| Home / College Guide / Gov. Josh Shapiro launches Pa. reelection campaign; speeches planned in Pittsbur |
| Posted on Friday, January 09 @ 00:01:14 PST |
PITTSBURGH — Gov. Josh Shapiro launched his reelection campaign on Thursday, officially joining dozens of Democrats seeking to hold or take executive seats in 36 states, with the battleground Keystone State and his rising national profile under the spotlight.
Shapiro delivered the widely expected news in a video released early Thursday, with an afternoon speech planned for Pittsburgh, followed by a campaign event to cap the night closer to his home turf in Philadelphia.
Shapiros campaign said he plans to discuss the stakes of the race, his bipartisan track record, work to protect the state in the face of the federal government, and the work that remains ahead to keep delivering for all Pennsylvanians.
With Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in the race since August — and state Sen. Doug Mastriano announcing Wednesday he wouldnt pose a primary challenge after long teasing a run — the governors race now kicks into a higher gear. Party officials and political operatives expect it to be an expensive and attention-grabbing contest that could play a role in the fight over control of Congress, with ramifications far beyond 2026 and Pennsylvania.
Weve gotten (expletive) done all across our commonwealth, to make a real difference in peoples lives, Shapiro said in the video, clad in a white shirt and blue windbreaker jacket, with a warehouse backdrop.
Now, Pennsylvania is open for business, he added, citing $32.5 billion in new investment, 18,000 new jobs created during his term, and help for small businesses.
The video featured an ample supply of Pennsylvania workers, business owners, roads and bridges, small towns and farmland. It opened with shots highlighting the 12-day emergency response and workers who helped reopen Interstate 95 after a collapse in Philly in 2023. When disaster struck, others underestimated us, but I never did, the governor said.
As he continues to face criticism from Republicans saying hes focused on running for president, his first campaign video of 2026 depicted Shapiro as a defender of the commonwealth against federal overreach and Washington politicians. He did not call out the Trump administration directly, nor did he mention Garrity.
The video went on to highlight Shapiro repealing a ban on Sunday hunting; passing record funding for schools including universal free breakfast, more teachers and counselors; opening up most state positions to those without college degrees; expanding senior tax breaks; and funding almost 2,000 more law enforcement officers. One young woman featured in the video said Shapiros got our back, from cutting costs, to protecting abortion rights, to defending our freedom.
As your governor, Ive stopped the federal government from coming between you and your doctor, he said. Ive stood up for parents who should make health care decisions for their kids, not politicians. Ive shut them down when they try to throw out our votes and try to overturn fair elections. Even with a divided state legislature, weve gotten a whole lot done on issues that have been stuck for decades.
He then acknowledged that theres always more to do, more Pennsylvanians to protect, more bridges to build, on cue with sweeping shots of the spans across the Steel Citys three rivers.
The video and first campaign stops in both Western and Eastern Pennsylvania come almost two months after Shapiro signed a bipartisan state budget plagued by a contentious four-month stalemate. Shapiro has since spent several weeks touring the state and touting the spending plans tax cuts and investments in communities.
The governor has also made national appearances and headlines as he denounces political violence, which impacted him and his family in an arson attack last April, and as he ratchets up his critique of President Donald Trump in interviews and social media.
His campaign team and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party seek to tie Garrity and Republicans in competitive House districts to Trumps lagging approval ratings and polarizing policies.
They say the president hasnt lived up to promises to ease the pain of Pennsylvanians facing high costs for health care, housing and groceries.
Were focused on making life a little bit easier for families, said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said in the video. Cutting taxes seven times for our seniors, small businesses and nearly 1 million hardworking Pennsylvanians.
Shapiro was elected in 2022 after serving as state attorney general, state representative and Montgomery County commissioner. He has maintained strong approval and favorability ratings, including support from about two-thirds of independents and more than a quarter of Republicans, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.
Still, the Garrity campaign argues Shapiro is openly running for two offices at once, using the governorship and Pennsylvania voters as a stepping stone to the White House.
Garrity also says the economy in Pennsylvania is not as strong as the governor depicts, and she criticized the finalized budget as too costly. On Wednesday night, she posted on social media a report from UHaul that named Pennsylvania among the top 10 states for residents fleeing due to high taxes.
A retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel and businesswoman from Bradford County, Garrity said she respected Mastrianos decision not to enter the race.
She called him a strong voice for faith, family, and freedom, and I look forward to working with him to restore integrity, fiscal responsibility and common-sense leadership in our Commonwealth.
Shapiro beat Mastriano in 2022 by almost 15 percentage points. The governor drew almost $59 million in donations compared to Mastrianos campaign total of about $8.2 million, according to OpenSecrets. This week, the Shapiro campaign announced it had started 2026 with a record $30 million in cash on hand.
Republican and Democratic strategists alike say Garrity is a more viable candidate than previous Shapiro opponents, and that she will raise more funds and have wider appeal than Mastriano.
As we look ahead, Pennsylvania Republicans are focused on uniting behind a strong, proven leader in Stacy Garrity and building a winning coalition to give voters a real alternative to the secrecy and failed policies of Josh Shapiros administration, state GOP spokesman James Markley told the Post-Gazette on Wednesday night. Markley added that the party respected Mastrianos decision and service in the state Senate.
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party, however, said Mastrianos announcement would still leave Republican voters stuck with yet again another Republican extremist as a candidate for governor.
© 2026 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit www.post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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