2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Faith and family guided Shapiro’s path into politics.

For Shapiro, an observant Conservative Jew who was raised in Dresher, Pennsylvania (outside of Philadelphia), faith is a lodestar

Get to Know Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Governor and Commencement Speaker

SHAPIRO, Joshua David, a Representative from Montgomery County; born in Kansas City, Jackson County, Mo., 1973; graduated, Akiba Academy; B.A., political science, University of Rochester, 1995; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2002; United States Congressional Aide (1994-2003); chief of staff, United States Congressman Joseph M.

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website

Josh Shapiro was raised in Dresher, Pennsylvania, and is an observant Conservative Jew. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Rochester and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Get to know Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro

B.A., political science, University of Rochester, 1995; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2002; United States Congressional Aide (1994-2003); chief of staff, United States Congressman Joseph M. Hoeffel (1999-2003); elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 2005 term; reelected to serve 3 consecutive terms thereafter;

United States Congressional Aide (1994-2003); chief of staff, United States Congressman Joseph M. Hoeffel (1999-2003); elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 2005 term; reelected to serve 3 consecutive terms thereafter; appointed, Deputy Speaker (2007);

Josh previously worked as a congressional aide and chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Joseph M. Hoeffel.

elected, Attorney General of Pennsylvania (2017-January 16, 2023); elected, Governor of Pennsylvania (January 17, 2023-present).

gubernatorial appointee, chair, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (2015-2022); elected, Attorney General of Pennsylvania (2017-January 16, 2023); elected, Governor of Pennsylvania (January 17, 2023-present).

co-chair, Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform (2007); resigned from the House, January 3, 2012; elected, commissioner, Montgomery County (2012-2016); appointed, board, Pennsylvania Convention Center (2012-2016); vice chair, Budget Deficit and Fiscal Stabilization Task Force, Governor-elect Wolf Transition Team (2014-2015);

chief of staff, United States Congressman Joseph M. Hoeffel (1999-2003); elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 2005 term; reelected to serve 3 consecutive terms thereafter; appointed, Deputy Speaker (2007); co-chair, Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform (2007); resigned from the House, January 3, 2012;

Josh currently serves as Governor of Pennsylvania, an office to which he was elected in 2023. He previously served as Pennsylvania attorney general from 2017 to January 2023 and as a Montgomery County commissioner from 2012 to 2016. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 2005 term and was reelected for three consecutive terms.

The 2026–2027 budget builds on that progress with a comprehensive set of investments and reforms to expand housing access, protect renters and homeowners, and strengthen coordination across state government, including:

  * Protecting Renters and Promoting Housing Stability: Establishes a statewide cap on rental application fees tied to the actual cost of screening and prohibits fees before a property is viewed; affirms a tenant’s right to terminate a lease due to domestic violence without financial penalty; seals eviction records for individuals who were not actually evicted; and advances fair-chance housing reforms to limit when and how criminal history may be considered in rental decisions.

Gov Shapiro 2026–27 Budget Proposal to Keep Doing What’s Working in Pennsylvania | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Today, more than half a million Pennsylvanians earn less than $15 an hour, and the purchasing power of the Commonwealth’s minimum wage has eroded by more than 30 percent since 2009, pushing these families closer to poverty.

  * The 2026–2027 budget once again calls on the General Assembly to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning January 1, 2027. This commonsense reform would boost consumer spending, reduce turnover for employers, and improve workers’ health and economic stability — while also delivering significant savings for taxpayers.

Philadelphia, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-04, creating the Pennsylvania (PA) Permit Fast Track Program to streamline the Commonwealth’s permitting process for key economic development and infrastructure projects, increase transparency, and accelerate timelines to ensure state government delivers results quickly and efficiently.

