2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Pennsylvania. Incumbent Democratic governor Josh Shapiro is running for re-election to a second term. Primary elections will be held on May 19, 2026.[1] This is one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2024 presidential election.
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November 3, 2026
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Background
Pennsylvania is a purple state located in the Northeastern United States. A part of the Rust Belt, it was narrowly won by Republican Donald Trump in his non-consecutive second victory in 2024 after similarly narrow victories by Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump in his first election in 2016.[2][3]
The state has a Democratic and Republican senator, making it one of only three states to have a split Senate delegation,[a] while Republicans hold a majority in the state's House delegation, with ten seats to the Democrats' seven.[5] Democrats also control the Pennsylvania House of Representatives while Republicans control the Pennsylvania Senate.[6]
Republicans have not won a Pennsylvania gubernatorial election since 2010. Incumbent Democratic governor Josh Shapiro was first elected with 56.5% of the vote in 2022, succeeding term-limited Democrat Tom Wolf.[7]
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Josh Shapiro, incumbent governor (2023–present)[8]
Declined
- Bob Casey Jr., former U.S. senator (2007–2025)[9]
Endorsements
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Political parties
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Austin Davis, incumbent lieutenant governor (2023–present)[15]
Endorsements
- Labor unions
- Political parties
Republican primary
Governor
Stacy Garrity is the only candidate on the ballot for the Republican nomination, making her the presumptive nominee. Supporters of previous nominee State Senator Doug Mastriano have launched a write-in campaign, though Mastriano has previously stated he would not run for the nomination and has not expressed support for the campaign.[16][17]
Candidates
Nominee
- Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania state treasurer (2021–present) and candidate for Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district in 2019[18]
Withdrawn
- John Ventre, former Pennsylvania director for the Mutual UFO Network and perennial candidate (running for lieutenant governor)[19]
Declined
- Scott Martin, state senator from SD-13 (2017–present) and candidate for governor in 2022[20] (endorsed Garrity)[21]
- Doug Mastriano, state senator from SD-33 (2019–present) and nominee for governor in 2022[22]
- Dan Meuser, U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Garrity)[23][24]
- Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania attorney general (2025–present)[25] (endorsed Garrity)[26]
- Glenn Thompson, U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district (2009–present)[27] (running for re-election, endorsed Garrity)[28]
- Mike Turzai, former speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2015–2020) from the 28th district (2001–2020)[25]
Endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present) (previously endorsed Meuser)[29]
- U.S. senators
- Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania (2025–present)[30]
- Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania (1995–2007)[31]
- U.S. representatives
- Rob Bresnahan, PA-08 (2025–present)[32]
- Ryan Mackenzie, PA-07 (2025-present)[33]
- Dan Meuser, PA-09 (2019–present)[24]
- Lloyd Smucker, PA-11 (2017–present)[34]
- Glenn Thompson, PA-15 (2009–present)[28]
- Scott Perry, PA-10 (2013–present)[35]
- Statewide officials
- Tom Corbett, former governor of Pennsylvania (2011–2015)[36]
- Timothy DeFoor, auditor general of Pennsylvania (2021–present)[37]
- Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania attorney general (2025–present)[26]
- State legislators
- Scott Martin, state senator from the 13th district (2017–present)[21]
- Joe Pittman, majority leader of the Pennsylvania Senate (2022–present) from the 41st district (2019–present)[21]
- Jim Struzzi, state representative from the 62nd district (2018–present)[21]
- Jesse Topper, minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2025–present) from the 78th district (2014–present)[21]
- Kim Ward, president pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate (2022–present) from the 39th district (2009–present)[38]
- Martina White, state representative from the 170th district (2015–present)[21]
- Organizations
- Political parties
- Executive branch officials
Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)(later endorsed Garrity)[41]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Stacy Garrity |
Doug Mastriano |
Dan Meuser |
Scott Perry |
Kristin Phillips-Hill |
Others | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[42] | September 18–19, 2025 | 524 (V) | ± 4.3% | 20% | 39% | – | – | – | – | 41% |
| Public Policy Polling (D)[43] | May 2025 | 433 (LV) | – | 18% | 39% | 6% | – | – | – | 37% |
| Pennsylvania Leadership Conference[44] | April 8, 2024 | 240 (V) | – | 7% | 6% | – | 4% | 3% | 1% | 79% |
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Declared
- John Ventre, former Pennsylvania director for the Mutual UFO Network and perennial candidate (previously ran for governor)[19]
- Jason Richey, chair of the Allegheny County Republican Party and candidate for governor in 2022[45]
Withdrawn
Declined
- Tom DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner[47]
Endorsements
- U.S. Senators
- Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania (2025–present)[49]
- U.S. Representatives
- Mike Kelly, PA-09 (2011–present)[49]
- Dan Meuser, PA-09 (2019–present)[49]
- Glenn Thompson, PA-15 (2009–present)[49]
- Statewide officials
- Stacy Garrity, treasurer of Pennsylvania (2021–present) and 2026 gubernatorial candidate[45]
- Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania attorney general (2025–present)[49]
- State legislators
- Political parties
Libertarian convention
Green convention
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Tony Dastra, former Lancaster home rule commissioner and Green Party candidate for mayor in 2017 and 2025[52]
Constitution convention
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Bill Messner, chair of the Lawrence County Constitution Party[53]
Lieutenant governor
Declared
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[54] | Solid D | March 11, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[55] | Likely D | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[56] | Likely D | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[57] | Safe D | September 30, 2025 |
Polling
Josh Shapiro vs. Stacy Garrity
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Josh Shapiro (D) |
Stacy Garrity (R) |
Other/ |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270toWin[58] | March 5 – April 1, 2026 | April 1, 2026 | 53.0% | 32.0% | 15.0% | Shapiro +21.0% |
| Race to the WH[59] | through April 1, 2026 | April 1, 2026 | 54.4% | 34.4% | 11.2% | Shapiro +20.0% |
| RealClearPolitics[60] | February 18 – March 29, 2026 | April 1, 2026 | 53.7% | 33.7% | 12.6% | Shapiro +20.0% |
| Average | 53.7% | 33.4% | 12.9% | Shapiro +20.3% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Josh Shapiro (D) |
Stacy Garrity (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna Polling & Research (R)[61] | March 18–29, 2026 | 700 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 58% | 36% | – | 5% |
| Franklin & Marshall College[62] | February 18 – March 1, 2026 | 834 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 48% | 28% | 7%[d] | 17% |
| Quinnipiac University[63] | February 19–23, 2026 | 836 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 55% | 37% | 1%[e] | 7% |
| Quinnipiac University[64] | September 25–29, 2025 | 1,579 (RV) | ± 3.3% | 55% | 39% | 1% | 5% |
| Susquehanna Polling & Research (R)[65] | September 22–28, 2025 | 700 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 54% | 36% | – | 9% |
Josh Shapiro vs. Doug Mastriano
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Josh Shapiro (D) |
Doug Mastriano (R) |
Other/ |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the WH[59] | September 22–29, 2025 | November 24, 2025 | 55.3% | 38.4% | 6.3% | Shapiro +16.9% |
| RealClearPolitics[66] | September 22–29, 2025 | November 24, 2025 | 55.5% | 38.0% | 6.5% | Shapiro +17.5% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Josh Shapiro (D) |
Doug Mastriano (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac University[64] | September 25–29, 2025 | 1,579 (RV) | ± 3.3% | 56% | 39% | – | 5% |
| Susquehanna Polling & Research (R)[67] | September 22–28, 2025 | 704 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 55% | 37% | – | 7% |
See also
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- "Some other candidate" with 7%
- "Refused" with 1%
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.