Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, May 7, 2026

Pennsylvania

PA 2026 Primary Elections

Pennsylvania guides to the 2026 primary elections on May 19 by City & State highlights the competitive primary races for seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate. Click here for Spotlight PA’s voting guides on races for governor, the state legislature, and more in 2026.

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Governor Shapiro Signs Six Bills into Law

Governor Josh Shapiro signed HB797, HB1251, HB2163, SB507, SB848, and SB867 into law to eliminate pension penalties for firefighter widows, expand midwife authorities, increase dental faculty practice locations, integrate flood expertise into state planning, and modernize accessibility code adoption.

PA House Democrats Challenge Senate GOP to Advance 2027 Budget

Pennsylvania House Democrats issued a direct challenge to Senate Republicans, urging the GOP-controlled chamber to advance its own budget proposal to keep negotiations on track for the June 30 deadline. The Democratic-led House passed a record $53.3 billion spending plan on April 14, the earliest in a decade. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) dismissed the House bill as a “fantasy budget,” arguing the state must prioritize needs over wants and avoid excessive debt. The House plan relies on new revenue from legalizing recreational marijuana and taxing skill games, proposals that have repeatedly stalled in the Senate. Lawmakers are not scheduled to return to Harrisburg for formal negotiations until early June. Click here for City & State’s 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget tracker.

PA Sues AI Firm Over Chatbots Impersonating Doctors

The Shapiro administration filed a lawsuit against Character Technologies Inc., alleging that its Character.AI platform allows chatbots to illegally practice medicine by posing as licensed professionals. The legal action stems from a state investigation where a chatbot described as a “doctor of psychiatry” claimed to be licensed in Pennsylvania while offering medical assessments. While the company argues its platform is for role-playing and includes disclaimers that all interactions are fictional, Governor Josh Shapiro stated that companies will not be permitted to deploy AI tools that mislead residents regarding their health. 

Treasurer Garrity Vows to Veto Recreational Marijuana Legalization

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the likely Republican candidate for governor, announced that she will veto any legislation legalizing recreational marijuana if elected this November. In a recent interview, Treasurer Garrity clarified her position, stating she does not support adult-use cannabis and that it “will not end up in the budget.” Governor Josh Shapiro has made legalization a centerpiece of his fiscal plans, estimating it could generate $729 million in annual revenue. Despite Treasurer Garrity’s opposition and long-standing resistance from Senate Republicans, a recent poll shows that 69% of likely Pennsylvania voters now support taxing and regulating recreational cannabis.

Allegations Surface of Governor Shapiro Backing GOP Nominee in 2024

Governor Josh Shapiro is facing scrutiny after a leaked recording by Axios of labor leader and candidate for the 7th congressional district Bob Brooks alleged that Governor Shapiro urged his union to endorse Republican Stacy Garrity for state treasurer in 2024. While Governor Shapiro has rejected the claims and Brooks said that he “misspoke” in the recording, several top labor allies like IBEW Local 98 and the Philadelphia Building Trades did break tradition to back Treasurer Garrity that year. McClelland described the incident as reflecting a political environment that prioritizes loyalty, while Treasurer Garrity, the likely Republican gubernatorial challenger, criticized the governor for withdrawing his earlier support of her work as treasurer. This endorsement controversy has now become a central theme in the PA-07 primary, as Governor Shapiro looks to test his political influence by boosting Brooks.

Philadelphia

PA Senate Holds Ceremonial Meeting in Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania Senate traveled to Philadelphia for a ceremonial meeting at the National Constitution Center in anticipation of the upcoming July 4th celebrations and the nation’s semiquincentennial. Senate President pro tempore Kim Ward convened the meeting against the backdrop of Independence Hall, where the Philadelphia delegation introduced a formal resolution. Each senator was accompanied by a student from their district, and Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the body, highlighting city–state collaboration and bipartisan support from members of the delegation.

Hospitality Leaders Oppose Proposed Hotel Tax Increase

Leaders of Philadelphia’s tourism and hospitality industry sent a letter to City Council opposing Mayor Cherelle Parker’s proposed 2% hotel tax increase in the 2027 budget. If enacted, the city’s total hotel tax would rise to 17.5%, which opponents argue would make Philadelphia the highest-taxed major city on the East Coast and strip away its competitive advantage over cities like New York and Washington, D.C. The tax increase is projected to generate $110 million for homelessness services as local hotels report booking paces for the upcoming World Cup games are falling below expectations.

PA-3 Congressional Election Updates

With the May 19 primary approaching, four candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District. Given that the district is over 75% Democratic and no Republican has filed for the race, the primary winner is the presumptive successor to the seat. The field includes state representative Chris Rabb (D-200), Dr. Ala Stanford, state senator Sharif Street (D-3), and tax attorney Shaun Griffith.

Pittsburgh

Allegheny County Considers Mandatory Property Tax Reassessments

Allegheny County Council is weighing a bill that would force the government to implement countywide property reassessments every three years, addressing a system that hasn’t been updated in over a decade. Proponents of the ordinance, including affordable housing advocates and national economists, argue that the current reliance on outdated values has stifled new construction, exacerbated blight, and driven up rents by keeping housing supply stagnant. Experts note that the lack of regular assessments disproportionately benefits wealthier homeowners who can afford appeals, creating a regressive tax environment that may violate the state’s constitution. While politicians have historically avoided reassessments due to potential voter backlash over rising property values, supporters at recent public meetings urged the council to pass the legislation to establish a more equitable and transparent tax system.

Pittsburgh City Council Advances Legislation to Restrict ICE

Pittsburgh City Council gave unanimous preliminary approval to two bills designed to restrict federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on city-owned land. The legislation aims to prevent federal agents from establishing operations on municipal property, including parks, libraries, and homeless shelters, and prohibits them from entering private areas of city facilities without a judicial warrant. Council recently passed bills formalizing an existing ban against police and city staff cooperating with ICE, and another directing officials to report back on how surveillance technologies are used in the city. Council is scheduled to consider both bills for final passage next week.

Federal

Governor Shapiro Calls on Senator Fetterman to Reject GOP Recruitment

Governor Josh Shapiro responded to reports of a coordinated effort by the Trump administration and Senate Republicans to persuade U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) to defect to the GOP. Governor Shapiro emphasized that Pennsylvanians specifically elected a Democrat to the seat and urged Senator Fetterman to “honor” that mandate. The recruitment effort, which reportedly includes offers of significant financial backing and campaign support from President Trump, aims to secure the Republican Senate majority ahead of the upcoming midterms. Despite recent instances where Senator Fetterman has aligned with the administration on key policy votes, including the conflict in Iran, the Senator said that he has no intention of switching parties, stating, “I’m a Democrat, and I’m staying one.”

Senator McCormick Tours Western PA Power Plants

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) toured power plants in Beaver County, emphasizing that the AI revolution is inextricably tied to Pennsylvania’s energy production. Visiting the Beaver Valley nuclear plant and the former Bruce Mansfield coal plant, now a natural gas and data center development site, Senator McCormick argued that energy dominance is a matter of national security. The Beaver Valley plant recently secured a 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta to support its growing data center needs. Senator McCormick used the visit to promote his Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act, which seeks to fast-track energy infrastructure projects by imposing one-year limits on state permitting decisions and extending licenses for nuclear sites.

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