Your Daily Guide

Shapiro Wins Reelection

Democrat Josh Shapiro will serve as governor for another four years. He easily beat out his Republican challenger, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, with more than 60% of the vote — in a race that was called just moments after the polls closed. Libertarian Ken Krawchuk earned less than 2% of the vote. Shapiro ran on a promise to “get shit done,” a phrase he used following the reconstruction of I-95 and that has since become a signature slogan. [Spotlight PA]

• Since his first campaign, Shapiro has pledged to increase the minimum wage, pass stricter gun control laws, and enact nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, among other priorities. None of that's come to pass, but with a Democratic trifecta in Harrisburg, it could potentially change.
• Will Shapiro run for president in 2028? When he voted yesterday morning in Abington, north of Philly, he didn’t say. But there sure is a lot of chatter and speculation about what he’ll do two years from now. [Inquirer / ABC 27]

Democrats Declare Victory in Harrisburg

The party says it's successfully flipped four key state Senate seats and won a trifecta, taking full control over state government. "For the first time in decades, Pennsylvanians used their power tonight to flip the state Senate so that we can deliver even more results for our communities," Shapiro said in a statement just after midnight. As of this writing, the Associated Press has only called two of the four contested races — the 6th and 24th Districts — but if they officially nab the 16th and 40th Districts, they'll have a narrow 26-24 majority in the Senate. [Spotlight PA]

• The Associated Press still has to call several state House races, in addition to the final two Senate races.

U.S. House Reps Maintain Seats

All four U.S. Representatives in our region won reelection. Democrats Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio easily held onto their seats in the 12th and 17th Congressional Districts, which include Allegheny County. Republicans Guy Reschenthaler and Mike Kelly scored victories in the 14th and 16th Districts. None of the races were considered competitive. [Public Source]

• Across the state, Democrats flipped four U.S. House seats in the 1st, 7th, 8th, and 10th Congressional Districts, helping the party take control of Congress. [NYTimes]

Allegheny County Ballot Measure Fails

Voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure that could have given county council members more resources and flexibility with their budget. Nearly 70% of voters said no to the measure, which would've paved the way for councilors to hire personal staff, open district offices, and receive benefits like health insurance and pensions. Council members currently receive a yearly stipend of about $11,000, and all fifteen of them share three full-time staffers. Supporters said the change would help improve oversight and constituent services, but critics said it went against the original vision for council and could open the door for funding increases. [WESA]

Two Chances to Honor Donnie Iris

Fans of the legendary Pittsburgh musician can celebrate his legacy at two upcoming events. The first is a public memorial service tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at his funeral home in Beaver County. The second is a free musical tribute at Citizens Live at the Wylie — the venue where Iris performed his last concert. It starts at 11 a.m. next Monday, and Iris enthusiasts are encouraged to RSVP. [TribLive]

Fish Nor Fowl Closes

The Italian restaurant on Penn Ave in Garfield shut down after eight years in business. Last month, police arrested the restaurant’s owner, Richard DeShantz, for allegedly punching and strangling his girlfriend. Shortly after the criminal charges, a spokesperson announced that DeShantz stepped away from “involvement in the restaurant group,” which includes over a dozen establishments such as Täkō and Pre Amp Coffee Studio. A preliminary court hearing for DeShantz is scheduled for tomorrow. [🔒 Post-Gazette]

Rec Centers To Provide Free Lunch

The Steelers and Giant Eagle will provide funding for free lunches for students when Pittsburgh Public Schools has days off or early dismissals. Earlier this year, the city launched extended recreation center hours to provide free childcare when schools are closed. Check out the full list of locations. [TribLive / CitiParks]

• Research shows that school-provided meals improve students’ test scores and academic performance, and decrease the risk of ER visits. Nine states currently provide universal free breakfast and lunch for all public school students. PA provides universal free breakfast, but only certain students qualify for free lunch. [Yahoo! Life / Newsweek]

Winter Shelter Plan Begins

The county’s efforts to provide shelter for unhoused adults this winter kicked off Sunday and runs until April 15 of next year. It will provide over 600 beds, as well as hot meals, medical care, case management, and other services. [Allegheny County]

• The Community Resource Mall in Perry South will serve as the main winter shelter this season, with over 141 beds and transportation provided to and from Downtown. When the shelter first opened in 2024, critics said the location created barriers to access services that are centered Downtown. [Public Source]