiro so far, IMO: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

New: Skill games, or any gaming policy, was not included in the state's recent budget deal despite the need for new tax revenue. Why? A wave of negative ads, as well as threats of more to come, tell part of the story. Via @spotlightpa.org www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...

ICYMI: Do influencers need to register as lobbyists? They might, Pennsylvania's top ethics officer told @spotlightpa.org this week after three Barstool personalities put out videos slamming a closed door pitch to hike sports betting taxes. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...

The state Senate paid $133k to litigate and settle a case brought by a former staffer alleging emotional distress and ethical lapses within Sen. Doug Mastriano's office. Some charges are disputed by the Senate & Mastriano's former CoS. www.pennlive.com/politics/202...

In your inbox, if you subscribe to Access Harrisburg: A deep dive on the budget, from deficits and flying cars to the NFL draft and Trump tax cut repeals. You can sign up (for a new monthtly sub!) here: buy.stripe.com/dRm28t9SXfTc...

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is hearing a case over the legality of skill games. You can listen here: www.youtube.com/live/hFUQK8-...

News: A bill to remove cost-sharing for mammograms for all people over 40 as well as other supplemental breast cancer screenings is on its way to Gov. Josh Shapiro's desk after passing the state House 196-7. It builds on a 2023 law that was the first signed by Shapiro in office.

News: A bill to include certain hairstyles associated with specific cultures, such as braids and dreads, within the state's definition of racial discrimination is on its way to Gov. Josh Shapiro's desk after passing the state Senate 44-3.

New: Pennsylvania's top ethics official says that videos from three Barstool influencers saying that "Harrisburg wants to break [bettors] wallets" could be lobbying under state law. Barstool's partner DraftKings is registered to do so; the website isn't. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...

Gov. Josh Shapiro attended two football games this weekend -- Pitt on Saturday, the Eagles on Sunday. The former was paid for by funds managed by Team PA, a spokesperson said. The latter was paid for by his political campaign. He showed up on TV for both:

Student journalists: Want a hands on opportunity to learn government and political journalism alongside a crew of veteran reporters, diving into the machinations of a key swing state? Then apply to the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents' Association internship!

News: Pennsylvania has a budget, four months late, after lawmakers passed a $50.1 billion deal that continues to fund public schools, creates a tax credit for working families, reforms permitting, and pulls the state out of a plan to cap carbon emissions from power plants.

Per multiple sources: Both House Democrats and Senate Republicans have closed door meetings at 4 p.m. today as the Pennsylvania state budget hits 134 days late. Details of what will be discussed therein is still unclear.

Last update until full reports are in (still could be a few weeks): DoS reports $9.2 million in IE spending on the retention race as of this afternoon; $5.1 million of the reported spending is anti, mostly by two conservative, Yass-linked dark money groups.

Anywho, amid all this, here's the latest update I got: Shapiro and Democrats may agree to end a statewide program to cap carbon from power plants to appease Senate Republicans and end the 130+ day budget impasse. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...

And now: Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) emailed his caucus, telling them to "pack a bag" and be prepared to return to Harrisburg as soon as Tuesday evening pending ongoing budget talks.

Inbox: The Pennsylvania House has scheduled NON-VOTING session for tomorrow and VOTING session for Wednesday.

As it is now Friday and neither chamber has scheduled session to finish off a budget deal, I'll go ahead and share this exchange I had with a source earlier this week: