Governor
In the United States, a governor serves as the chief executive and commander-in-chief in each of the fifty states and in the five permanently inhabited territories. Governors are responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. As state leaders, governors advance and pursue new and revised policies and programs using a variety of tools, among them executive orders, executive budgets, and legislative proposals and vetoes. Governors carry out their management and leadership responsibilities and objectives with the support and assistance of department and agency heads, many of whom they are empowered to appoint. A majority of governors have the authority to appoint state court judges as well.
Democrat
Josh Shapiro (Incumbent)
Josh Shapiro has served as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, as a state representative and as chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners. Elected as Attorney General in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, Shapiro has worked to address the opioid epidemic by leading a multi-state investigation into pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors and suing the companies and their CEOs who knowingly perpetuated the crisis. In 2018, Shapiro released a report on the 2-year investigation on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, identifying 301 predator priests and thousands of victims and spurring investigations across the US. In conjunction with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials, he arrested thousands of drug dealers while getting illegal guns off the streets. Shapiro has protected healthcare access for 2 million residents and has repeatedly gone to court to defend reproductive rights and a woman’s right to choose.
During the 2020 presidential election, Shapiro protected the right to vote and defended Pennsylvania’s election result, winning in court dozens of times before and after Election Day.
Shapiro became governor of Pennsylvania on January 17, 2023, when he was sworn in as the state's 48th governor.
Endorsements:
PA Democratic Party
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
Jewish Democratic Council of America
Michael Bloomberg
Learn more about Josh Shapiro on his website and social media platforms:
Libertarian Party
Ken Krawchuk
Ken Krawchuk is a Montgomery County resident, information technology professional, and longtime Libertarian Party member. He previously ran for Pennsylvania governor in 1998, 2002, and 2018, as well as for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1994 and 2012. His 2026 campaign is his fourth gubernatorial bid. He has worked in IT consulting and business architecture across the pharmaceutical, insurance, and financial industries.
Krawchuk advocates substantially reducing the size and scope of state government. His proposals include eliminating property taxes, phasing out Pennsylvania's personal income tax, privatizing education, and reducing government spending. He supports decriminalizing drugs, pardoning nonviolent drug offenders, and expanding individual liberties. On abortion, he proposes a system of prenatal adoption intended to encourage alternatives to abortion while preserving a woman's ultimate decision.
Krawchuk supports expanding voter identification requirements and eliminating mail-in ballots. His campaign emphasizes individual freedom, private property rights, and limiting government intervention in economic and personal decisions. His running mate is John Thomas, a Somerset County educator with experience in public, private, and cyber charter schools.
Endorsements:
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
Republican
Stacy Garrity
Stacy Garrity has served as Pennsylvania's State Treasurer since 2021 and was reelected in 2024. A retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel, she served three overseas deployments and received two Bronze Stars. Before entering elected office, she worked in the private sector, eventually becoming vice president of government affairs at Global Tungsten & Powders. As treasurer, she has overseen state investments, expanded the return of unclaimed property, and implemented changes to Pennsylvania's college savings programs.
Garrity supports reducing taxes and government regulations, expanding natural gas production, strengthening law enforcement, and increasing school choice through charter schools and private-school scholarships. She identifies as pro-life, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the pregnant woman, but has stated that she would not sign an abortion ban as governor. She also supports stricter voter identification requirements and changes to election administration.
Garrity is a supporter of President Donald Trump and campaigned for his reelection in 2024. She has criticized Pennsylvania's administration of the 2020 presidential election but subsequently acknowledged that Joe Biden legitimately won. Her gubernatorial campaign emphasizes affordability, public safety, energy production, and reducing government spending. Her running mate is Pittsburgh attorney Jason Richey.
Endorsements:
President Donald Trump
Republican Party of Pennsylvania