Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Bentley Graves as principal in its Minneapolis office.
Control of the Pennsylvania General Assembly will be decided in the 2026 elections, as Democrats work to defend their narrow majority in the state House and Republicans seek to protect the Senate, with both parties targeting a handful of battleground districts across the commonwealth. Recent Democratic special election wins and Governor Josh Shapiro’s reelection campaign has raised expectations of a competitive cycle, while Republicans argue their Senate majority reflects voter support for fiscal restraint and public safety. With a divided government stalling major legislation in recent sessions, the outcome will determine which party sets the policy agenda on issues like taxes, education, health care, energy, and social issues in Harrisburg. Spotlight PA has more.
A nationwide analysis of state legislatures ranked Pennsylvania’s General Assembly among the least productive state legislatures, finding lawmakers passed roughly 4% of bills introduced last year despite having the largest full time legislature in the country. Some lawmakers argue reforms such as term limits or shrinking the size of the House could reduce gridlock, while others say divided party control of the chambers, not structure, is the primary driver of stalled legislation. Democratic leaders counter that effectiveness should be measured by the substance of laws passed rather than volume, and warn that term limits or smaller districts could weaken institutional knowledge and constituent representation. WESA has more.
Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s campaign plans to closely examine Governor Josh Shapiro’s first three years in office as Pennsylvania voters approach a high stakes reelection decision later this year. While Republicans argue Shapiro is vulnerable over late budgets, transparency questions, and unresolved controversies involving his administration, political experts from both parties say his broad popularity, bipartisan appeal, and reputation for competent governance may limit the effectiveness of those attacks. With Shapiro’s race expected to shape control of the General Assembly and key congressional seats, analysts say Garrity faces a difficult task persuading voters to reconsider a governor who continues to post strong approval ratings in a closely divided state. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton (D-143-Philadelphia/Delaware) announced a March 17 special election to fill two newly vacant state House seats after Representatives Torren Ecker (R-193-Adams/Cumberland) Lou Schmitt (R-79-Blair) resigned to assume roles as Court of Common Pleas judges in Adams and Blair counties, respectively. The elections will follow February special contests to replace former Representatives Josh Siegel (D-22-Lehigh) and Dan Miller (D-42-Allegheny). WHTM has more.
Democrat Julian Guridy and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. were selected by their respective Lehigh County party committees to compete in the February 24 special election to fill the vacant 22nd state House District seat. The vacancy was created after former Representative Josh Siegel (D-22-Lehigh) resigned to become Lehigh County executive, and the winner will serve through the end of November. Armchair Lehigh Valley has more.
Democrat Jennifer Mazzocco and Republican Joseph Leckenby will face off in the February 24 special election to replace former state Representative Dan Miller (D-42-Allegheny), which includes parts of the South Hills. Mazzocco, a Dormont council president and union organizer, was selected by local Democratic leaders and enters the race with strong institutional support in a district where Democrats hold a significant registration advantage, while Leckenby, a recent law school graduate, is making a second bid for the seat after losing to Miller in 2024. WESA has more.
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the state agency responsible for providing revenue projections and impartial analysis for state legislators, has released its monthly revenue update for the month of December, showing that December General Fund collections totaled $4.97 billion, coming in 3.8% over estimate and 31.7% higher than last year. View the report here.
Corey O’Connor will be sworn in Monday as Pittsburgh’s next mayor, entering office with plans to prioritize economic growth, families, and a results oriented approach to city government. Taking over amid higher property taxes, strained city services, and limited fiscal flexibility, O’Connor has outlined goals that include accelerating development on city-owned vacant land, streamlining permitting, rebuilding public safety staffing, and securing targeted contributions from major nonprofits to support core services. While supporters see an opportunity to reset the city’s economic strategy and improve basic services, some council members have raised concerns about the future of affordable housing policy and how redevelopment priorities may shift under the new administration. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.
Pennsylvania is expected to play a significant role in determining control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms, with four congressional districts widely viewed as competitive and more swing seats than any other state. These competitive districts include the 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th districts, currently represented by U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08) and Scott Perry (R-PA-10). With President Donald Trump’s approval ratings softening and Democrats signaling plans to closely tie GOP incumbents to national economic conditions, party strategists say outcomes in Pennsylvania could shape both congressional control and Governor Josh Shapiro’s broader national ambitions. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Pennsylvania’s elected officials offered mixed reactions after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife following a military operation in Caracas. The announcement, paired with unsealed federal indictments alleging drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies, drew praise from some lawmakers who framed the move as necessary, while others raised concerns about escalation, international law, and the long term implications of U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s governance. PoliticsPA has more.
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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.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
February 12, 2026
February 12, 2026
February 11, 2026
