Story perspectives

Shapiro Leads Garrity 20 Points, $38M vs $2.8M

5/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity each won uncontested Pennsylvania primaries and will meet in the November gubernatorial election.
Shapiro’s war chest of nearly $38 million dwarfs Garrity’s $2.8 million, with a Franklin & Marshall poll showing him ahead 48 % to 28 %.
Shapiro received a $2.5 million gift from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, while Garrity hosted a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser after endorsement by U.S. President Donald Trump.

History

Historical Context

The 1994 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race, part of the national Republican Revolution, saw Republican Tom Ridge capture the governorship with 45% of the vote after incumbent Democrat Bob Casey was term-limited. Decades later, the 2024 contest pits incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro against Republican Stacy Garrity, reviving the pattern that Pennsylvania voters favor candidates with substantially larger war chests.

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Story summary

Incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity each won uncontested Pennsylvania primaries and will meet in the November gubernatorial election.
Shapiro’s war chest of nearly $38 million dwarfs Garrity’s $2.8 million, with a Franklin & Marshall poll showing him ahead 48 % to 28 %.
Shapiro received a $2.5 million gift from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, while Garrity hosted a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser after endorsement by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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