On paper, the Pennsylvania special election on Tuesday could appear inconsequential. The winner will serve out the rest of this year while most legislating is on pause so lawmakers can run for reelection. And the district won’t even exist in its current form come November, thanks to a redrawn map recently ordered by the state Supreme Court. But the race could have far-reaching implications for the strategy of both parties, both in Pennsylvania and nationally.WP

Tuesday will likely be the last time you hear about a competitive district in the Pennsylvania 18th, but whoever emerges victorious in the special will likely have to fight hard to keep his seat in the regularly scheduled November 2018 election. How can this be? Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the state’s current congressional map as too gerrymandered in favor of the GOP; in February, the court imposed new district lines that are friendlier to Democrats. The new map splits most of the current 18th District between the new heavily Republican 14th District and the swingier, suburban 17th District. 538