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.
April 26, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAYou’re invited! A guide and free reader Q&A on what you need to know before the May primary election.by Spotlight PA StaffOn Tuesday, May 4 at 5 p.m., join Spotlight PA Deputy Editor Sarah Anne Hughes and WHYY’s Politics Reporter Katie Meyer as they break down what you need to know before you vote.
April 20, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAKey GOP lawmaker eyes photo ID, signature matching as Pa. considers voting changesby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAElection officials were impressed by 10 state House oversight hearings, but it's still unclear if lawmakers will embrace their recommendations.
April 19, 2021TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerYour guide to Pa.’s 2021 primary ballot questionsby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAVoters will be asked to settle a contentious dispute between the Wolf administration and the GOP-controlled legislature about the governor's executive powers.
March 23, 2021Jessica GriffinBallot questions should be clear, but two written by the Wolf administration don’t pass the testby Sarah Anne HughesTwo proposals that will be before voters this May have drawn the ire of Republican leaders in the state House and Senate, who called language written by the Wolf administration "prejudicial."
March 10, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. audit confirms Biden got more votes than Trump, but can’t tell us much elseby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile the audit's results indicate a high degree of confidence in the outcome, they cannot answer some of the finer questions about how the election was run.
Feb. 24, 2021Robert Frank / For Spotlight PACounties will again be unable to process mail ballots early during Pa.’s primary electionby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile a municipal primary typically sees low turnout, election officials said they can’t predict how many voters will take advantage of the state’s no-excuse mail voting law.
Feb. 23, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerVoters may never again get to choose Pa.’s lieutenant governor candidatesby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAA proposed constitutional amendment would allow a gubernatorial candidate to choose their running mate after the spring primary, much like the presidential race.
Feb. 19, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa.’s new auditor general says his election was fair, but he won’t talk about the othersby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PABecause Timothy DeFoor may be asked to investigate the 2020 election, his office said he "must maintain his independence."
Feb. 4, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesWhat the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of votingby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PASecretary Kathy Boockvar’s resignation has emboldened her fiercest GOP critics, even though it was not related to her handling of the closely watched vote in a battleground state.
Feb. 3, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPa. enacted 140 laws last year. Only 27 of them addressed the coronavirus.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe nation’s largest full-time legislature — with some of the highest-paid lawmakers — emerged from 2020 having failed to address some of the public’s most pressing needs.
