WASHINGTON, March 4, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced that Alexandra DeRiso has joined the firm as a principal on its health care team.
The Pennsylvania Republican and Democratic State Committees finalized their respective endorsements for the 2026 gubernatorial race during meetings in Harrisburg. The state GOP officially endorsed Allegheny County Republican Chair Jason Richey for lieutenant governor, pairing him with the party’s endorsed gubernatorial candidate, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Meanwhile, the state Democratic Party resoundingly endorsed Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis for reelection. Republican leaders framed the Garrity-Richey ticket as a conservative movement to “take back” the Commonwealth, while Democrats focused on Governor Shapiro’s high approval ratings and their goal of securing a legislative trifecta in Harrisburg. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Despite Governor Josh Shapiro entering the 2026 cycle as a heavy favorite with high approval ratings, Pennsylvania Republicans believe early unification and a clear tactical timeline can lead to a significant upset. Unlike the fractured 2022 primary, state GOP leaders have unified behind Treasurer Stacy Garrity and her running mate, Jason Richey, months ahead of the primary to focus resources on the general election. Republican strategists plan to target Governor Shapiro’s handling of the sexual harassment settlement involving former aide Mike Vereb and frame the Governor as being more focused on a potential 2028 presidential run than the Commonwealth’s day-to-day needs. The GOP is also focused on retaining its Senate majority to block a Democratic “trifecta” and defending vulnerable U.S. House seats held by Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), and Scott Perry (R-PA-10). PennLive has more.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed $53.3 billion spending plan has sparked a sharp election-year confrontation with State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, highlighting divergent fiscal visions for the Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro’s proposal increases spending by approximately 5% to fund education, public safety, and a new $100 million “federal response fund” intended to protect state services from federal policy shifts. Treasurer Garrity has slammed the budget as “unsustainable” and “reckless,” criticizing the plan for tapping the Rainy Day Fund. As Republicans point to looming structural deficits, the Shapiro administration continues to leverage support from labor and business leaders to frame the spending as essential for Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s campaign raised nearly $1.7 million in 2025, marking the highest off-year fundraising total for any Philadelphia mayor since at least the early 2000s. Despite not facing reelection until 2027, Parker maintained strong momentum from donors, avoiding the typical fundraising dip seen after a mayor’s first year in office. The surge reflects an increasingly professionalized fundraising environment in the city, where incumbents like Mayor Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson utilize city rules to maximize annual contributions and manage specialized Segregated Pre-candidacy Excess Contribution (SPEC) accounts for excess funds. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Former Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has been sworn in as a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, just one month after leaving office. Appointed by House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-143-Philadelphia/Delaware) to replace former State Representative Frank Dermody, Gainey will earn an annual salary of $145,018 in a role that oversees the state’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry, including casinos, sports betting, and online gaming. The board, which consists of several former elected officials, holds the authority to levy fines, revoke licenses, and approve the agency’s budget. WESA has more.
Governor Josh Shapiro joined a bipartisan group of officials in condemning a video shared by the President on Truth Social. Speaking in Philadelphia, Governor Shapiro labeled the post racist and argued that such conduct erodes the foundational values of the Commonwealth, while Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-143-Philadelphia/Delaware) described the content as vile and outrageous. Although the White House initially characterized the post as an internet meme, the video was removed following rebukes from Republican Senators like Tim Scott (R-SC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). PoliticsPA has more.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) stated that he expects a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown this Friday as negotiations over immigration enforcement remain deadlocked. The impasse centers on a list of ten demands from Democratic leadership intended to “rein in” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While Senator Fetterman has called for the removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, he cautioned that Democrats are unlikely to secure all reforms, which include banning agent masks and requiring judicial warrants, and expressed deep concern for federal workers who would be forced to work without pay. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to stop the development of two proposed ICE detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties, citing severe potential strain on local infrastructure and tax bases. In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Senator Fetterman highlighted that the purchase of a warehouse in Upper Bern Township and a former distribution center in Tremont Township, totaling over $200 million, occurred without sufficient local input or impact assessments. He noted that the proposed facility in Tremont Township would increase the burden on a community of fewer than 300 residents, potentially overwhelming public infrastructure systems. While maintaining his general support for federal immigration enforcement, Senator Fetterman requested a commitment to public dialogue and federal funding for infrastructure upgrades before the projects proceed. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and former U.S. District Court Judge John Jones III have issued a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s proposal to “nationalize” elections, particularly his focus on Philadelphia. Both Corbett and Jones, long-standing figures in Republican politics, emphasized that the U.S. Constitution unambiguously leaves elections to the states, not the federal government. Corbett, who also served as the state’s Attorney General, expressed confidence that the judiciary would swiftly block any executive overreach, citing the dozens of failed legal challenges following the 2020 election as precedent. While Corbett suggested the President’s rhetoric might be a “political ploy” to force issues like voter ID, Judge Jones offered a more cautious outlook, warning that the administration may use “every tool in the toolbox” to disrupt the 2026 midterms. Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to hold the office, is just weeks into her first term and already facing a high-velocity legislative session under unified Democratic control. As lawmakers move quickly on long-standing priorities, can the self-described moderate governor hold Virginia’s political “purple” center, or will progressives pull the state left? As the 2026 midterms approach, could Virginia offer an early preview of how governing realities collide with electoral politics? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC), Julia Hammond (VA), and Heidi Hertz (VA). Click here to listen.
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Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
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March 12, 2026
March 12, 2026
March 12, 2026
