Shapiro’s victory was widely expected. He consistently led Garrity by over 20 points in polls and held a significant edge in fundraising and name recognition. According to a report by PhillyVoice, Shapiro raised $11.5 million more than Garrity over the summer, outspending her by nearly 23-to-1.
Pennsylvania, home to roughly 3.8 million registered Democrats and 3.6 million Republicans, remains a crucial battleground. Shapiro’s reelection could bolster his prospects as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
Shapiro first won the governorship in 2022 and drew national attention while overseeing the emergency reconstruction of a collapsed section of I-95, which reopened to traffic in 12 days. He has since styled himself as a pragmatic Democrat who can work across the aisle, adopting the slogan “getting s— done,” a portrayal that has helped him win over independent and Republican voters. Jeff Countess, an independent from Lower McCungie, told WHYY, “Like him or not, the guy’s doing a good job. I mean, anybody that can put a highway up in 12 days has my vote.”
In his first term, support for public education increased by more than $3 billion, including new money for free breakfast for students. Shapiro also expanded tax credits and workforce development programs. However, several priorities remain unfinished, including raising the minimum wage and legalizing recreational marijuana.
Garrity challenged Shapiro’s handling of state finances, including his use of Pennsylvania’s rainy day fund to cover budget deficits, and called for tax cuts. She also accused him of running for president rather than seeking reelection as governor, saying he wasn’t committed to staying a full second term. The Washington Examiner reported that Garrity called for cutting the state’s personal income tax rate below 3.07%, promised to eliminate the inheritance tax, and pledged to roll back or eliminate the state’s gross receipts tax on utilities.
Garrity failed to gain traction. A poll found that one in four Republican voters did not know her, compared to only 3% who did not know Shapiro.