3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Josh Shapiro currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Lowering utility bills by going after utility profits — he called a PECO rate increase request 'pure greed' and told utility leaders he would oppose rate hikes 'vocally and forcefully' unless they capped profits.
An 'all of the above' energy plan adding generation from natural gas, nuclear and renewables while tightening some environmental standards.
More school funding through an adequacy formula aimed at the most underfunded districts.
Raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.
Legalising and taxing adult-use marijuana.
A permanent statewide transit funding formula.
Defending mail voting and expanded automatic voter registration; protecting abortion access.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Governor of Pennsylvania since January 2023; attorney general 2017-2023; before that a Montgomery County commissioner and state representative.
Oversaw the reopening of the collapsed section of Interstate 95 in twelve days in 2023.
Increased state education funding and signed the repeal of Pennsylvania's ban on Sunday hunting.
Agreed to withdraw Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative as part of a budget deal.
Emerged in 2026 from a roughly four-month budget impasse; the final plan totalled $50.8 billion after Senate Republicans cut more than $1.1 billion from his $53.3 billion proposal.
Was unopposed in the May 19 2026 Democratic primary and reported about $30 million on hand, a Pennsylvania record.
Arguments in favor
He has taken utility companies on directly over rates, calling one increase request 'pure greed' and telling executives he would oppose their filings unless they capped profits.
— Josh Shapiro, in letters to utility executives reported by Spotlight PA
He has delivered concrete results with divided government — the twelve-day I-95 reopening, record school funding through an adequacy formula, and the Sunday hunting repeal.
— Shapiro for Pennsylvania campaign, in its re-election launch
His energy plan adds generation from gas, nuclear and renewables at once rather than choosing a side, which supporters argue is the only approach that both cuts bills and keeps the grid supplied.
— Shapiro for Pennsylvania campaign
Arguments against
'Under Josh Shapiro's complete fiscal mismanagement, Pennsylvania families are paying more for groceries, utilities, and basic needs,' and 'Shapiro has been more focused on his political ambitions while Pennsylvania's economy, fiscal stability, and business climate are among the worst in the country.'
— Republican Governors Association communications director
He is a 'career politician' thirsting for a White House bid while presiding over late state budgets — Pennsylvania went roughly four months without one in 2026.
— Stacy Garrity, Republican nominee
His spending plan was unrealistic: Senate Republicans cut more than $1.1 billion from his $53.3 billion request before a budget could pass.
— Pennsylvania Senate Republicans
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
Whether he would commit to serving a full four-year term rather than running for president in 2028; no direct statement was located.
How the minimum wage increase and marijuana legalisation would pass a Republican Senate that has blocked both.
Progressive Pennsylvania Democrats have publicly pressed him over the 2026 budget deal, which one account described as abandoning Democratic priorities; the details of that dispute were not established here.
Eliminating Pennsylvania's 5.9% gross receipts tax on electricity, which she says would save households about $143 a year, paid for by expanded natural gas production.
More natural gas production: 'The only way to fix the structural deficit is to really do more around our energy... we have the cleanest natural gas in the world.'
A broader school choice model directing more money to charter schools, cyber charters and private schools, plus tax-credit scholarships.
Stricter voter identification and ballot handling rules.
Cutting waste and bringing transparency to state government, as she says she has done at Treasury.
On abortion: she has long opposed abortion but says she would not sign a ban and would respect current Pennsylvania law.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Pennsylvania state treasurer since January 2021; re-elected in 2024.
About three decades in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel; deployed in the Gulf War and the Iraq War.
As treasurer, reports returning more than $1 billion in unclaimed property to its owners, nearly $10 million through the Money Match programme, and identifying roughly $50 million a year in Commonwealth overpayments and duplicate payments.
Spoke at a 2022 Trump rally in Greensburg where she said of the 2020 election, 'We know that he won.'
Has publicly supported the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Was unopposed in the May 19 2026 Republican primary and holds the Pennsylvania Republican Party's endorsement.
Arguments in favor
Scrapping the electricity gross receipts tax would cut about $143 a year from a typical household bill, a direct and immediate saving rather than a regulatory fight with utilities.
— Stacy Garrity for Governor campaign
Her Treasury record is a record of finding money — more than $1 billion returned to its owners and roughly $50 million a year in overpayments caught — which is the case she makes for running state government.
— Stacy Garrity for Governor campaign
She is a retired Army colonel with Gulf War and Iraq deployments, running against a career politician she says is already looking past the job.
— Stacy Garrity for Governor campaign and the Pennsylvania Republican Party
Arguments against
She has repeatedly echoed unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, including telling a 2022 Trump rally in Greensburg, 'We know that he won.'
— Pennsylvania Democrats, as reported by City & State Pennsylvania
She holds extreme positions — speaking at a rally questioning the 2020 result, celebrating the fall of Roe v. Wade, and selling 'pro-life' merchandise — that sit badly with her current promise not to sign an abortion ban.
— Pennsylvania Democratic Party
She publicly backed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Pennsylvania Democrats blame for lost health coverage, hospital closures and job cuts in the state.
— Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democrats
What we couldn’t verify
Whether eliminating the electricity gross receipts tax and expanding gas production would actually close the state's structural deficit; no revenue analysis was located.
Her current position on the 2020 election result, given her earlier statements.
Whether she would veto a legislature-passed abortion restriction, as distinct from not signing a ban.
Her campaign finance totals were not located; Shapiro reported about $30 million.
Libertarian Party nominee for governor of Pennsylvania in 1998, 2002, 2018 and 2026.
Certified for the 2026 general election ballot after third-party signature filing.
Runs with John Thomas, the party's 2024 U.S. Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, for lieutenant governor.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His stated policy positions for this campaign could not be established; no campaign website or platform document was located, so standsFor is left empty rather than filled in from the national Libertarian platform.
No organised advocacy for his candidacy and no criticism of him by name from an opposing campaign or outlet could be found, so no arguments are listed on either side.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro is seeking a second term. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, WHYY's 2026 governor voter guide, Spotlight PA, NBC News, PoliticsPA and Ballotpedia, cross-checked. Both major-party candidates were unopposed in the May 19 2026 primaries: Shapiro with Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, and state Treasurer Stacy Garrity with Jason Richey, who beat John Ventre for the lieutenant governor nomination. Pennsylvania elects governor and lieutenant governor as a joint ticket in November. The Libertarian ticket of Ken Krawchuk and John Thomas was certified for the ballot; the Green Party's nominee, Tony Dastra, did not make the ballot. Krawchuk is listed with empty argument sections — no organised advocacy for him and no criticism of him by name from an opposing campaign or outlet could be found. Much of the coverage of this race is framed around Shapiro's presumed interest in the 2028 presidential race.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Pennsylvania ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Pennsylvania Department of State.