Stacy Garrity launches campaign to challenge Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania governor race
- Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania's State Treasurer, declared her candidacy for governor, aiming to secure the Republican nomination.
- She is challenging incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro, criticizing him for failing critical issues like energy, education, and budget management.
- Garrity hopes to leverage her previous electoral successes to run a competitive campaign despite Shapiro's strong track record.
In Pennsylvania, Stacy Garrity, the state's elected treasurer, announced her campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial election. Garrity's decision to run comes after observing a surge of Republican support in the state, evidenced by recent electoral outcomes in 2024 where candidates aligned with former President Trump gained ground. Garrity expressed her belief that Shapiro has failed to address core issues like energy production, education, and job creation, pivotal for Pennsylvanians. She emphasized the need for more financial breathing room for the Commonwealth, suggesting that tapping into the state's extensive natural gas reserves could bring significant economic benefits. Throughout her campaign, Garrity criticized Shapiro's approach to various issues, painting him as aligned with "radical liberals" and highlighting his vacillation on school choice. Her criticisms also included statements regarding Shapiro's management of the state budget, specifically missing the deadline for passing this year’s state budget. Despite her relatively low profile and experienced opponents like Shapiro, Garrity plans to run a well-fought campaign, drawing on her history as an underdog in her previous races for treasurer. Many Pennsylvania Republicans are backing her bid for the gubernatorial nomination, hoping for a clear primary path, although the possibility of Doug Mastriano entering the race poses a challenge. While Garrity has garnered substantial support from grassroots and state party members, Shapiro's established reputation as a solid candidate could make the race challenging. To date, Shapiro has successfully run three statewide campaigns and is recognized as a formidable fundraiser and disciplined communicator. His involvement in national politics has raised his profile significantly, positioning him as a potential contender for the White House in 2028, complicating Garrity's challenge further. In her announcement, Garrity claimed her campaign would focus on bringing jobs back to Pennsylvania, advocating for economic growth, and making the state more affordable for families across Pennsylvania.