This time around, strategists say, Democratic donors and allied groups were far more prepared and motivated — particularly by the desire to defend abortion rights and their interests in 2024’s presidential election.
Their preparation included focus groups that found that undecided voters had a visceral reaction to the idea of an anti-abortion candidate trying to hide their anti-abortion position, they said.
It became a key avenue to attack Carluccio, who was endorsed by a pair of anti-abortion groups. And it seemed to work: turnout was highest in more left-leaning areas of Pennsylvania, including suburban Philadelphia and Allegheny County.
In the end, turnout topped 35% and spending exceeded $22 million. Those who spent heavily in 2021 — such as labor unions, trial lawyers and groups that distribute money from billionaire Jeffrey Yass — spent more.
Some Democratic Party allies that spent nothing or next-to-nothing in 2021 spent six- or seven-figures this time around.
“There’s nothing that concentrates the mind like defeat, especially after you lose by less than 1%,” Specter said.
Based on reports filed thus far to the state, McCaffery and Democratic allies spent more than $13 million, compared to more than $8 million by Carluccio and her allies. Some spending has yet to be disclosed, and some groups haven’t disclosed donors.
The total spent is likely to be roughly half of what was spent in Wisconsin — a race that hinted what was to come in Pennsylvania.
“We all saw what happened in Wisconsin,” said Eric Stern, a strategist for the admaker Technicolor Political, which made TV ads for McCaffery’s campaign.
Some partisans blame the other side for a high-spending, hyperpartisan race.
Matthew Brouillette, who helped direct millions of dollars in spending to help Carluccio, wrote a post-election memo that warned allies they will be outspent “until our side gets the same fire” to help their candidates.
“It is definitely the new normal for the Democrats,” Brouillette said. “They see the Supreme Court as a super legislature.”
Kadida Kenner, CEO of the left-leaning voter registration group New Pennsylvania Project, whose staff went door-knocking to help McCaffery, said such judicial races are the product of Republican-backed efforts to overturn elections.
“This is the future and I don’t think we’re going back from this,” Kenner said. “And I think our judicial races will be even more partisan in the future.”
More than two dozen dogs were rescued after an investigation into a dog fighting ring in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State Police said they seized 28 dogs from a home in West Hazleton, Luzerne County, last week.
Troopers said the dogs and “numerous items of animal fighting paraphernalia” were found at the home. Police found weighted collars, heavy chains and treadmills at the scene, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is now caring for the dogs and puppies.
After getting another search warrant, police said they found 19 dogs crated inside the home and eight outside. Another was found running loose and was captured, troopers said.
(Photo: ASPCA/PA State Police)
Griffin Pond Animal Shelter and the Luzerne County Animal Response Team helped remove the dogs, and the shelter temporarily cared for them until they were given to the ASPCA. The dogs will have to undergo forensic veterinary evaluations, general vet care and behavioral analysis.
The ASPCA said some of the dogs had scarring and injuries consistent with dog fighting.
In a Facebook post, the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter said it was one of “the most horrific cases we’ve been a part of.”
“Seeing these photos brings tears to our eyes. We’re beyond tired of experiencing these heartbreaking situations because of humans that have failed the voiceless. The cruelty they were subjected to is unimaginable,” the shelter said.
Police said the person at the center of the search warrant is in the Luzerne County Jail on other charges. The investigation is ongoing.
March 10 (UPI) — A small plane has crashed in rural Pennsylvania, injuring all five on board, officials said.
The plane crashed at about 3:18 p.m. EDT on Sunday in a parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, located about 85 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Manheim Township said in a statement.
All five people on board sustained injuries of unknown severity and were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment, according to the township. No injuries were reported on the ground and there were no deaths, it added.
The Brethren Village facilities also avoided sustaining damage, though several cars in the parking lot were damaged.
Officials told reporters during a press conference that the aircraft was on fire when responders arrived at the scene. About a dozen cars were damaged in the crash, with at least five having been “severely damaged,” Manheim Township Police Chief Duane Fisher said.
The fire has since been extinguished, the officials said.
According to FlightAware, the aircraft had departed from Lancaster Airport near the crash site with a final destination of Springfield, Ohio.
The cause of the crash was under investigation.
Fisher said they initially imposed a shelter-in-place order for the retirement community following the crash as a “precaution.”
“At no point did the plane or the aircraft strike any part of the structure,” Fisher said. “So, we’re very confident that all safety concerns have been addressed as far as the facility here and everyone that lives here.”
“I don’t know if I consider it a miracle, but the fact that we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing.”
The FAA, which said it was investigating the crash, identified the plane in a statement as a Beechcraft Bonanza.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said state police were on the scene assisting first responders.
“All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues,” he said on X.
The incident follows a series of high-profile aviation crashes in the United States, including a crash involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines Jet in Washington, D.C., in January.
A plane has crash-landed in a parking lot in suburban Pennsylvania.
Dramatic footage showed the aircraft erupt in flames in the parking lot, lined with other vehicles, in Manheim Township.
Medics, ambulances, and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene in Lancaster County – as flames engulfed the plane. It is unclear how many people were on board.
The aircraft crashed, triggering a fiery inferno and causing multiple vehicles to burst into flames, between Fairview Drive and Meadowview Court.
The aircraft’s tail can be seen in the wreckage, squashed up next to parked cars and surrounded by thick black smoke billowing through the air.
Numerous injuries have been reported at the scene – including burn victims.
The parking lot where the plane landed is just two streets away from Lancaster Airport – and serves a retirement home, Fairview Meadows.
Public records provided by Lancaster Airport show that a commuter airline provided by Southern Airways Express was scheduled to land at the airport at 2:14pm. It took off from Dulles International Airport in Virginia earlier on Sunday.
Dramatic footage showed the aircraft erupt in flames in a parking lot, lined with other vehicles, in Manheim Township
The aircraft’s tail can be seen in the wreckage, squashed up next to parked cars and surrounded by thick black smoke
Emergency services are seen working on the small plane crash in Pennsylvania
Smoke is seen billowing from the site of the aircraft crash
This comes after a particularly tumultuous start to the year for the aviation industry.
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