Governor Shapiro Signs Executive Order Creating the PA Permit Fast Track Program to Speed Up Government, Drive Economic Growth, and Make Pennsylvania More Competitive

  * Protecting Renters and Promoting Housing Stability: Establishes a statewide cap on rental application fees tied to the actual cost of screening and prohibits fees before a property is viewed; affirms a tenant’s right to terminate a lease due to domestic violence without financial penalty; seals eviction records for individuals who were not actually evicted; and advances fair-chance housing reforms to limit when and how criminal history may be considered in rental decisions.
  * Supporting Manufactured Homeowners: Limits annual lot rent increases in manufactured home communities and requires advance notice of increases, protecting residents — many of whom own their homes but rent the land beneath them — from sudden and unaffordable cost spikes.

Proposes statewide renter protections, including limits on application fees, allowing domestic-violence survivors to terminate leases, sealing non-eviction records, and limiting consideration of criminal history in rental decisions.

Calls for raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning January 1, 2027.

Signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program to streamline permitting for economic-development and infrastructure projects.

Proposes limits on annual lot-rent increases and advance-notice requirements for manufactured-home communities.

- Proposes statewide renter protections, including limits on application fees, allowing domestic-violence survivors to terminate leases, sealing non-eviction records, and limiting consideration of criminal history in rental decisions.
- Calls for raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning January 1, 2027.
- Signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program to streamline permitting for economic-development and infrastructure projects.
- Proposes limits on annual lot-rent increases and advance-notice requirements for manufactured-home communities.

Economy

  * Creating Safe and Healthy Learning Environments: The budget continues funding universal free breakfast, menstrual hygiene products at no cost to students, and $111 million for school safety and mental health supports. Over 800 schools have expanded mental health services, and more than 200 counselors have been hired since the Shapiro Administration began. School facilities investments total $125 million, including $25 million for the Solar for Schools program.

  * Reducing Distractions to Improve Learning in the Classroom: Supporting students isn’t just about funding schools — it’s about creating a healthy, productive learning environment. Cell phones and mobile devices can distract from instruction, peer interaction, and skill development.

Governor Shapiro is calling on the General Assembly to pass a bell-to-bell cell phone ban, keeping devices out of students’ hands from the start of the school day until dismissal to help them focus, engage with peers, and build social and emotional skills.

Proposes continued funding for free school breakfast, free menstrual hygiene products, and school safety and mental-health supports.

Calls for a bell-to-bell ban on student cell phones during the school day.

- Proposes continued funding for free school breakfast, free menstrual hygiene products, and school safety and mental-health supports.
- Calls for a bell-to-bell ban on student cell phones during the school day.

Education

“The Fifth Circuit’s ruling is a direct attack on women’s health care and their ability to make decisions about their own bodies — as long as I’m Governor, I will always protect a woman's right to choose,” said Governor Shapiro. “Despite this court’s ruling, Pennsylvanians should know that abortion remains safe, accessible, and legal here in our Commonwealth.
Mifepristone is a safe, effective medication that has been widely used for decades, but once again, anti-abortion advocates are pushing junk science and encouraging the courts to upend decades of research in their continued assault on a woman’s freedom to choose. My Administration is taking action to push back, protect access, and ensure Pennsylvanians can continue to get the care they need.”

Gov. Shapiro Takes Legal Action to Protect Abortion Access | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

May 04, 2026
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania has joined a multistate amicus brief urging reversal of a recent federal appeals court decision that restricts access to medication abortion — which accounts for over 60 percent of all abortions — by blocking the mailing of mifepristone prescriptions.

Said he will protect abortion access in Pennsylvania and joined a multistate legal brief seeking to reverse restrictions on mailing mifepristone prescriptions.

- Said he will protect abortion access in Pennsylvania and joined a multistate legal brief seeking to reverse restrictions on mailing mifepristone prescriptions.

Healthcare

  * This budget includes $68.3 million for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Program — a $5.2 million increase — and adds $1 million to the Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) Program, bringing total BOOST funding to $12.5 million to keep kids safe, supported, and engaged.

  * The 2026–2027 budget continues this effort with a $16.2 million investment for four additional cadet classes and fully eliminates the statutory cap on the number of troopers — allowing for increased patrol visibility and faster response times. This funding will train 380 new state troopers beginning in 2026–2027 and maintain a regular replacement cycle to modernize the PSP fleet and improve officer safety.

