In the US state of Pennsylvania, the Democratic Party’s switch to Kamala Harris as its presumptive nominee for president has re-energized its campaign for the White House in a key battleground state, grassroots party activists say.
Kamala Harris invigorates Democrats in swing state Pennsylvania
“I believe we’re going to have a blue landslide,” said Bill Leiner, a volunteer with the Democratic presidential campaign in Allentown, a city of about 125,000 residents.
“People are energized,” he added.
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In an unprecedented development in modern US electoral history, President Joe Biden on Sunday announced he was dropping his bid for reelection, and endorsed Vice President Harris’s candidacy in the November poll.
In Allentown, 70-year-old Leiner said he wasted little time in amending his existing Biden/Harris sign to show his support for the vice president.
“The minute I heard Harris is going to be the person, I cut it off, and then kind of taped it up, and I got the first Harris sign in my town,” he said.
Leiner, who works as a nurse, is “optimistic” about the Democratic Party’s odds now that Harris is headlining the ticket.
“It has to be Kamala Harris because if we don’t pick Kamala Harris, we will lose,” he said.
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Leiner believes Harris has the right tools to take on Republican Party nominee Donald Trump, especially in light of Biden’s disastrous debate performance in June.
“She’s going to carve him up,” Leiner said.
A few yards away, in his garden shed, dozens of signs from previous election and social awareness campaigns pile up. – ‘Uncle Joe’ –
Unlike Leiner, some Allentown Democrats found the change in ticket harder to swallow.
Jimmy Spang Jr, a 66-year-old retired security officer, came to know Biden personally over the years, referring to him as “Uncle Joe.”
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“I’ve picked him up several times at the airport when he was a senator,” he told AFP. “I consider him a friend.”
Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, about 75 miles north of Allentown, earning him the nickname “Scranton Joe.”
“Joe is a good man,” Spang said, his throat tightening before he burst into tears.
“I’m upset… because this man did nothing wrong,” Spang continued. “He didn’t deserve how he was treated.”
Although “Uncle Joe” has bowed out of the race, Spang plans to continue to support the Democratic cause.
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One way he does so is by overseeing event security for the local Democratic Party chapter.
“If Joe supports Kamala, I will support Kamala,” he told AFP.
Spang said he is fearful of a second Trump presidency.
“If Trump wins, I think the country is in deep trouble because of the divisiveness the people that control his campaign,” he said.
Although both Democratic Party workers approached the change at the top of the ticket differently, they share the same pick for Harris’s running mate: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
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The Democrat was elected in 2022 over a far-right candidate backed by Donald Trump, proving he can sway voters in the purple state.
A “Kamala and Josh” ticket is a “marriage made in heaven,” said Spang.
Even Democrats who are not actively involved in local outreach appear enthusiastic about the shift.
“With the news that came out yesterday, I’m very hopeful and excited,” said J. Marc Rittle, the executive director of New Bethany, a nonprofit that assists residents facing economic and social hardship.
“I’m personally for Harris… I really believe that a Harris administration will get us far,” he said.
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The state’s Department of Education will have a new secretary starting in early December. Khalid Mumin gave his two weeks’ notice Friday afternoon.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education,” Mumin said in a statement. “I began my career as a teacher in a classroom, and those early experiences watching students get excited about learning inspired me to become a principal, a superintendent, and ultimately Secretary of Education, so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities.”
Mumin visited Pittsburgh this spring to announce that Penn Hills School District had navigated its way out of financial hardship. And in September, Mumin’s department awarded Allegheny County schools just shy of $11 million for environmental repairs.
A Philadelphia native, Mumin has led the Education Department since June 2023. He’d previously been a superintendent of two southeastern Pennsylvania districts — Reading and Lower Merion.
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In a statement, Gov. Josh Shapiro thanked Mumin for delivering on the universal free breakfast program for more than 1 million students and investing in career and technical education. He led the department with “passion and integrity,” Shapiro added. The governor did not say where Mumin would work next. The Department of Education would also not share further details Friday.
