Oct. 27, 2021Contributed Photo / Inquirer File PhotoSee the top donors in this year’s hotly contested 2021 Pa. Supreme Court electionby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PASpecial interests and political groups account for the bulk of more than $5 million given to the candidates in the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court race. Here's a list of who's given the most money.
Oct. 26, 2021Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPowerful special interests are pouring millions into the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court raceby Angela Couloumbis and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWhile the race cannot change the Democratic majority on the high court, it could narrow the margin amid increasingly partisan attacks on the judiciary’s independence.
Oct. 18, 2021TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPa. election 2021: Polling places, mail ballot details, and more things to know about Nov. 2by Spotlight PA StaffEverything you need to vote in the 2021 Pa. election, including key dates, how to find your polling place, and guides to the most consequential races.
Oct. 14, 2021DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerA basic guide to vetting your local candidates in Pennsylvania’s 2021 school board electionsby Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAThese races are more contentious than ever, but getting information on candidates and who is funding them is difficult. Use Spotlight PA's step-by-step guide to find the information you need.
Oct. 14, 2021Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAA full guide to Pennsylvania’s 2021 Supreme Court election and other appellate judicial racesby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe decisions handed down by the Commonwealth, Superior, and Supreme Courts impact everyday Pennsylvanians “probably more so than a legislator.”
Oct. 11, 2021Kalim A. Bhatti / For The InquirerGOP wants personal voter data to root out fraud. Pa. already uses a more secure system.by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAPennsylvania has spent nearly half a million dollars over the past six years to find and remove outdated registrations from its voter database.
Sept. 27, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerTo avoid Wolf’s veto, Pa. GOP proposes giving voters final say on stricter ID rules, other election changesby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PABy simultaneously pursuing legislative changes as well as a constitutional amendment, Republicans are presenting Gov. Tom Wolf with two options: negotiate or be cut out of the conversation completely.
Sept. 23, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAWolf admin sues Pa. Senate Republicans over bid to collect private voter informationby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe complaint argues GOP senators are unlawfully pursuing a review based on “a disproven narrative” designed to undermine faith in the results of the 2020 election.
Sept. 15, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. Senate GOP moves to collect private voter information in controversial review of 2020 electionby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWednesday's vote by a Senate panel allows it to demand information — including the name, address, driver's license, and partial social security number — for all registered Pennsylvania voters.
Sept. 14, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. GOP lawmakers to subpoena personal information on every voter in controversial 2020 election reviewby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe GOP lawmakers have crafted a sweeping subpoena, requesting among other information the name, address, and partial social security number of every voter registered as of November 2020.
Sept. 9, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election resultsby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PARudy Giuliani once described the Amistad Project as a “partner” in the Trump campaign’s legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But little else is known about the group or its donors.
Aug. 27, 2021Tim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerPa.’s legislative leaders wield extraordinary power, and the audit fight proves itby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe state Senate's top Republican recently stripped another lawmaker of his committee chairmanship and Capitol staff, a rare but not unprecedented move in Harrisburg.
Aug. 26, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesThe Pa. Senate leader resisted his pro-Trump wing for months. Now he wants a MAGA makeover.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia InquirerFor months, Jake Corman walked a fine line as the movement to discredit the 2020 election results won support from some of his pro-Trump colleagues. Now the Pennsylvania Republican is all in.
Aug. 26, 2021Sue Dorfman / For VotebeatWhat we know about the renewed push for a ‘forensic audit’ of Pennsylvania’s 2020 electionby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWe cut through the noise to revisit how this effort came about, what we know about it thus far, and what it might look like in the future.
July 21, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPa. Republicans are bringing their election bill back after Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s open to voter ID changesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Philadelphia InquirerWolf had said changes to the state’s voter ID rules were a nonstarter. But he shifted that position this week after vetoing the Republican-passed bill.
July 15, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania’s 2022 U.S. Senate race: What we know so farby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAThe Senate opening has drawn plenty of interest from Democrats looking to shore up a narrow congressional majority, and Republicans looking to limit key aspects of the Biden agenda.
July 5, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. lawmakers are on summer break. Here are 5 issues they’ll face this fall.by Lindsay Weber for Spotlight PADemocrats and Republicans recently recessed until September without resolving key issues including election reform, cocktails to-go, lobbying reform, and more.
June 30, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania governor vetoes GOP-led election overhaul citing voter ID restrictionsby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PARepublican lawmakers are likely to use the constitutional amendment process to take the issue to the voters.
June 22, 2021TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerAs Pa. House advances doomed election overhaul, Senate GOP charts different course to voter ID, other changesby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAVoter ID has emerged as a partisan sticking point in Harrisburg, with Gov. Tom Wolf vowing to veto any measure that includes stricter requirements.
June 18, 2021Courtesy Sen. David Argall's officeKey Pennsylvania state senator backs Arizona-style election auditby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAState Sen. David Argall said he did not know why his constituents were so distrusting of the results, as former President Donald Trump and allies continue to falsely claim the election was stolen.
June 15, 2021JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerGOP’s major election overhaul advances in Pa. House as Democrats call it a ‘farce’by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Philadelphia InquirerThe bill — dubbed the Voting Rights Protection Act — includes stricter voter ID, signature verification requirements, and limits on drop boxes.
June 10, 2021TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPa. GOP proposes major election overhaul, including stricter voter ID and in-person early votingby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Philadelphia InquirerThe bill comes as Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country seek to tighten voting laws.
June 8, 2021TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania’s 2022 race for governor: What we know so farby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe outcome of the race will determine the balance of power in Harrisburg and could radically shape policies on everything from abortion to voting rights.
May 28, 2021Yong Kim / Philadelphia InquirerMark Zuckerberg helped some Pa. counties survive the 2020 election. Right-wing lawmakers say that was unfair.by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAMore than 20 Pennsylvania counties turned to private philanthropy when it became apparent the Republican-led General Assembly wasn’t going to help them cover COVID-related expenses.
May 19, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAExperts say Pa.’s 2021 primary was typical, but GOP lawmakers are seizing on issuesby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PARoutine poll issues, some mail-ballot snafus, and low turnout were all par for the course of a normal election.
May 19, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesVoters back curtailing Wolf’s emergency powers in win for GOP lawmakersby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe votes represent a victory for Republican lawmakers in what is widely seen as a referendum on the Wolf administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
May 17, 2021Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAA new wave of election directors step in to fill Pa.’s many vacancies — with little training and varying experienceby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAAfter a ‘nightmare’ year led to massive job turnover among those who run Pennsylvania's elections, there are growing calls for standardized training to provide more support and guidance.
May 11, 2021Fred Adams / Spotlight PAIndependents can vote on ballot questions, and more things to know about the May 18 primaryby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PASpotlight PA answers your questions about controversial constitutional amendments, judicial races, and more.
April 27, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAAnticipating ‘partisan’ impasse, Democrats ask court to prepare to draw Pa. congressional mapby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAThe legal challenge comes just one day after the U.S. Census Bureau confirmed Pennsylvania will lose one of its 18 congressional seats, setting up a contentious battle to protect incumbents.
April 26, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania will lose a U.S. House seat after redistrictingby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAThe widely expected loss of one of the state's 18 congressional districts sets up a high-stakes redistricting process.