  * It includes a $30 million investment in competitive grants through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) — doubling annual funding — to support recruitment, retention, and capital needs for volunteer and professional fire companies.

Additional investments include $550,000 to consolidate Capitol Complex security contracts and a proposal to provide death and workers’ compensation benefits to first responders while deployed by the Commonwealth during a disaster emergency under a Governor’s Emergency Declaration.

Proposes increased funding for violence-intervention programs and out-of-school programs for young people.

Proposes funding four additional state trooper cadet classes and eliminating the statutory cap on the number of troopers.

Proposes doubling annual grant funding for volunteer and professional fire companies to $30 million.

- Proposes increased funding for violence-intervention programs and out-of-school programs for young people.
- Proposes funding four additional state trooper cadet classes and eliminating the statutory cap on the number of troopers.
- Proposes doubling annual grant funding for volunteer and professional fire companies to $30 million.

Public Safety

As of October 16, 2026, Josh Shapiro’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Josh Shapiro

- Calls for raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning January 1, 2027.
- Signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program to streamline permitting for economic-development and infrastructure projects.
- Proposes limits on annual lot-rent increases and advance-notice requirements for manufactured-home communities.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Libertarian Ken Krawchuk

Krawchuk, based in Abington, the same town Shapiro lives in, is the only third-party candidate for governor on the ballot this November.

Pennsylvania governor election guide

Pa. election 2026: Your complete guide to the candidates for governor

His campaign website describes him as having founded an IT consulting firm, and says he currently works as a “business architect for the pharmaceutical, insurance, and financial markets.”

Ken Krawchuk currently works as a business architect in the pharmaceutical, insurance, and financial industries. He founded an information technology consulting firm.

Ken currently works as a business architect in the pharmaceutical, insurance, and financial industries. He founded an information technology consulting firm.

Ken Krawchuk of Abington is an Information Technology entrepreneur, a patented inventor, a Philadelphia talk show host, an award-winning Toastmaster, and an author. He has previously appeared on the gubernatorial ballot three times, facing Tom Ridge in 1998, Ed Rendell in 2002, and Tom Wolf in 2018, setting consecutive Libertarian Party records for vote totals in each race.

Libertarian Governor Candidate Ken Krawchuk Calls for a Statewide Ban on Flock Cameras

Ken previously appeared on the gubernatorial ballot three times, in 1998, 2002, and 2018.

Better yet, as governor I can single-handedly cut back the cost of government. That’s because the Constitution also gives the Governor the power of the line-item veto. That means I can cross out any item in any bill. Every year I’ll go line-by-line through Pennsylvania’s budget and aggressively use the line-item veto to eliminate any new or existing unconstitutional or pork barrel spending.

On The Issues: Taxes

But when I’m governor, that trend will end. Using the powers granted to me by the Pennsylvania Constitution, I can single-handedly hold the line on taxes and spending. How? I promise to veto every single tax increase that crosses my desk. And given the close party divides in the Legislature, it’s very unlikely that any vetoes would be overridden.

I promise to veto every single tax increase that crosses my desk. And given the close party divides in the Legislature, it’s very unlikely that any vetoes would be overridden. And to add an additional roadblock against an overridden veto, I will champion legislation to require that ALL tax increases must go to a referendum for voter approval.

I promise to veto every single tax increase. I’ll aggressively use the line-item veto to eliminate unconstitutional and pork barrel spending. I’ll introduce a series of budgets that will completely eliminate the Pennsylvania personal income tax over four years.

As a Libertarian, I believe you have the right to live your life your way, without interference, provided you respect the rights and property of others. That holds true for employment as well, so I do support Right-to-Work laws (and Right-to-Any-Peaceful-Thing laws, too).

Responses to Facebook Questions

Plans to use line-item vetoes to remove spending he considers unconstitutional or pork-barrel spending.

Plans to use line-item vetoes to remove spending he considers unconstitutional or "pork-barrel" spending.

Advocates for requiring voter approval by referendum for all tax increases.

Proposes eliminating Pennsylvania's personal income tax over four years.

