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| | | We’re two weeks out from Election Day so it’s time to start figuring out what the heck is on your ballot and how you’d like to vote. We’re weighing in on who to send to Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., plus two local ballot measures — there are no City Council races this time around. Here are some resources to help you study up before you vote. | | | | See Your Ballot Before Election Day | To get a preview of all the races and how they’ll look on the voting machine, type your home address into Philadelphia’s Atlas tool, select “Voting,” and then click “Preview Ballot.” The Committee of Seventy also has an interactive voter guide. | | Info on Philly Ballot Measures | | | Guides to Specific Races | Governor | | | Lieutenant Governor | | | State Legislature | Most Philly legislators are running unopposed for reelection, but here are competitive races to keep an eye on: | - House District 170 (Somerton, Parkwood): Republican Rep. Martina White faces Democrat Rob Gurtcheff, an Army veteran. Democrats have a big registration edge here, but President Trump won the district by 15 points in 2024. That makes the race a test of where Northeast Philly stands politically right now.
- Other state races could affect Philly. Across the state, the parties are fighting it out for control of both the state legislature and Congress. Democrats are targeting four Senate seats — in Bucks, Montgomery, and Lancaster counties — while looking to maintain their hold on the House in hopes of controlling all three governing bodies for the first time since 1993. If they win a trifecta, legalized recreational cannabis and a higher minimum wage could be on the horizon.
| | Congress | Democratic Congressional Reps. Brendan Boyle and Mary Scanlon, who each represent part of the city, face Republican challengers Jessica Arriaga and Nicholas Manganaro, respectively. State Rep. Chris Rabb, the Democratic nominee for the Third District, has no Republican opponent but independent Dennis Mahoney is on the ballot. They’re all considered to be safe Democratic seats. But keep an eye on these contests: | | | For More, Check Out These Guides | |
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| What Philly's Talking About |
| State Unemployment at Three-Year Low | At 3.6%, Pennsylvania is experiencing its lowest unemployment rate since September 2023, below the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationwide, many feel the job market is stagnant — a “low-hire, low-fire” landscape. [PA.gov, Marketplace] | | E-Bike Batteries Cause Fires | Lithium-ion batteries have sparked two deadly fires in Philly over the last few months. The most recent in Kensington on Oct. 11 killed a mother and daughter. Lithium-ion batteries in phones, e-scooters, and e-bikes are at risk of catching fire when the battery gets damaged or is overcharged. Follow these safety tips. [Billy Penn] | | Railing Against Kensington ‘Blitz’ | Critics say Mayor Parker’s “One Philly Kensington Blitz” isn’t helping address the neighborhood’s greatest needs like addiction treatment and beds for unhoused people. Is the increased police presence in Kensington simply shifting the problem to other neighborhoods? [WHYY, NBC10] | | Wishing Jalen Hurts a Full Recovery | Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is likely out for the season after blood clots were found in both of his lungs. Now questions are emerging as to why Hurts played in London two Sundays ago — reportedly on zero hours of sleep — given this serious condition. The Eagles' record now stands at 2-4, and they have several additional key players who are injured. [X] | | Go (See Other) Birds | With the Eagles not in the best of health, why not look for other birds? Like, real ones. Philly happens to be a great place for birding, as it’s on the Atlantic Flyway — the migration route that birds travel from North to South. [🔒 The Inquirer, Whyy] | |
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