PA-07 House winner?

A billing glitch overcharged roughly 87,000 San Diego households for trash collection fees on their property tax bills, with some errors exceeding $1,000 above what's actually owed. The mistake, tied to technical issues in data sent from the city to the county, has drawn sharp criticism from council members and renewed a debate over Mayor Todd Gloria's dual role as chief operating officer, a position he took on after firing the city's previous COO.

Councilmembers Raul Campillo and Henry Foster called the error unacceptable, with Foster threatening a ballot measure to repeal the city's strong-mayor system if changes aren't made. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera asked how refunds would be handled for residents who already paid and what the city might owe the county for reprinting and remailing corrected bills. Gloria acknowledged the error, directed the Environmental Services Department to identify affected properties and correct the data, and said the city expects all impacted accounts fixed shortly. A mayoral spokesperson pushed back on the criticism as "political theater," saying the city has already corrected the issue.

Pennsylvania voters go to the polls on Nov. 3, 2026, in a general election that will help decide control of Congress and the state's next governor. Voter registration closed Oct. 19, and mail-in ballot requests are due by Oct. 27; polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The marquee race pits Democratic incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, with Libertarian Ken Krawchuk also on the ballot. All Pennsylvania House seats and half the state Senate are up for election. Closely watched U.S. House contests include the 7th District, where Democrat Bob Brooks challenges Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie, and the 1st District, where Republican Brian Fitzpatrick faces Democrat Bob Harvie in perennially competitive Bucks County.

Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) released a campaign ad attacking Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, his Democratic opponent in Pennsylvania's competitive House race, calling her and her allies "full of baloney." Bresnahan touted his vote to ban congressional stock trading and noted he does not personally trade stocks, contrasting this with Cognetti's past work for Goldman Sachs on Wall Street.

The exchange follows Cognetti campaign ads accusing Bresnahan of making roughly 600 stock trades this year, including timing sales and purchases around tariffs, military contracts, and crypto-related votes. Democrats have also highlighted trades tied to a data center development. Bresnahan's campaign has called those characterizations false, saying he relies on a financial adviser and has taken steps toward a trading ban. Bresnahan also criticized Cognetti's record on taxes, teacher layoffs, and police funding while on the Scranton School Board and as mayor. Some Scranton officials and residents have separately criticized Cognetti for being less engaged locally while campaigning for Congress. Polls show a narrow Cognetti lead in the race.

Democrat Bob Harvie, who is challenging Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, is facing criticism over campaign ads that presented politically active Democrats as ordinary, unaffiliated voters. In one mail piece, Patti Kearins was shown as a concerned voter without disclosing her involvement with the Bensalem Democratic Organization and her past appearances in Pennsylvania Democratic Party ads attacking Fitzpatrick. A separate social media post featured Manuel Galarza as a "Trump voter" without noting his ties to Bucks County Indivisible, a group organized to oppose the GOP agenda, and his history of promoting Harvie's campaign.

The race in the swing district is considered competitive heading into the 2026 midterms, with control of Congress at stake. Critics argue the ads suggest Harvie's campaign is struggling to demonstrate organic, broad-based support, instead relying on figures connected to established Democratic political infrastructure while presenting them as independent voices.

Control of Pennsylvania's state Senate could hinge on three Philadelphia suburban districts, as Democrats aim to flip the chamber for the first time in 33 years. Republicans currently hold 27 of 50 seats; Democrats need to flip at least two and retain the governor's office to take the majority via the lieutenant governor's tie-breaking vote.

Democratic challengers Eileen Hartnett Albillar (6th District, Bucks County), Mark Pinsley (16th District, Bucks/Lehigh), and Chris Thomas (24th District, Montgomery/Berks) are challenging GOP incumbents Frank Farry, Jarrett Coleman, and Tracy Pennycuick, respectively. All three districts favor Republicans in voter registration, though Gov. Josh Shapiro has endorsed the Democratic candidates and his own reelection bid is on the same ballot.

Both parties are centering campaigns on affordability, with Democrats tying races to dissatisfaction with President Trump's handling of the economy and gas prices, while Republicans emphasize fiscal restraint and bipartisan legislative wins. A Democratic trifecta would open the door to priorities like a minimum wage increase and transportation funding previously blocked by the GOP-controlled Senate.