GOP Congressman laud tax bill, Democrats decry ‘gift’ for wealthy, donors

The U.S. Senate last night passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — a sweeping revision of U.S. Tax code, that depending on who is talking is either a spark for job and wage growth or a massive, deficit busting giveaway to the rich, political donors and corporate America. The House voted Tuesday to approve the package, but will have to revote Wednesday because of three provisions in the original bill that...

Hartman announces new run for the 16th in 2018

Christina Hartman LANCASTER — After surprising much of the local political world with both her ability to raise funds and attract voter support in a heavily Republican Congressional district in 2016, Christina Hartman announced Tuesday she would again seek the Democratic nomination for the seat in 2018. Hartman lost a competitive race against current freshman U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker in the 16th District.

Endorsements: Costello, Hartman & Meehan

Arguably, this is the most acrimonious campaign season in recent history, making it complicated to sort the fact from fiction and figure out who to support in this year’s local Congressional races. We feel your pain. Our email boxes are constantly filled with breathless pronouncements with whatever counts for talking points in each of these races from both the campaigns, parties and third party groups...

Democrats play their Trump card and hard

Ads start to go negative, too, shockingly By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Last week, in this space I noted that Democratic candidates would be looking to staple their Republican opponents to GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump. Based on a flurry of TV ads and mailers I’ve seen this week, I had it mostly right, except maybe the implement: Democrats are using a nail gun, and one has to wonder...

GOP seems to be laying groundwork for two campaigns

As Trump implodes, Republicans pivoting to save down-ballot races By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As we suggested last week, the heavy firepower is hitting Chester County now — and is likely to continue right up to the election. Already this week, we’ve seen Ted Danson in town stumping for Hillary Clinton and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (and former GOP Vice Presidential nominee)...

Despite tech advances, pols must still knock doors

The one thing that’s the same as century ago: face to face contact matters By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times EAST MARLBOROUGH — For people not in politics, the process of running for office can seem like an endless series of rallies, speeches and moments of glamor in the spotlight. You know, cue the balloons and confetti. The truth, though, is a lot different, especially for those running for...

Letter: Despite GOP claims, 158th, 16th are in play

To The Editor, The Chester County Democratic Committee believes, just as Mike McGann does, that the 158th is very much in play. The first endorsed Republican candidate for this office withdrew because of falsified petitions.  Second choice candidate Eric Roe has serious residency issues that likely disqualify him to run for office in Pennsylvania. His entire employment history indicates eight ‘political...

Local Democrats appear to enjoy surprising enthusiasm gap

Flap over Parrish’s finances may prove double-edge sword for GOP By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times With what seemed like a weekend of bad news, followed by the chaos at the start of the Democratic National Convention, if local Democrats seemed a bit down in the dumps, it wouldn’t be surprising. Instead though — and I witnessed this first-hand at the Kennett Area Democrats office opening last...