- Plans to use line-item vetoes to remove spending he considers unconstitutional or "pork-barrel" spending.
- Pledges to veto every tax increase.
- Advocates for requiring voter approval by referendum for all tax increases.
- Proposes eliminating Pennsylvania's personal income tax over four years.
- Supports right-to-work laws.

The time has come for the free market to come to the rescue. The time has come to privatize Pennsylvania schools completely.

On The Issues: Education

Use current state funding to provide every student with an $11,500 Education Savings Account and let parents choose any school for their child.

Since every child gets a private education using existing tax funding, all school PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE ELIMINATED!

Advocates for fully privatizing Pennsylvania's schools.

Proposes $11,500 Education Savings Accounts for every student, allowing parents to choose any school.

Proposes eliminating school property taxes as part of his private-school funding plan.

- Advocates for fully privatizing Pennsylvania's schools.
- Proposes $11,500 Education Savings Accounts for every student, allowing parents to choose any school.
- Proposes eliminating school property taxes as part of his private-school funding plan.

On The Issues
Abortion
In Brief

Defuse the abortion issue by allowing for Pre-Natal Adoption.

Pre-Natal Adoption saves babies. That’s Pro-Life.

Pre-Natal Adoption preserves a woman’s right to choose. That’s Pro-Choice.

Pro Life + Pro Choice = Pro Option

On The Issues: Abortion

So were I “just this king” instead of just this guy, I would decree that if a woman does not want her unborn child, she must first sign a legal document saying that she thereby abandons her unborn child. If she doesn’t want the baby, she doesn’t have to keep it; that’s pro-choice.

So my opinion on anyone being trans (or not) is obvious: It’s a personal choice and none of my business nor the government’s. The same holds true for any medical procedure any adult consents to receive, whether it’s breast implants, Lasik, hormone and surgical treatments for adults with gender dysphoria, or whatever. To my mind, it’s all the same: It’s your choice and none of my business. I would oppose any law that would take away your medical freedom.

On The Issues: LGBT

Who do they think they are, resurrecting rules for ‘Shutdown 2.0’? We Pennsylvanians already voted in 2021 to put strict checks on emergency declarations like this. The Supreme Court already limited the DoH’s use of this sort of catch-all control rules, too. But this proposal tries to get around both. The existing rules already allow for investigation of cases and outbreaks, so officials do not need this new blank check over our homes, classrooms, and private medical files.

No More Shutdowns

Proposes prenatal adoption as an alternative to abortion, requiring a woman to sign a document abandoning the unborn child.

Proposes prenatal adoption as an alternative to abortion.

Opposes laws restricting adults' access to hormone or surgical treatment for gender dysphoria and other consensual medical procedures.

Opposes proposed public-health rules he says would give officials a "blank check" over homes, classrooms, and private medical files.

- Proposes prenatal adoption as an alternative to abortion.
- Opposes laws restricting adults' access to hormone or surgical treatment for gender dysphoria and other consensual medical procedures.
- Opposes proposed public-health rules he says would give officials a "blank check" over homes, classrooms, and private medical files.

Death Penalty

I strongly oppose the death penalty. Always have. It’s far too great a power to be entrusted to government. If the courts make a mistake—which certainly happens!—there’s no opportunity to change your mind.

As governor, I promise I won’t sign a single death warrant. I refuse to use the power of government to kill. I’m not a murderer.

As a Libertarian governor, I would work to reduce the threat of crime. There are things that the governor can do unilaterally, without the consent or assistance of the Legislature to reduce crime, and I plan to inaugurate them on my first day in office.

The first thing is to eliminate parole for violent criminals.

It’s nothing short of insane to let violent criminals out of jail before their time has been served.

On The Issues: Crime

Fortunately, Article 4, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution gives the governor the power to remit all forfeited assets, and unless there’s a conviction for a real crime, that’s just what I intend to do. When I become governor, legalized theft will cease.

Immediately decriminalize marijuana and other drugs, and treat them like we do alcohol.

Immediately pardon all non-violent drug offenders.

On The Issues: Drugs

Immediately decriminalize marijuana and other drugs, and treat them like we do alcohol.

