Who is Josh Shapiro and what is Shapiro running on in the 2026 Pennsylvania Governor race?

Josh Shapiro is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania governor, and the incumbent. Governor of Pennsylvania since 2023; former state Attorney General. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Josh Shapiro (D) seeking a second term.
• Polling: Shapiro 58, Garrity 38 (NYT/Siena/Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept 15 to 22, 2026).

Why Shapiro is ahead

• Shapiro leads by about 20 points in the latest NYT/Siena/Inquirer poll and has ~60% job approval.
• Garrity has low name recognition: a third of voters had not heard of her.
• Trump approval in PA has fallen (29% in F&M June poll) and Garrity has embraced Trump and his tariffs.
• Voters trust Shapiro more on the economy (55%) and cost of living (56%).

What Shapiro is running on

• Economy / jobs. Touts 25,000+ jobs and $41B in private investment in his first term.
• Cost of living. Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for seniors and disabled residents.
• Energy. ‘All of the above’ energy strategy; ‘Lightning Plan’ to rewrite clean-energy tax credits, create a permitting board and require more renewables.
• Utility bills. Negotiated PJM price caps and vowed to fight utility rate hikes, calling PECO’s request ‘pure greed’.
• Climate. Withdrew from RGGI in a budget deal but issued new methane rules and funded school solar.

The other candidates

• Stacy Garrity (R)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.