Full Breakdown
Allegations That Gov. Josh Shapiro Sought Union Endorsement for a Republican Treasurer
5/4/2026, 9:26:28 PM
Alleged Request for Union Endorsement
Bob Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA) and Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district, told a group of Lehigh University students that Governor Josh Shapiro asked the PPFFA to endorse Republican incumbent State Treasurer Stacy Garrity rather than Democratic challenger Erin McClelland in the 2024 treasurer race. Brooks later described his earlier remark as a “misspoke” and “inaccurate comment.” Shapiro’s office denied the allegation, stating the governor never requested any endorsement.
Background and Immediate Context
The 2024 Pennsylvania state-treasurer contest pitted Republican Stacy Garrity, a former U.S. Army veteran and MAGA-aligned official, against Democrat Erin McClelland, a former federal prosecutor. During the campaign, McClelland posted on X an endorsement of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper as a potential vice-presidential running mate for Kamala Harris, implicitly criticizing Shapiro’s suitability as a vice-presidential pick. The post referenced a 2023 sexual-harassment allegation involving Shapiro’s top aide, Mike Vereb, which the governor’s office settled for $295,000. Shapiro did not publicly endorse either treasurer candidate.
Official Statements & Responses
Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder called Brooks’s claim “inaccurate,” asserting that the governor “did not ask Bob Brooks to make any endorsements in that race” and that Shapiro is focused on winning down-ballot contests in November. After the recording surfaced, Brooks issued a statement saying many Democrats and organized-labor members were upset with McClelland’s “bad-faith attacks” on the governor and reiterated that “the governor did not ask my union to make any endorsements.” No direct comment was obtained from Governor Shapiro or Treasurer Garrity.
Criticism and Opposition
Within the Democratic Party, some members expressed disapproval of McClelland’s criticism of Shapiro, describing it as a personal attack that prompted “bad-faith” backlash. Critics of the governor’s alleged conduct argue that responding to intra-party disputes with union pressure, if true, would reflect an overly personal approach to political disagreements. The controversy has been cited by opponents as evidence of potential partisan retaliation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The core dispute centers on whether Shapiro actually requested the PPFFA’s endorsement. Brooks’s initial audio-recorded statement attributes a direct request to the governor, while his subsequent clarification labels the remark inaccurate. Shapiro’s office uniformly denies any request. No independent verification of the alleged request exists beyond the recorded interview, and neither Shapiro nor Brooks participated in follow-up interviews for Axios or other outlets.
What’s Next
Stacy Garrity won reelection as state treasurer in 2024 and is now the Republican challenger to Governor Shapiro in the 2026 gubernatorial race. The treasurer contest and the endorsement allegation may reappear in campaign messaging as both candidates vie for statewide voters. Monitoring any further statements from the PPFFA, the Shapiro campaign, or the Democratic primary field will be essential for assessing the issue’s impact on the upcoming election.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Josh Shapiro had requested because Stacy, er, Erin McClelland came out hard about something on Josh Shapiro, and really, the Democratic Party as a whole turned on Erin McClelland. And he said, ‘I would like you guys to endorse Stacy Garrity.'” — Bob Brooks, PPFFA President
- “And he said, ‘I would like you guys to endorse Stacy Garrity.’” — Bob Brooks, quoting alleged governor request
- “The governor did not ask Bob Brooks to make any endorsements in that race — and the only races he is focused on are winning up and down the ballot this November.” — Manuel Bonder, Shapiro campaign spokesperson
- “ “Many people in our party — including organized labor across the commonwealth — were upset with McClelland’s bad-faith attacks against our governor,“ he added.” — Bob Brooks, post-walkback statement
- “The governor did not ask my union to make any endorsements.” — Bob Brooks, clarification after the recording
*All statements are drawn directly from the cited source material.*
