Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity are set to square off in November in a high-stakes battle over who will govern one of the nation’s most consequential swing states heading into the 2028 presidential cycle.Garrity, who is backed by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, spent the weekend campaigning alongside lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Jason Richey in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, and Exeter. Shapiro, meanwhile, has spent the past several months using his political influence to shape key state legislative and congressional races as he seeks a second term amid continued speculation about a 2028 White House run.
A major priority for the Democratic governor is helping his party gain full control of the state legislature for the first time in decades. Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House, while Republicans have controlled the state Senate for more than 30 years.
Despite the race’s national implications, Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial contest has so far unfolded at a measured pace. Though Shapiro and Garrity have traded attacks in recent months, political analysts told the Washington Examiner that the real fireworks of the campaign are expected to begin after the primary. Both candidates ran unopposed on Tuesday.
