By Whitney Downard | Reporter
“I can’t promise you that the road ahead with be smooth and easy, or that I won’t make some mistakes along the way. But I can promise you this: if we keep that American spirit that anything is possible, if we keep the hopefulness that brought you the polls today … we are going to keep this republic that we love.” — Gov. Josh Shapiro, after winning a second term as governor.
Goooood morning! And happy Saturday. Hope you get to rest and relax a little after a long week.
If you’re in the area, the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg will be free today in honor of our nation’s veterans.
Thanks for starting your day off with us by reading, sharing our stories and supporting our work. We appreciate it. — Whitney
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro declares victory in his reelection bid alongside wife Lori Shapiro at an election-night event at the Penn Harris Hotel Harrisburg on November 3, 2026 in Camp Hill. (Photo by Joe Lamberti/Getty Images)
By Natalie Bencivenga
Watch a recap of our top stories.
Rep. Malcom Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) said a Democratic trifecta in Harrisburg would mean a body “where we stand unequivocally with organized labor” at a Capitol celebration on Nov 4, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Whitney Downard
Roughly 12 hours after winning 26 seats in the Pennsylvania Senate, thus clinching a Democratic trifecta in state government, a crowd of party members stood on the Capitol steps to celebrate “a very good day” following a successful midterm election.
“It is now the obligation of all of my colleagues to recognize that with this honor comes tremendous responsibility to govern well, to govern thoughtfully, to govern pragmatically,” said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery). “This is an opportunity that we will not fail. We cannot fail.”
The atmosphere was joyous as leaders detailed their plans for a unified General Assembly where both chambers have a Democratic majority for the first time since 1993.
Poll workers wait for voters at a polling place in a garage on Willett Road in Brentwood, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by John Beale/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
FOLO PA PODCAST
By Emily Previti
To say Democrats had a huge midterm election would be an understatement.
The party took control of the U.S. Senate and House. On the state level, Democrats established a majority among governor’s offices and either broke Republican trifectas or achieved their own in at least half a dozen states – including Pennsylvania.
Four of the commonwealth’s U.S. House seats also flipped to Democrats; in other congressional districts, the party performed stronger than the last two elections – even those where they lost. And the reverse was true for Republicans: they won handily in six districts, but not by quite as much as usual.
The Capital-Star’s team covered all of this and, on very little sleep, debriefed the next morning – on mic.
Pennsylvania’s Congressional District Map. (Pennsylvania Department of State)
By Emily Previti
Incumbents have held onto their seats in a dozen of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts, leaving the state’s delegation favoring Democrats by 11-6 due to four “toss-ups” among at least 25 seats the party flipped across the country.
Thirteen seats in the commonwealth were considered safe. But races in those districts held by Republicans were closer than the last midterm election in 2022, according to an analysis of results by the Capital-Star. The analysis didn’t include two districts – the 13th and 14th – where Republican incumbents John Joyce and Guy Reschenthaler ran unopposed in 2022.
Among the most dramatic changes for GOP-held districts was the 9th, which covers nine counties and parts of three others from the state’s central agricultural region through coal country and into the northern tier.
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The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, administered in two doses, is 97% effective. (Photo by Courtney Bell/Oklahoma Voice)
By Peter Hall
Pennsylvania recorded its sixth measles death of the year as the outbreak that has sickened nearly 1,500 mostly unvaccinated people grows.
The state Health Department on Wednesday confirmed that an unvaccinated person in Jefferson County who tested positive for measles has died. It’s the second death related to the highly contagious virus in the county.
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