Shapiro wins second term as Pennsylvania governor, defeating Republican Stacy Garrity

Pennsylvania voters returned Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to office Tuesday, giving him a second four-year term over Republican challenger Stacy Garrity, according to projections reported by CBS Philadelphia and 6abc.

The Associated Press declared Shapiro the winner a single minute after voting ended at 8 p.m., according to PublicSource, which published a story produced by Spotlight PA. Early unofficial tallies pointed to a large margin. Libertarian Ken Krawchuk was also a candidate.

At his election night event near Harrisburg, Shapiro told the crowd, "This is a good night for our commonwealth," PublicSource reported. He listed what he described as the voters' wishes: a $15 minimum wage, new housing, infrastructure spending and constitutional protection for abortion rights.

Garrity spoke to her own supporters at a golf course in Wyoming County a little ahead of 9 p.m. She told them she had phoned the governor to offer congratulations, according to PublicSource. "Because his success is our success," she said, while also arguing the state needs a governor focused fully on the job.

PublicSource reported that Garrity, a statewide officeholder who had Donald Trump's endorsement, was held back by weak fundraising and modest backing from her party. The president never came to Pennsylvania to campaign alongside her, and a late wave of money from people tied to the skill games industry did not shift the race, the outlet said. Her campaign also aired AI-generated ads portraying an imitation Shapiro, which PublicSource said got some of his positions wrong.

The reach of Shapiro's second-term plans could hinge on the General Assembly. According to PublicSource, Democrats have controlled the state House by a slim margin since 2022, while the Republican-led Senate stopped several of his goals, among them a minimum wage increase, tighter gun rules, added transit money and legal recreational marijuana. Shapiro steered millions of dollars toward campaigns to unseat GOP senators and widen the House Democratic edge, the outlet reported.

The result also adds to talk about the governor's future. 6abc reported widespread speculation about a 2028 presidential bid, which Shapiro has played down. PublicSource said he declined during the race to commit to finishing a full term; should he step down early, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis would take over.

Elsewhere in the state, Spotlight PA reported that Democrat Bob Brooks, who leads the statewide firefighters union, unseated Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th Congressional District, a Lehigh Valley seat covering Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. The AP made that call shortly ahead of 10:30 p.m. CBS Philadelphia reported that Democrat Bob Harvie claimed victory over Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in the 1st District, and that Democrats were projected to win back control of the U.S. House.

Compiled by True News from reporting by CBS Philadelphia, Spotlight PA, PublicSource and 6abc Action News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/742