August 19 Playbook: Executive Orders and Election Shockers

☀️ Good Morning. A wild Tuesday around the Commonwealth.

🎶 Your Morning Pick Me Up. Surprise, Surprise. Bruce Springsteen

PA Weather
🌤️  Warren | Partly Sunny, Chance of Showers, 80
☀️  Waynesboro | Sunny, 86
☀️  West Chester | Sunny, 85

PA Sports 
⚾  Phillies (69-58, +1.0 GB WC) | Miami 6-4 | Wed vs. Miami
⚾  Pirates (62-66, -6.5 GB WC) | Detroit 4-1 | Wed vs. Detroit
⚽  Union (5W, 4D, 10L) | Wed vs. Inter Miami

🔈 What We’re Hearing. “Joint Fundraiser: Pennsylvania Majority Fund (Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Dan Meuser, Maintaining American Competitiveness PAC, NEPA Next PAC, NRCC, PA-First PAC)

Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s premier source for nonpartisan political news and analysis. Tips or press releases can be sent to [email protected].

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

Top Story

1.   Shapiro Signs Executive Order Restricting Data Center Development, Giving More Authority to Local Communities

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on Tuesday that restricts data center development in the Commonwealth.

The executive order implements the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements, blocks speculative, irresponsible data center projects from moving forward, gives local communities more power over data center development, and protects Pennsylvania residents.

“The executive action I am taking today to put strict guardrails on proposed projects, rein in data center developers who are trying to run over local communities, and protect Pennsylvanians from higher costs,” said Shapiro. “As your Governor, it is my job to listen and use my authority to accomplish things for the people of Pennsylvania — and I have.”” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Governors’ Races Are Being Increasingly Buffeted by the Toxic Politics Of Data Centers. “More governors are shifting their stances or taking more steps to squeeze data centers as the midterm elections near and public opinion sours on the energy-hungry behemoths that tech giants and developers are building to fuel artificial intelligence products and cloud computing.” | AP

The New Existential Threat to AI. “Forget energy. Forget chips. Forget China. The most clear and present danger to AI and any AI-related economic boom is rapidly rising public opposition to U.S. data centers.” | Axios

Internal PA-01 Poll Shows Harvie Within Margin of Error Against Fitzpatrick. “Is there momentum behind the Bob Harvie campaign in PA-01? If you believe the new Global Strategy Group (GSG) internal poll prepared for the Harvie campaign, the answer is yes.” | PoliticsPA

PA-01: Harvie’s Debate Challenge to Fitzpatrick Sets Off New War of Words In Bucks County Race. “Democrat Bob Harvie is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to four debates, his campaign told The Inquirer. Fitzpatrick, after learning of Harvie’s challenge from The Inquirer, countered with 10 debates — but only if Harvie releases files related to an FBI investigation that Fitzpatrick and allies have routinely alleged focuses on the Democrat.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

State

2.   HD-12: Dukes Defeats Timko In Butler County Shocker

“Is this a sign of a coming “blue wave” in Pennsylvania?

For the first time in more than three decades, a Democrat will take the 12th Legislative District seat in Harrisburg as Brandon Dukes edged Republican Scott Timko by 88 votes in Tuesday’s special election.

The election captured the attention of the Commonwealth, as Democratic enthusiasm and Republican disenchantment gave Democrats an opening that they seized upon to increase their state House majority to 103-100.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

12th District Special Election: Unofficial Results Show Dukes Likely Winner Over Timko. “According to returns from Butler County Bureau of Elections, Dukes received 8,434 votes — about 50.1%; while Timko received 8,346 votes — about 49.6%. There are an additional 73 provisional ballots which are not reflected in the results. There were 35 write-in votes.” | Butler Eagle

Toomey Advises GOP Candidates In Competitive Races to ‘Localize the Election.‘ “As Republicans try to cling to majorities in both chambers of Congress this November, former two-term U.S. Senator Pat Toomey has some advice for candidates in closely watched races. ” | The Center Square

RSLC Launches “2026 Pennsylvania Candidate Spotlight” Series; Highlights Critical Races That Will Determine Direction of Pennsylvania. “The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) and its affiliated PACs launched its 2026 Pennsylvania Candidate Spotlight series, highlighting the Republican candidates and incumbent legislators competing in this November’s pivotal elections across the Commonwealth.” | PoliticsPA

HD-143: An Independent Candidate Is Fighting to Stay on the Ballot in a Bucks County State House Race. “While Democratic and Republican candidates vie for places on the ballot through state-funded primary elections, independent and small party candidates must collect signatures and submit nomination papers. Chris Gambino appeared in court to defend his filing Tuesday, but no final ruling was issued.” | Penn Capital-Star

Around The Commonwealth

3.   PA Democrats in U.S. House Push For Broader ICE Oversight After Visiting Detention Center

“A group of Pennsylvania U.S. House members, several of whom have visited the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, have introduced a bill to expand congressional oversight of ICE facilities.

Under the bill, representatives would be allowed without prior notice to bring a member of their staff inside ICE centers while conducting oversight visits.” | PennLive

Elsewhere

Complaint Alleges Conservative Activist Scott Presler Violated Campaign Finance Law. “A watchdog group has filed a complaint alleging conservative activist Scott Presler and his political action committee may have violated state campaign finance law in Pennsylvania.” | Votebeat

With 6abc Potentially Facing A Trump-Forced Blackout, ABC Sues the FCC. “ABC is moving to block President Donald Trump’s administration from the unprecedented step of taking eight local stations off the air, including 6abc in Philadelphia.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Father Charged In Suspected Cocaine Ring at Penn State Is Pittsburgh Attorney. “Paul R. Robinson, the only nonstudent charged in the cocaine trafficking ring involving two Penn State University fraternities, is a managing attorney at a Pittsburgh-based law firm.” | Tribune-Review

Google Just Made It Easier For Campaigns to Send You Fundraising Emails. “Google quietly rolled out a new program Monday that will allow candidates, political parties, and political action committees to more easily bypass Gmail’s spam filter and send fundraising appeals to the inboxes of the company’s many millions of email users.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

1 Thing

5.   2026 Little League World Series Grand Slam Parade Gives the World a Warm Welcome to Williamsport

“Tadeo Paez is playing on the Mexico Region team at the 79th Little League Baseball World Series. Relatives trekked about 3,000 miles from Tijuana to Northcentral Pennsylvania to cheer him on.

They gathered around a stoop on Williamsport’s West Fourth Street Tuesday afternoon to await the Grand Slam Parade, which welcomes the 10 national and 10 international teams consisting of athletes ages 10 to 12.

The 38-game tournament it celebrates is held at the Little League International Complex in nearby South Williamsport Borough. The opening ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Little League Volunteer Stadium.” | WVIA

Thank you for starting your Wednesday with us.
All downhill from here. See you tomorrow.