Pennsylvania governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Pennsylvania federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Stacy Garrity

Party: Republican

Josh Shapiro

Party: Democrat

OBJ SPEAKING

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governor

Pennsylvania governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
likely d— Cook Political Report

Pennsylvania is a critical swing state where Trump won in 2024 after Biden won in 2020. Democrats are defending one of only five Democratic-held governorships in states Trump carried in 2024, making this race nationally significant. Shapiro's strong approval rating (60%) and decisive polling lead make a Republican flip unlikely, but the race tests whether Democrats can hold swing-state governorships in Trump territory.

Stacy GarrityR
Josh ShapiroD

Summary

Stacy Garrity, 61, is Pennsylvania's State Treasurer (2021-present) and the presumptive Republican nominee for governor in 2026. A retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel with 30 years of service, Garrity is known for her work managing detainee operations at Camp Bucca in Iraq, earning the nickname 'Angel of the Desert' for her humanitarian approach. Before entering politics, she worked at Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. from 1987 to 2021, rising to vice president of government affairs. She won an upset victory over incumbent Democrat Joe Torsella in 2020 for state treasurer and was re-elected in 2024 with the largest vote total of any statewide candidate in Pennsylvania history. Garrity is framing her gubernatorial campaign as a referendum on Shapiro's leadership, emphasizing her record of cutting waste, her support for natural gas drilling, and her commitment to helping farmers. She has been endorsed by Pennsylvania's Republican Party and President Donald Trump.

Josh Shapiro is the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania, serving since January 2023. A Democrat, he previously served as Pennsylvania Attorney General (2017-2023), where he gained prominence for leading the investigation into sexual abuse by Catholic priests and helping negotiate the largest opioid settlement in state history. He is considered a moderate Democrat with strong bipartisan appeal in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state. Shapiro has built a reputation as an effective administrator and coalition-builder, successfully managing high-profile crises like the I-95 highway reconstruction following a truck fire. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, but raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Shapiro is an observant Conservative Jew and the third Jewish governor in Pennsylvania history. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Lori, and has four children.

View Stacy Garrity's Full Profile →View Josh Shapiro's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Lower state income tax and end the 'death tax' (inheritance tax)
  • Cut government waste and improve efficiency
Environment
  • Support natural gas drilling and expand use of Pennsylvania's energy resources
Other
  • Help Pennsylvania farmers and rural communities
Education
  • Improve education performance, especially reading by third grade
Economy
  • Raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 per hour
Other
  • Protect abortion rights and veto any restrictions
  • Protect voting rights and election integrity
Education
  • Invest in public education funding
Public Safety
  • Support police reform with data-driven policing

Key Issue Positions

Fiscal Conservative Leadership
Cut waste and eliminate fraud
Garrity emphasizes her record as state treasurer, claiming to have saved taxpayers nearly $200 million by eliminating fraud and inefficiency. She has upgraded Pennsylvania's unclaimed property system and expanded distributions to residents.
2020 Election and Election Integrity
Previously questioned 2020 election results
Garrity spoke at a January 5, 2021 rally outside the U.S. Capitol (day before January 6 riots) where she said 'The election from this November is tarnished forever.' When asked directly in 2026 if Trump won in 2020, she said 'absolutely not,' reversing her 2022 statement at a Trump rally where she said 'We know that he won.'
Natural Gas and Energy Development
Strong supporter of natural gas drilling
Garrity has made natural gas development a cornerstone of her platform, positioning it as key to Pennsylvania's economic future and technological advancement. This aligns with Republican energy policies.
Healthcare and Social Programs
Supports Trump-era policies but claims commitment to vulnerable populations
Garrity's campaign states she supports 'protecting healthcare and welfare benefits for vulnerable Americans' while 'requiring able-bodied recipients to work for their benefits.' She supported Trump's reconciliation bill (One Big Beautiful Act) despite criticism that it would reduce healthcare coverage.
Education and Workforce Development
Garrity has called for expanding vocational opportunities and secondary education to prepare workers for 'the age of AI.' She has questioned the effectiveness of Shapiro's increased education spending.
School Funding
Critical of Shapiro's education spending increases
Garrity has criticized Shapiro for 'significantly increasing spending on public education with nothing to show for it,' despite the fact that Pennsylvania courts ruled the state was unconstitutionally underfunding poorest districts.
I-95 Highway Reconstruction
Demonstrated quick, effective crisis response
Following a fatal truck fire that collapsed a section of I-95 in Philadelphia, Shapiro coordinated rapid reconstruction of the highway, reopening it within two weeks. A Quinnipiac poll found 74% of voters approved his handling of the crisis.
Education Funding Equity
Strong supporter of increased funding for poorest districts
Shapiro has infused over $1 billion into K-12 education and supported the state's response to a landmark 2023 court ruling that found Pennsylvania unconstitutionally underfunding its poorest school districts. His proposed 2026-27 budget includes an additional $565 million for education.
Reproductive Rights
Strong defender of abortion access
Cast himself as a champion for reproductive freedom during his campaign and maintains this position as governor. Gained national attention for his full-throated support of women's reproductive rights.
School Vouchers / School Choice
Supports school choice but faced party pressure
Campaigned on supporting vouchers and initially negotiated a $100 million voucher program with Senate Republicans, but reversed course under pressure from House Democrats and unions, line-item vetoing the provision from the 2023 budget. This contradiction became a major campaign issue during Harris vice-presidential vetting.
Criminal Justice Reform
Moderate approach: pro-reform but not far-left
Reversed his prior support for capital punishment, now opposing the death penalty. Supports reforming the criminal justice system, though his approach has been criticized by some progressives for being insufficiently aggressive on police accountability.
Labor Rights
Strong union supporter, opposes 'right to work'
Has vowed to veto any 'right to work' legislation. Proposed tripling state funding for apprenticeships and union skills programs. Created workforce development initiatives.

