Pennsylvania Perspective for Monday, March 30, 2026

Pennsylvania

2026 PA Primary Races in the General Assembly

Pennsylvanians will vote in the May 19 primary elections, which are expected to shape the ideological makeup of the state House and Senate. While the general elections in November determines party control, many districts have become less competitive, making the primary the decisive contest for several seats. Republican Senators Camera Bartolotta (R-46-Beaver/Greene/Washington) and Chris Gebhard (R-48-Berks/Lancaster/Lebanon) face opponents backed by conservative and skill games groups, while Representative Greg Vitali (D-166-Delaware) is being challenged on public transit policy. Click here for Spotlight PA’s full analysis of House and Senate primaries to watch, including a list of competitive primaries, primaries with competitive general elections, and primaries in districts that likely won’t have competitive general elections.

PA Supreme Court Ruling on Felony Murder, Retroactivity

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that sentencing people convicted of second degree murder to life without parole is unconstitutional, where legal scholars expect the ruling to affect roughly 1,100 people currently serving those sentences. While the court did not explicitly address whether the decision is retroactive, experts argue that maintaining sentences now labeled unconstitutional would be legally untenable. The General Assembly has 120 days to create a new sentencing system. The House previously introduced HB443 by chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Representative Tim Briggs (D-149-Montgomery), setting a maximum sentence of 50 years, while the Senate introduced SB387 by Senator Sharif Street (D-3-Philadelphia), setting a 25-year minimum for felony murder and allowing for parole after that time.

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Philadelphia

Governor Shapiro on Mayor Parker’s Tax Proposals

Governor Josh Shapiro stated that he is not looking to raise taxes in response to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $7 billion budget plan, emphasizing his own record of tax cuts while visiting West Philadelphia. The Mayor is seeking state approval to increase the city hotel tax from 15.5% to 17.5% to fund 1,000 new homeless shelter beds and to close a local 2% sales tax loophole for online retailers. Despite the Governor’s hesitation, Mayor Parker maintained that Philadelphia “cannot afford to wait,” signaling a potential legislative hurdle in Harrisburg as the city seeks the authority to implement its revenue-raising measures.

PA-3 Primary Race Updates

After Representative Morgan Cephas (D-192-Philadelphia) dropped out of the race to succeed U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), three leading candidates have emerged ahead of the May 19th primary election, including Dr. Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon with high name recognition from her pandemic leadership and the endorsement of Representative Evans, State Senator Sharif Street (D-3-Philadelphia), who leads in fundraising with significant “establishment” and union support, and State Representative Chris Rabb (D-200-Philadelphia), who is running as a progressive challenger backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. The outcome of the Democratic primary election is expected to focus on voter turnout.

Federal

“No Kings” Protests in PA

Protests coordinated under the “No Kings” banner took place Saturday in the U.S. and Europe, with organizers estimating nearly 9 million participants worldwide. In Pennsylvania, the movement saw turnout in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and other protests in Honesdale, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Jim Thorpe, and Tunkhannock. Protesters cited the war in Iran, immigration enforcement, and changes to transgender rights as concerns, while White House officials and the National Republican Congressional Committee were critical of the protests as being “far-left.”

Affordability, Iran War

The resulting economic impact of the military conflict in Iran has become a primary focal point for political messaging ahead of the 2026 midterms. U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2) and other House Democrats are highlighting the projected $200 billion cost of the war, arguing those funds could be redirected toward domestic priorities like healthcare and education. This shift follows a surge in gas prices, which have topped $4 per gallon in parts of the Commonwealth. U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and Republican leadership have characterized these price increases as temporary “fluctuations” necessary for a significant military operation. 

Cozen Corner

Tax Policy in 2026: What Business Leaders Need to Know

With Tax Day approaching, Sean Clerget, former chief tax counsel to the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee and a recent addition to DC Public Strategies, breaks down Washington’s tax agenda. They discuss the Trump administration’s policy priorities, key provisions businesses should watch, and the tax debates likely to shape the rest of 2026. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer (DC) and Sean Clerget (DC). Click here to listen.

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