Immediately pardon all non-violent drug offenders.

Prohibition did not work with alcohol, and it’s not working for drugs.

Prohibition did not work with alcohol, and it’s not working for drugs.

If it took a constitutional amendment to ban alcohol, shouldn’t it take a constitutional amendment to ban marijuana?

The problem is not so much that they’re drugs, the problem is that they’re illegal drugs.

Treatment, not jail.

Drug laws are nothing but a jobs program for narcotics officers, nothing but price supports for drugs.

In Depth

Libertarian Governor Candidate Ken Krawchuk Calls for a Statewide Ban on Flock Cameras

Militia Hill, PA – At a roadside rally today, Ken Krawchuk, the Pennsylvania Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, called for an immediate statewide ban on the use of Flock Safety cameras and similar surveillance technology until responsible, controlling, statewide legislation is enacted.

On the government front: Prohibit any government agency from entering into contracts that allow local citizen data to be shared, pooled, or handed over to any other government entity without a pre-existing, specific, individualized warrant.

All that said, the solution isn’t to shoot cameras or over-regulate the development of new technology, but rather to ruthlessly enforce property rights and place strict, unyielding limits on government power. Specifically:

· On the private front: Legally recognize that you own your own likeness and biometric data, meaning it cannot be marketed to anyone ever without your explicit, written permission.

Opposes the death penalty and pledges not to sign death warrants as governor.

Plans to eliminate parole for violent offenders.

Plans to return forfeited assets unless there is a conviction for a "real crime."

Proposes decriminalizing marijuana and other drugs, pardoning nonviolent drug offenders, and prioritizing treatment over jail.

Calls for a statewide ban on Flock Safety cameras and similar surveillance technology until statewide legislation is enacted.

Proposes barring government data-sharing contracts without a specific, individualized warrant.

Proposes recognizing ownership of personal likenesses and biometric data and requiring written permission before marketing them.

- Opposes the death penalty and pledges not to sign death warrants as governor.
- Plans to eliminate parole for violent offenders.
- Plans to return forfeited assets unless there is a conviction for a "real crime."
- Proposes decriminalizing marijuana and other drugs, pardoning nonviolent drug offenders, and prioritizing treatment over jail.
- Calls for a statewide ban on Flock Safety cameras and similar surveillance technology until statewide legislation is enacted.
- Proposes barring government data-sharing contracts without a specific, individualized warrant.
- Proposes recognizing ownership of personal likenesses and biometric data and requiring written permission before marketing them.

The best way to respect the environment is to respect property rights. When it comes to pollution, this respect translates into the concept that all forms of pollution should be treated as trespassing. If we treated pollution as a trespass, then should someone’s pollution leak, blow, or fall onto their neighbor’s property, the simple solution would be to tell them to stop trespassing and get their junk off the property.

On The Issues: Environment

But good as it is, this approach only addresses the larger part of the problem, namely those cases where the polluter is known. For past infractions where the polluter has vanished, a large part of the problem could be addressed by changing the law such that new owners are not held liable for the sins of former owners.

Fracking in and of itself is not a danger to the environment because it happens over a mile beneath the water tables. What does pose a danger is the drilling process itself and the disposal of waste products. But as with any potentially dangerous activity (mining, oil drilling, landfills, nuclear power, and more), the property rights of the surrounding communities must be protected. Waste products must be properly treated and not simply dumped into streams; and whenever a fracker trespasses upon the environment with their wastes, they should be treated like any trespasser and held liable for their mess, and be forced to clean it up or be shut down.

EASTON, PA – Ken Krawchuk, the Pennsylvania Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, called for an immediate, indefinite moratorium on the planning, building, or operation of new data centers until the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code and related local ordinances are updated to address the concerns of local residents.

Data Centers

Updating the standards to meet today’s technical challenges is one thing, but more importantly, local communities must retain the ultimate right to decide what belongs within their borders. A municipality should have the legal authority to say “NO!” whenever a proposed data center is incompatible with its comprehensive plan, infrastructure, natural resources, or the wishes of its residents. The people who live in the community, not Harrisburg, and certainly not a multinational corporation, should have the final say over the future of their hometown.