Top Donors

Garrity for Governor Campaign
$1,500,000Campaign Committee
As of April 2026, Garrity has $1.5 million on hand, compared to Shapiro's $36 million—a 25-to-1 fundraising disadvantage
Pennsylvania Republican Party
undisclosedOrganization
Official party endorsement and support
Shapiro for Governor Campaign Committee
$30,000,000Campaign Committee
As of January 2026, Shapiro's campaign has raised $30 million, setting a new state record for gubernatorial fundraising. His campaign raised $23 million in 2025 alone.

Contradictions

Claim: Garrity said 'absolutely not' when asked in 2026 if Trump won the 2020 election
Contradiction: In 2022, Garrity stated at a Trump rally in Greensburg: 'We know that he won,' clearly affirming Trump's election claim
Claim: Campaign promise to support school vouchers ('Lifeline Scholarships') - made during campaign and continued to Fox News in June 2023
Contradiction: In July 2023, Shapiro reversed course and line-item vetoed the $100 million voucher program from the budget after facing pressure from House Democrats and teachers unions
Claim: Support for raising minimum wage to $15/hour (campaign 2022, repeated in 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets)
Contradiction: Pennsylvania minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour as of April 2026. Despite Shapiro's repeated calls and House passage of minimum wage bills multiple times, the Republican-controlled Senate has blocked advancement each time

What Opponents Say

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale

Stacy Garrity is a far-right, toxic candidate bringing Trump's chaotic agenda to Pennsylvania

DePasquale stated: 'She supported cutting health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, opposed tax cuts for working families here in Pennsylvania, and attacked our fundamental freedoms.'

Josh Shapiro's campaign

Garrity is inexperienced and unprepared to lead the state

Shapiro emphasizes his record of accomplishments, contrasting it with Garrity's limited executive experience and positions he views as extreme.

Philadelphia Building Trades leader Ryan Boyer

Garrity's candidacy threatens labor interests

Boyer stated that if Garrity challenges Shapiro, she will 'never again have the support of the Philadelphia Building Trades. Not even for county dog catcher,' citing her positions on energy and healthcare.

Stacy Garrity

Shapiro is a ladder-climbing careerist focused on running for president rather than serving Pennsylvania

Garrity has accused Shapiro of being 'more concerned with a promotion to Pennsylvania Avenue than serving hardworking Pennsylvanians' and argued the state fared poorly under his leadership according to U.S. News rankings.

Pennsylvania Republican Party Chair Greg Rothman

Shapiro has broken promises and failed in leadership

Rothman cited Shapiro's reneging on school vouchers, a $295,000 sexual harassment settlement, and failing to send state agency mail as evidence of 'broken promises.'

Republican State Treasuer candidate

Shapiro's sexual harassment handling swept the issue under the rug

Democratic nominee for state treasurer Erin McClelland drew attention during VP vetting period by saying she wanted a candidate who doesn't 'sweep sexual harassment under the rug,' referencing the Vereb settlement.

Endorsements

Pennsylvania Republican Partyorganization
President Donald Trumpindividual
U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson (PA-15)individual
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett (Republican)individual
State Senator Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland)individual
Jason Richey (Lieutenant Governor running mate)individual
Pennsylvania Democratic Partyorganization
Labor unions (Pennsylvania teachers unions, AFL-CIO affiliates)organization
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davisindividual
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parkerindividual