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Jewish Pennsylvania judge leaves Democratic Party over antisemitism | The Jerusalem Post

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Jewish Pennsylvania judge leaves Democratic Party over antisemitism | The Jerusalem Post


An elected Supreme Court justice in Pennsylvania announced Monday night that he has left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent, citing concerns about antisemitism.

In a statement, David Wecht, who is Jewish and served as Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party chair from 1998 to 2001, said he believed antisemitism has moved from the fringe of the Democratic Party to the mainstream.

“Nazi tattoos, jihadist chants, intimidation and attacks at synagogues, and other hateful anti-Jewish invective and actions are minimized, ignored, and even coddled,” he wrote. “Acquiescence to Jew-hatred is now disturbingly common among activists, leaders, and even many elected officials in the Democratic Party.”

Wecht wrote that he had long understood that antisemitism “always festered on the fringe” of the right, a fact that hit home in 2018 when a far-right shooter killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where he and his wife were married in 1998.

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“In the years that have followed, that same hatred has grown on the left,” he said in his statement. “It is the duty of all good people to fight this virus, and to do so before it is too late.”

Wecht previously made national headlines for his 2020 ruling against an effort to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania.

Through a spokesperson, Wecht declined to be interviewed about his exit from the Democratic Party.

Wecht’s comments come as Democrats wrestle with a range of internal tensions over antisemitism.

The ascent of Graham Platner, an oyster farmer who recently covered up a Nazi Totenkopf skull-and-crossbones tattoo, to become Maine’s Democratic candidate for Senate, and the increasing coziness between some progressive politicians and Hasan Piker, the leftist streamer who has said he favors Hamas over Israel, have particularly alarmed some members of the Jewish community.

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Wecht is the son of renowned forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, who was involved in investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Wecht’s mother, translator Sigrid Ronsdal, spent the first six years of her life living under Nazi occupation in Norway.

“I know David and his legendary father, Cyril,” Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who has clashed with his Party over Israel, tweeted following Wecht’s announcement. “As I’ve affirmed, I’m not changing my Party – but I fully understand David’s personal choice. The Democratic Party must confront its own rising antisemitism problem.”





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Pennsylvania

Governor Josh Shapiro signs overdue Pennsylvania state budget with bipartisan support

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Governor Josh Shapiro signs overdue Pennsylvania state budget with bipartisan support


HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPVI) — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed the state’s overdue 2026-2027 budget on Sunday.

The $50.8 billion spending plan was passed by state lawmakers with bipartisan support.

It is smaller than Shapiro’s initial $53 billion plan proposed back in February.

“We managed, as the math indicates, to find compromise without compromising our core values,” said Shapiro. “If you go back and look at the goals we all set together way back in 2023 – funding our schools, making our communities safer, growing our economy….four years later, this budget reflects those continued priorities.”

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Lawmakers say this spending plan expands workforce development initiatives, devotes significant new funding for basic education, and increases funding for special education and early intervention services.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Gov. Shapiro signs $50.8B Pa. budget with focus on education, public safety

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Gov. Shapiro signs .8B Pa. budget with focus on education, public safety


PENNSYLVANIA (WFMZ-TV) — Governor Josh Shapiro signed Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion budget into law Sunday.

The largest part– $11.8 billion funding education. It also funds four more State Police classes. The budget comes with an additional $10 million for career and technical education.

“If you go back and look at the goals we all set together way back in 2023– funding our schools, making our communities safer, growing our economy, and four years later this budget reflects those continued priorities,” said Governor Shapiro.

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Republican State Senator Jarrett Coleman said he voted against the budget.

“The issue with the budget is that this wasn’t a really honest budget. This was pretty deceptive,” said Senator Coleman.

One thing in particular he said he is against– delays in $2.6 billion in Medicaid payments to managed care providers to the next fiscal year.

“So, that’s disappointing and I don’t really care to play that game. I think Pennsylvanians deserve to have an honest conversation and make no mistake; tax payers will ultimately pay the price for this charade,” said Senator Coleman.

Democratic State Rep. Mike Schlossberg said he is happy with this budget.

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“I think by and large it was an extremely solid product,” said Representative Schlossberg.

This marks the fifth year in a row the budget was not passed by the June 30th deadline. The signing of this one comes months ahead of when last year’s budget was approved.

“I think some lessons were learned. I think everybody realized we cannot do last year, we cannot do again what we did last year and also candidly election coming up in a few months, nobody wants to leave it hanging out there,” said Representative Schlossberg.



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3 dead in wrong-way crash on I-76 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, state police say

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3 dead in wrong-way crash on I-76 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, state police say


Three people died in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 76 in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Saturday morning, Pennsylvania State Police said. 

The crash happened just before 5 a.m. Saturday on I-76 westbound near mile marker 330, according to state police.

State police said a white Ford pickup truck was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-76 Saturday morning. 

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Troopers attempted to stop the truck twice, but the Ford pickup drove past them at a high rate of speed. 

The driver of the Ford then struck two vehicles head-on. According to state police, the occupants of the three vehicles involved in the crash died.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police.



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