During a campaign stop in Newtown last week, Republican Stacy Garrity, the state treasurer who hopes to become Pennsylvania’s next governor, went on the offense against incumbent Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro (D).
“For Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania is a stepping stone,” Garrity told an enthusiastic crowd. “And for all of us, Pennsylvania is our home.”
She’s been crisscrossing the state with her “Help is on the Way” campaign, introducing herself to voters and slamming the ambitious incumbent who is known to be considering a White House run.
“I’m a soldier, I’m a businesswoman, and I’m a proud daughter of Bradford County,” Garrity said. “And I’m going to be the next governor of our great commonwealth because Pennsylvania deserves a fighter who works for them. Not a politician with eyes on the White House.”
Prices are high, paychecks are lean, and crime is increasing, but Democrats in Harrisburg say, “‘Everything is just fine,’” Garrity said. “And, you know what? Josh Shpairo has decided he has bigger fish to fry. Instead of being in Harrisburg, working to pass the budget that is almost three months late, he’s not anywhere in the state. He’s raising money with guys like George Soros for his 2028 presidential campaign. He’s chasing cameras in every state except Pennsylvania while we’re here, stuck with a mess.”
Garrity told the crowd the state needs a governor who’s going to make the people of Pennsylvania the priority.
“Pennsylvania needs somebody who can show up, roll up their sleeves and get the job done,” she said. She promised to put an end to the “waste and gimmicks” in the state budget.
“Josh Shapiro has failed to tap the resources under our feet,” said Garrity. “Pennsylvania sits on some of the richest natural resources in the world. Our commonwealth has 25 percent of all the natural gas in the country. With all of these resources, we could be lowering bills, creating jobs, and making sure the lights stay on, instead of chasing Washington for more money.
“Instead, Shapiro plays politics, pretending to be the champion of energy one day, and then promoting higher energy costs the next. No one can pay their electric bills on empty promises. And that’s why when I’m governor, I will unleash Pennsylvania energy responsibly.”
“Crime and fentanyl continue to destroy lives,” Garrity added. “Pennsylvanians deserve better than a governor who is more concerned with taking the president to court than sending criminals to jail.” She will back law enforcement and make sure “addicts get access to treatment that really works.”
On education, she said, “parents know what’s best for their kids and should have the option to choose a school that’s best for them.” Shapiro took three positions on education savings accounts, she said.
“I’ve always had the same position: Parents, not bureaucrats, should be in charge of their kids’ education.”
As treasurer, she sent over $1 billion back to Pennsylvania taxpayers and opened the books to make the Treasury the “most transparent agency” in the state. “I do what’s right for people and not my own ambitions,” she said.
She won reelection last year with the most votes of any candidate for any statewide office in Pennsylvania of any party.
Taking questions from the press, she noted that Shapiro offered a state budget that would be balanced by taking money out of the Rainy Day Fund (savings).
“I think we need a governor who focuses on Pennsylvania, not Pennsylvania Avenue,” said Garrity.
Asked if she would support President Donald Trump sending in the National Guard in Pennsylvania cities, she said she would if needed. Asked about Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, she said, “I think everybody supports no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and doubling the child tax credit.” People she talks to agree with able-bodied people volunteering or working 20 hours a week to get benefits, she added.
Garrity said she opposes suing the president to allow “gender affirming care.”
“I don’t think we need to do anything to make it easier for our kids to mutilate their bodies,” she said.
DVJournal asked Garrity about her plan to loan money to counties, municipalities, and school districts to help them with their funding problems since the state budget has not passed.
“After three months, Head Starts are starting to shutter. They’re starting to lay people off. Counties are starting to say we may not be able to offer as many services. And these are our most vulnerable populations. Think about it. These are our kids. These are our seniors. These are people who need help with drug and alcohol addiction. Because we don’t have a state budget, they shouldn’t be penalized.”
She thought about what she could do for weeks and came up with a plan to take 25 percent of the prior appropriation to lend them money. The borrowers will sign an agreement and pay interest, she said.
“I’m just trying to help our most vulnerable population. It’s not political at all. I hope it will be a lifeline to counties,” she said.
And DVJournal asked Garrity what she would do if Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin) decided to run against her in the primary.
“I have a great relationship with Sen. Mastriano. We do veterans events together. If he decides to run, he decides to run.” In 2022, Shapiro beat Mastriano by nearly 15 points.
While Garrity will be on the ballot next year, some Bucks County officials who are running this November introduced her.
Controller Pam Van Blunk blasted Shapiro’s lack of transparency and “massive spending increases without concrete plans to pay for them.”
“Stacy Garrity knows what it means to live within your means,” Van Blunk added. “And she’s worked to protect every taxpayer dollar, making sure Harrisburg lives by the same rules that all of us live by.”
District Attorney Jennifer Schorn noted that Garrity deployed three times, beginning with Operation Desert Storm. Garrity was twice awarded the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit and retired from the Army Reserve as a colonel.
Sheriff Fred Harran said nine people are running for reelection in Bucks County, including four judges up for retention.
“Remember last year?” Harran asked. “Last year, your county commissioners took your right to vote away at 2 o’clock in the afternoon because they didn’t want to pay overtime for people to work lines. It was Republican judges who ordered that line back open,” said Harran. “If we lose control of the judicial bench, the next four judges, if it’s on the Democratic side, God forbid, will be (Commissioners) Bob (Harvie) and Diane (Ellis-Marseglia)’s judges. And if that ever happens again, the lines will not be open.”
Lawyers Maria Baptista and Matt Wolford also made the case that they should be elected to seats on the Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, respectively.