Stacy Garrity Challenges Shapiro's Pennsylvania Reelection Bid

A New Contender in Pennsylvania’s Political Landscape

Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania’s two-term elected state treasurer, has announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro’s re-election bid. This move sets up a potential contest between a relatively low-profile officeholder and a rising political figure who could be a contender for the presidency in 2028.

Political analysts believe that Garrity's announcement is strategic, aimed at reducing competition in the race. Shapiro has gained national attention as a prominent Democrat and has even been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2028. It is widely expected that he will run for re-election as governor in 2026. Garrity’s decision to step forward signals her intent to take on Shapiro directly.

“She knows exactly what she's trying to do here. She wants this to be her race all together, nobody else in it against Josh Shapiro,” said Jon Delano, a former KDKA politics and money editor.

In a statement, Garrity emphasized her commitment to bringing jobs back to Pennsylvania, strengthening the economy, and making the state more affordable for families across the board. Some top Pennsylvania Republicans have expressed support for her 2026 gubernatorial campaign, hoping she will face a clear primary field. However, recent developments have complicated these hopes, with Doug Mastriano, the 2022 losing gubernatorial candidate, hinting at a potential return to the race.

Garrity has been hinting at a gubernatorial run for months, increasing her criticism of Shapiro. In fundraising appeals, she accused Shapiro of being soft on law and order and hostile to her “pro-worker, pro-energy, pro-America agenda.” In a video released Monday, she called herself a “strong ally” of President Trump, highlighted her military service, and vowed to “fix the problems Josh Shapiro has created.” These include Pennsylvania’s high tax burden and rising grocery prices.

Garrity has a history of defeating incumbents. That’s how she won the treasurer position in 2020. In her ad, she promised, “I’m giving you and your family my solemn oath that I will work hard every day to fix the problems Josh Shapiro has created.”

Shapiro has responded by criticizing Garrity for supporting Trump’s big tax break and spending cut package. He suggested that she supported it because she was “desperate” to gain Trump’s approval and claimed it would hurt rural hospitals and people relying on Medicaid, drive up energy costs, and increase the federal deficit.

In her video, Garrity defended the bill as “requiring able-bodied recipients to work for their benefits and ending benefits for those here illegally.” While Trump has not made an endorsement in the race, Shapiro has stated his focus on creating jobs, funding schools, keeping police officers on the beat, and bringing Republicans and Democrats together. He added that Republicans can focus on their political games as they wish.

Challenging Shapiro is no small task for Garrity. She is relatively untested and spent less than $3 million in her two campaigns for treasurer in 2020 and 2024. Democratic supporters are already countering her claims, showing videos of Garrity’s assertions about the 2020 election being stolen despite multiple court cases dismissing those claims.

On her website, Garrity touts her support for Trump and claims they will have a good working relationship. In a state where voters have alternated between supporting and opposing the current president, it remains unclear if this will help her campaign.

“I don’t think anybody would say it’s a slam dunk for Josh Shapiro or candidates of either party in a state like Pennsylvania,” Delano said.

Shapiro, 52, has won three statewide races and is known for his disciplined messaging and powerful fundraising. He spent over $70 million alone in his sole campaign for governor, breaking Pennsylvania’s campaign finance record. His national profile has grown after being on Kamala Harris’ shortlist for vice presidential running mates last year, and he is seen as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028.

For Republicans, the stakes are high beyond just challenging Shapiro. They need a credible candidate to attract enough voters to defend their congressional seats and maintain their majority in the U.S. House.

Shapiro, a former state House member, county commissioner, and attorney general, has a strong base of support in Philadelphia’s heavily populated suburbs. Garrity, 61, comes from rural northern Pennsylvania and entered politics later in life.

A trained accountant, Garrity was a longtime executive for a powdered metals supplier in northern Pennsylvania. She also served as an Army reservist, retiring as a colonel and serving in Iraq, where she ran the detention center at Camp Bucca as part of the 800th Military Police Brigade.

Since her 2020 upset victory over the incumbent Democratic treasurer, Garrity has been an active campaigner, speaking at numerous Trump rallies. In 2022, she was one of the GOP’s most visible surrogates for Mastriano.

Shapiro won his 2022 contest by nearly 15 percentage points, an election cycle Republicans would rather forget. Despite this, both Shapiro and Garrity have maintained a professional relationship and avoided partisan conflicts over official matters. Shapiro even gave Garrity a warm and personal introduction in January before she was sworn in for her second term as treasurer.

During her time as treasurer, Pennsylvania has experienced significant surpluses, fueled by federal COVID-19 aid and inflation-driven tax collections. However, the state is returning to its status as a perennial deficit state, and Garrity has warned that Shapiro’s continued leadership will lead to higher taxes for residents.

As treasurer, Garrity kept several top Democratic staffers, expanded the ways the department can return unclaimed property, and increased investments in Israel bonds.