Josh Shapiro, Stacy Garrity Set To Face Off In Race For Governor

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity secured their parties’ nominations in the race for governor Tuesday night.

The primary also locked in the major-party tickets for lieutenant governor.

Under Pennsylvania law, candidates for lieutenant governor must run separately from gubernatorial contenders in the primary, but candidates frequently form pairings.

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, a Democrat, ran unopposed to maintain his spot as Shapiro’s running mate.

On the Republican side, Jason Richey, an attorney from Allegheny County and Garrity’s handpicked running mate, declared victory Tuesday night.

Richey defeated Republican challenger John Ventre, a Westmoreland County resident, former UPS executive, and UFO enthusiast.

Celebrating the primary results at a campaign party in Warminster Township, Shapiro and Davis rallied supporters for the upcoming general election.

“We’ve gotten a lot of stuff done in the last few years – growing our economy and creating thousands of good-paying jobs, investing in public education and law enforcement, standing up for our freedoms and democracy – but there’s a lot more to do,” Shapiro said. “Tonight, with a commitment to continuing to fight and deliver for all Pennsylvanians, I’m proud to accept the Democratic nomination for reelection as the governor of this great Commonwealth.”

Shapiro also took aim at national politics when framing the upcoming state election as part of a broader battle.

“This year in Pennsylvania, we have the power to rein in the chaos, cruelty, and corruption of Donald Trump and his Administration and chart a better path forward for our Commonwealth and our country – and we’re going to use it,” Shapiro said. “This is our charge, this is our time, this is our task – and we’re ready to win.”

Invoking history, Shapiro noted that Pennsylvania founder William Penn landed in Falls Township to establish a government rooted in fairness, free elections, and freedom of worship.

“Now, three-and-a-half centuries later, we are gathered here tonight with a duty to protect those principles and ensure that we do our part right now to pass them down to the next generation of Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said.

Davis highlighted the administration’s economic focus.

“As a team, Gov. Shapiro and I have gotten so much done to put more money back in people’s pockets and create ladders of opportunity right here in our Commonwealth,” Davis said. “The stakes are too high to stop now and I look forward to delivering even more results for Pennsylvanians.”

Garrity and Richey spent election night across the state at the Republican Committee of Allegheny County Headquarters.

In a statement, Garrity looked ahead to the fall campaign and issued a critique of her opponent.

“When I declared my candidacy to serve as Pennsylvania’s next Governor, I promised ‘help is on the way.’ That statement rang true then, and even more so today with the overwhelming support of Republican voters from across the Commonwealth,” Garrity said. “The responsibility that Pennsylvania Republicans entrusted me with today is not one that I take lightly. My commitment is to work every day between now and November’s General Election to defeat Josh Shapiro.”

Garrity called for a broad coalition to challenge the incumbent governor in the general election.

“Make no mistake: it will take all of us to defeat Josh Shapiro this November. Josh Shapiro has collected millions in campaign contributions from liberal billionaires and he is the darling of the national Democrat establishment,” Garrity said. “We need Republicans, Independents, and like-minded Democrats across Pennsylvania to step up, get involved, and help carry our message of a better future for Pennsylvania to all 67 counties.”

Shapiro and Democrats have focused attention on Bucks County as part of a strategy that follows the idea that winning seats in the moderate county will help gain power in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.

Shapiro, who lives in Abington Township, Montgomery County, is often in Bucks County. His wife, First Lady Lori Shapiro, is from Lower Bucks County.