Another Dem goes neutral in the 6th District

State Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) has decided to pull his endorsement of congressional hopeful Doug Pike, making him one of the most high-profile Democrats to change his mind in the contentious 6th District primary between Pike and Manan Trivedi.

Shapiro, a three-term state lawmaker with a big profile in the region, confirmed to pa2010.com that he asked the Pike campaign to remove his name from the endorsement list on its Web site, which it did recently—and quietly. Like others who have either gone neutral or switched to Trivedi’s camp altogether, Shapiro cited the fact that Pike was the only candidate in the race at the time of the endorsement.

March 17, 2010 at 9:00 am | Comments (15)

Five Democrats who could shake up the Governor’s race

For months, Democratic insiders have looked at their party’s field for Governor and asked: “Is this it?”

And that was before Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham stepped aside. The candidates that remain are perceived front-runner Dan Onorato, the Allegheny County Executive, state Auditor General Jack Wagner and Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox. While those candidates would surely wave off such a perception, there’s no denying that people on both sides of the…

July 8, 2009 at 2:14 pm | Comments (16)

Shapiro may run for Lt. Gov.

State Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) is being encouraged to dive into the relatively empty Democratic field for Lieutenant Governor, and when Harrisburg’s contentious budget negotiations are over, he may do just that, a Democrat close to Shapiro told pa2010.com.

“It’s something he will look at seriously,” the Democrat said on condition of anonymity because Shapiro hasn’t made any decision. Shapiro, the Democrat added, is not currently making moves toward the race, and will not consider…

July 8, 2009 at 8:00 am | Comments (5)

Is Saidel the best candidate for Lt. Governor?

Jonathan Saidel may be a perfect fit for Lt. Governor, but quite frankly, he doesn’t have to be. This race is as cold as ice.

However, I wonder whether he is the best candidate. How about Josh Shapiro or Robin Weissman? The Lt. Governor primary is about partnership, so, if Saidel finds a way onto the Onorato ticket, things look good. If not,…

June 21, 2009 at 11:45 pm | Comments (1)

A day—and a decision—that transformed the political landscape

When the sun rose Tuesday morning, all was well. The Democratic Senate primary was a snoozer. Everyone was talking about President Obama’s hundred days. And Arlen Specter was the state’s Republican senior Senator, a reliable GOP vote even if he ticked off the conservative base from time to time.

What a difference a day makes.

Specter’s decision yesterday to…

April 28, 2009 at 11:17 pm | Comments (2)

Sorry, wrong number

Interesting item in The Inquirer Thursday on defeat of state Representative Josh Shapiro’s (D-Montgomery) proposed cellphone ban. According to the paper, “Republicans said the bill was poorly worded and would impose steep fines … amounting to a sneak tax increase.” The article further said that the bill got “bogged down in heated debate,” as Republicans questioned the definition of “operating a motor vehicle” (no kidding), whether the bill might lead to racial or other profiling,…

April 23, 2009 at 8:46 pm | Comments (0)

Shapiro’s setback

I doubt that this will have any lasting political impact regarding his pursuit of higher office, but state Representative Josh Shapiro has to be disappointed that his House colleagues yesterday rejected the cell-phone driving ban he’s been pushing almost for as long as he’s been in office.

He certainly had higher hopes. Appearing on WHYY’s Radio Times on Tuesday, Shapiro sounded confident the vote would go better.

“The time has come,”…

April 23, 2009 at 10:51 am | Comments (0)

That’s one way to launch a Senate campaign…

As you have probably read in the news lately, state Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) is being considered as a potential Senate candidate and he has certainly not been shy or coy about his interest in running for the office on the Democrat ticket.

Yesterday’s business on the state House floor did not do his chances for a potential bid any favors, as the House debated his hand-held cell phone ban. If you watched any of…

April 23, 2009 at 10:39 am | Comments (2)

Kortz: ‘Just an ordinary steel worker’

In his surprise campaign for U.S. Senate, state Representative Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) has wasted no time in declaring himself the outsider candidate and seems determined to use his lack of experience in elected office as his biggest qualification.

“I’m just an ordinary steel worker, but I’m running for all the right reasons,” Kortz told pa2010.com a day after he declared his candidacy for the Senate. “And I want to give the…

April 22, 2009 at 11:00 am | Comments (1)

BREAKING NEWS: Kortz to run for Senate

State Representative Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) will soon file paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010, The Daily News in McKeesport reports.

Kortz is only the second Democrat to declare his candidacy, following former National Constitution Center CEO Joe Torsella. He is almost certain to be the only candidate from western Pennsylvania, which could give him a large amount of the primary vote uncontested. State Representative Josh Shapiro is also considering the race.

“I understand this is a monumental task and that I will be the underdog,” Kortz told The Daily News in a statement . “However, I am entering this race for all the right reasons.”

Kortz’s announcement is almost sure to catch the Capitol by surprise. His name as hardly, if ever, been mentioned as a possible Senate candidate.

April 21, 2009 at 10:59 am | Comments (1)