In Mumin’s place will be department Secretary Angela Fitterer, a former deputy chief of staff for Gov. Tom Wolf and policy advisor for the state House. Mumin’s final day as Secretary will be Dec. 6.
Democratic Senate Education Committee leader Lindsey Williams of Allegheny County said she’s grateful Mumin increased support for student mental health. Williams added Mumin’s successor “must be prepared to defend Pennsylvania students’ constitutional right to a high-quality inclusive public education” given the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
“It’s hard to last an entire term in a cabinet position that’s as high-impact as secretary of education,” said Republican House Education Committee leader Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County. “Overall I think he gave a good effort.”
Topper, who Republican House members recently named as their next leader, said he worked alongside interim Secretary Fitterer on the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission: “She’s very capable to fill in this spot right now.”
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Pittsburgh state Rep. Aerion Abney, member of the state House education committee and Allegheny County chair, said his time in Harrisburg intersected with Mumin’s over the past two years: “I’ve come to know the secretary well.”
“[Mumin’s] commitment to connecting future generations with the tools and resources needed to apply themselves to their fullest potential inside and outside of the classroom is second to none,” Abney said in a statement to WESA. “Good luck to him in all his future endeavors.”
Abney said he’s confident Fitterer will “[continue] the mission to keep the playing field level for young Pennsylvanians and help prepare them for the next stage of their lives.”
An artist’s rendering depicts the Ferncrest campus. (Image from https://fernecrest.messiahlifeways.org/ used with permission of Messiah LIfeways)
Mechanicsburg, PA-based Messiah Lifeways has received $1 million through the commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
RACP grant funding is meant to be used for the design, acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
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The retirement community has allocated half of the funding to prepare the site and construct the organization’s Fernecrest campus in New Cumberland, PA, for which ground was broken earlier this month. The other $500,000 will support HVAC upgrades at the Messiah Village campus in Mechanicsburg.
Messiah LIfeways said that the monies allocated to the Fernecrest property will allow it to focus on amenities such as a nature trail, a fitness center, dining venues “and various other perks designed for residents to enjoy the scenic landscape.”
Messiah Lifeways CEO and President Karl Brummer said in a press release that the grant money was an honor, “having the value of our efforts to meet the growing and evolving needs of older adults recognized and supported in such a tangible and transformational way.”
“These dollars will help us move our mission forward, broadening our regional reach and meeting a growing need for places where people can not just reside as they age, but also where they can gain a meaningful community with whom they can learn, explore and thrive, he added.
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Toby Herzog from Ambler, Pennsylvania has announced his commitment to continue his academic and athletic careers at William & Mary beginning in fall 2025.
“I am ecstatic to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at William & Mary. Thank you to all of my coaches, teammates, and parents for your continuous support. Can’t wait for 2025! GO TRIBE! “
Herzog swims for Upper Dublin Aquatic Club and is in his senior year at Upper Dublin High School, botu out of Fort Washington, PA. This past March, he finished 4th in the 100 breast at the PIAA 3A State Championships swimming to a 55.63. He was slightly faster in prelims with a 55.46 which made him the 2nd seed heading into finals. His best time of a 55.35 from December 2023 notably would have finished 3rd.
In addition to his ‘A’ final appearance in the 100 breast, he also won the 200 IM, clocking a 1:53.43, a personal best time. He made huge strides in the event as a junior as he started his junior campaign with a best time of a 2:04.80.
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Herzog’s best SCY times are:
100 breast: 55.35
200 breast: 2:02.18
200 IM: 1:53.43
The William & Mary men finished 5th out of 6 teams at the 2024 CAA Championships. The team was less than 100 points behind 4th place Drexel.
Based on his best times, Herzog has the potential to be an immediate impact upon his arrival. His best time in the 100 breast would have made the ‘B’ final. The team notably had 2 ‘A’ finalists in the event with Brock Rempe (54.00) and Logan McDonald (54.01) finishing 5th and 6th. Herzog’s best time in the 200 breast would also have made the ‘B’ final.
Herzog will arrive next fall as a member of the class of 2029 along with Leo O’Keefe (backstroke), Blaise VanSlyke (sprint free), and Aiden Grendysz (fly).
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