Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis campaigned in Mercer County days before Election Day, Nov. 3, urging turnout for Democratic candidates. Davis pledged Pennsylvania would not become a right-to-work state if reelected, emphasizing workers' rights to union representation, health care, and negotiated wages. Both officials endorsed Justin Wagner, a Democrat challenging incumbent Michael Kelly in the 16th Congressional District, who criticized his opponent's nearly 16-year record of prioritizing PAC donors over Western Pennsylvania. Shapiro framed the election as a moment for voters to push back against political dysfunction and reaffirmed his commitment to serving constituents if given another term.

Pennsylvania voters go to the polls on Nov. 3, 2026, in a general election that will help decide control of Congress and the state's next governor. Voter registration closed Oct. 19, and mail-in ballot requests are due by Oct. 27; polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The marquee race pits Democratic incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, with Libertarian Ken Krawchuk also on the ballot. All Pennsylvania House seats and half the state Senate are up for election. Closely watched U.S. House contests include the 7th District, where Democrat Bob Brooks challenges Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie, and the 1st District, where Republican Brian Fitzpatrick faces Democrat Bob Harvie in perennially competitive Bucks County.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, 53, a Montgomery County resident and former state attorney general, state representative, and county commissioner, detailed his record and positions as he seeks reelection. He supports maintaining abortion access and legalizing recreational cannabis, and has proposed legalizing and taxing skill games at 52%. Shapiro, once a data center booster, now says new facilities must meet strict guardrails requiring developers to generate their own power, protect air and water, and win local community support. He backs an "all of the above" energy strategy combining natural gas, solar, wind, and nuclear under his "Lightning Plan." He cites tax cuts and nearly 29,000 new jobs from his first term.

Democrat Angie Nixon, who upset Alex Vindman in Florida's Senate primary by nearly 12 points, is now challenging Republican Senator Ashley Moody in a race most analysts consider a longshot for Democrats. Florida has 1.5 million more registered Republicans than Democrats, and polls show Moody leading, though margins vary. Nixon faces a severe funding gap, having raised under $1 million to Moody's more than $11 million as of late July, limiting her ability to counter attack ads tying her to the Democratic Socialists of America.

National Democrats have been slow to invest in the race, but Senators Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders are campaigning with Nixon this week, with Sanders contributing $250,000. Nixon is running on universal health care, child care, and affordable housing, and is working to mobilize Black voters and women while courting GOP-leaning communities. She has embraced an unapologetically progressive, grassroots-driven campaign, drawing comparisons to gubernatorial nominee David Jolly's more moderate crossover strategy, with both races seen as tests of competing Democratic approaches ahead of 2028. Analysts say Trump's unpopularity and cost-of-living concerns give her an opening, but she would need exceptionally high Democratic turnout combined with Republican voters staying home to overcome the state's structural disadvantages.

New polling shows President Donald Trump's approval sliding in Pennsylvania even as Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro gains strength heading into his reelection bid, a divergence political observers say could shape the 2026 midterms. Pennsylvania is home to four closely watched House races this cycle, contests that could help determine which party controls the chamber.

Trump's weakening standing in the key swing state, combined with Shapiro's rising popularity ahead of a widely anticipated 2028 presidential run, is seen as adding pressure on Republican candidates trying to hold their seats. Analysts view Pennsylvania as an early bellwether for broader national sentiment, given its mix of urban, suburban, and rural voters and its history of swinging between parties in recent elections. The state's results and polling trends are likely to draw outsized attention from forecasters and prediction markets tracking both the House majority battle and early positioning for the next presidential race.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) faced off on October 7 in their only scheduled debate of the campaign, the first gubernatorial debate in the state in eight years. Hosted by Nexstar Media Group at abc27's Harrisburg studio and broadcast across five Nexstar stations plus WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, the debate was moderated by abc27's Dennis Owens and WPXI's Lisa Sylvester.

Shapiro, the state's first-term governor and a frequently mentioned potential 2028 presidential contender, has campaigned on increased education funding, business investment, and the expedited rebuild of a collapsed I-95 section in Philadelphia. Garrity, twice elected treasurer and the record-holder for most votes by a statewide candidate in 2024, has focused on unclaimed property reform, returning military artifacts, and boosting Israeli bond investments. Both candidates fielded questions on data centers and AI growth, rising consumer costs, and the prospect of governing alongside a divided legislature.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity met Wednesday night in the only scheduled televised debate of the Pennsylvania governor's race, ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The hourlong forum, hosted by abc27 and moderated by anchor Dennis Owens, aired across several Nexstar-owned stations statewide and streamed online. Libertarian candidate Ken Krawchuk was not invited.

Shapiro, a popular incumbent and potential 2028 presidential contender, enters the race with a large fundraising and polling lead, touting first-term accomplishments including infrastructure repairs, business recruitment, and utility cost caps. Garrity, the state treasurer and Trump-endorsed Republican seeking to become Pennsylvania's first female governor, used the debate to raise her profile and press Shapiro on affordability, school choice, and his handling of a sexual harassment settlement involving a former aide. Both candidates have faced scrutiny over shifting positions on data center development, a contentious issue with bipartisan voter opposition. Shapiro's campaign has sought to tie Garrity closely to Trump, while she has pushed back on characterizations of her 2020 election comments. Analysts note debates rarely shift outcomes in races with such a wide polling gap.