Pennsylvania Perspective for Monday, March 23, 2026

Pennsylvania

AI Integration in PA Campaigns

Pennsylvania candidates are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in their campaigns through parody images, campaign materials, and answering questionnaires. For example, Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity posted an AI-generated parody image of Governor Josh Shapiro last fall. The state House recently passed a bill sponsored by State Representative Tarik Khan (D-194-Philadelphia) that would allow candidates to sue over undisclosed AI-generated content disseminated within 90 days of an election. The legislation currently awaits action in the Senate Communications & Technology Committee.

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Philadelphia

Mayor Parker’s Budget Proposal, Harrisburg

Mayor Cherelle Parker is turning to her former colleagues in Harrisburg to authorize key components of her $7 billion budget, including a hotel tax hike and a closure of the online sales tax loophole. The proposals, which could generate over $100 million in revenue over five years, specifically raise the hotel tax from 15.5% to 17.5% and close a loophole in the sales tax that allows online retailers to sell goods to Philadelphia customers without charging the city’s 2% sales tax. While Governor Josh Shapiro has remained noncommittal regarding tax increases during his reelection year, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41-Armstrong/ Indiana/Jefferson/Westmoreland) expressed a rare openness to Mayor Parker’s requests, citing a strong working relationship with the Mayor. 

PA-03 Democratic Primary Updates

The race to succeed retiring U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) has consolidated into an eight-candidate field following the withdrawal of Dr. Dave Oxman, who exited to endorse fellow physician Dr. Ala Stanford. The candidates include State Senator Sharif Street (D-3-Philadelphia), State Representative Chris Rabb (D-200-Philadelphia), State Representative Morgan Cephas (D-192-Philadelphia), Dr. Ala Stanford, Cole Carter, NaDerah Griffin, Shaun Griffith, and Karl Morris. Click here for the PA-3 Democratic primary tracker.

Pittsburgh

Mayor O’Connor Proposes $28.3M Budget Revision 

Mayor Corey O’Connor presented a 2026 budget revision to address a “worse than expected” $40 million deficit, adding $28.3 million in spending to fund retiree healthcare, fuel costs, and overtime payments, while also restoring the “CityCuts” lawn program. To balance the adjustments, the administration plans to draw $6.5 million from the city’s rainy day fund and anticipates $10 million in new revenue from payroll preparation taxes. Despite a potential $40 million deficit, the Mayor stated he is not currently considering layoffs or additional tax increases.

Federal

ICE Warehouses, Reforms, TSA

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is requesting more time to address environmental concerns raised by the Shapiro administration regarding the conversion of two warehouses into mass detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill Counties. The facilities, intended to hold up to 9,000 detainees, were effectively blocked by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) over warnings that they would “overburden” local water and sewer infrastructure. In the meantime, U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-3) are drafting a bipartisan deal to reform ICE protocols in hopes of ending the partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, including details that would prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks in most situations and align ICE protocols with those of other federal law enforcement agencies. President Donald Trump has also stated that ICE agents would be deployed to cities across the United States, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as an effort to manage long delays at security checkpoints as TSA workers miss paychecks and call out from work during the partial DHS shutdown.

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