by John Cole, Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The 2026 race for governor has begun in Pennsylvania.
After months of speculation, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity formally announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor on Monday.
“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,” she said in video announcing her candidacy.
Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania’s 78th treasurer, delivers her inaugural address Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at The Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg, Pa., kicking off her second term in office. (Commonwealth Media Services)
Garrity, a combat veteran and Bradford County native, was first elected to statewide office in 2020 by defeating incumbent state Treasurer Joe Torsella by just under one point. Her victory over the Montgomery County Democrat was seen as an upset.
She secured a second term in 2024 by defeating Democrat Erin McClelland by six points. During the campaign, she broke the record in Pennsylvania for most votes won by a candidate for statewide office. That record was previously held by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2022 landslide victory over GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a potential challenger to Garrity for the 2026 nomination.
Garrity is the first Republican to announce her intentions for the statewide office.
Her announcement did not come as a surprise to political observers. During a conservative gathering in April, she told the Capital-Star that she was considering a run for the office.
“I think right now…millions of Pennsylvanians feel that we’re at a crossroads in Pennsylvania and we have to decide what kind of state we’re going to be,” she said.
Just last week, she released a video sharply criticizing Shapiro and added that “help is on the way.”
The Pennsylvania Republican Party is set to meet in September to endorse a candidate in the race. During the previous gubernatorial campaign in 2022, the party did not endorse a candidate in the crowded field, while Donald Trump delivered a last-minute endorsement to Mastriano.
Garrity and Mastriano have both been vocal supporters of President Trump.
The last time a Republican candidate won the race for governor in Pennsylvania was then-Attorney General Tom Corbett’s victory in 2010. Since then, three Democratic candidates – Tom Wolf (twice) and Shapiro – have won by nearly double digits.
Shapiro has not formally announced his bid for a second term, but is widely expected to run for re-election. He has a 61% approval rating, according to a Morning Consult poll released last month.
During an appearance in Luzerne County on Friday, Shapiro was asked about potentially facing Garrity in 2026.
“Look, the Republicans are going to deal with their intramural fight. I’m not going to get into their parlor games,” Shapiro responded. “You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to keep creating jobs here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I’m going to fund our kids’ schools. I’m going to make sure that we have more cops on the beat, and I’m going to focus on doing my job of bringing Republicans and Democrats together to get stuff done. That’s my focus. They can focus on their political games all they want.”
The Cook Political Report currently rates the 2026 race for governor in Pennsylvania as “likely Democratic.”
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