Specifically, before any proposed data center or other large industrial facility relying on evaporative groundwater can be approved, developers should be required to complete independent hydrogeologic studies that evaluate groundwater availability and recharge rates, plus impacts on neighboring private and public wells, stream baseflows, wetlands, and connected aquifers. These concerns deserve honest answers backed by sound science, transparent engineering, and comprehensive public participation, and subject to independent peer review at the developer’s expense.

Electric rates are controlled by the Public Utilities Commission, but the PUC currently maintains regulations that shift some of the burden of increased business use to individual users like us rather than that business user. We must work to update those outdated regulations to put the burden back on the businesses so that they pay the actual cost of the electricity they use, plus any related infrastructure improvements.

Advocates for treating pollution as trespass.

Proposes exempting new property owners from liability for pollution by previous owners.

Calls for fracking operators that improperly dispose of waste to be held liable and required to clean it up or shut down.

Calls for an indefinite moratorium on new data centers until state and local rules address residents' concerns.

Supports allowing municipalities to reject data centers that conflict with local plans, infrastructure, resources, or residents' wishes.

Calls for independent groundwater-impact studies before approving data centers and similar industrial facilities using evaporative groundwater.

Advocates for requiring businesses to pay their electricity costs and related infrastructure improvements.

- Advocates for treating pollution as trespass.
- Proposes exempting new property owners from liability for pollution by previous owners.
- Calls for fracking operators that improperly dispose of waste to be held liable and required to clean it up or shut down.
- Calls for an indefinite moratorium on new data centers until state and local rules address residents' concerns.
- Supports allowing municipalities to reject data centers that conflict with local plans, infrastructure, resources, or residents' wishes.
- Calls for independent groundwater-impact studies before approving data centers and similar industrial facilities using evaporative groundwater.
- Advocates for requiring businesses to pay their electricity costs and related infrastructure improvements.

Without a doubt, the most troubling aspect of elections today is the ubiquitous use of no-excuse mail-in ballots. In 2024 over one quarter of all votes used mail-in ballots. However, not only are they NOT authorized under the Pennsylvania Constitution’s strict rules for absentee ballots, they are the easiest way to cheat in an election. What’s to stop a nefarious player from submitting dozens or even hundreds of ballots? Nothing, especially when the chain of custody is broken right from the start. Who filled it in? Who mailed it out? There’s no way of telling. Nightmare stories abound about lost or altered ballots, not to mention all-too-infrequent arrests. The problems with mail-in ballots are very real.

To restore the integrity of our elections, we must return to good old-fashioned in-person voting on Election Day itself. Nothing is more secure than voting in person at your local polling place alongside neighbors you know, and who know you.

On The Issues: Elections

To restore the integrity of our elections, we must return to good old-fashioned in-person voting on Election Day itself. Nothing is more secure than voting in person at your local polling place alongside neighbors you know, and who know you.

Once we return to in-person voting, the next most-important—and most-obvious—step is to require positive ID for voting. IDs are needed for virtually every other item in everyone’s walk of life, from opening a bank account, to boarding a flight, to renting a car, and even for something patently silly, like requiring senior citizens to produce ID for buying beer or wine.

There are literally dozens of other ways we can improve our elections, starting with how campaigns are conducted. The most important reform, and one of the easiest, is to ban out of state contributions to candidates and PACs. Pennsylvania already prohibits corporate contributions—thereby negating the controversial Citizens United decision—making for an easy step to banning out of state contributions.

While this prohibition would help ensure that candidates have Pennsylvania’s interests at heart, instituting term limits would make sure politicians don’t get too comfortable holding the reins of power. Our constitution already limits the governor to eight years; the same limit should apply at the very least to all state senators, state representatives, judges, and any position greater than county-level. A constant inflow of new blood will foster new ideas and discourage the same old same old.

In addition to how people vote and how candidates campaign, there is a structural issue in Pennsylvania that helps to cement one-party rule: Gerrymandering.

It’s an old story about how politicians define squiggly boundaries that favor their party’s candidates. But fortunately there’s an easy solution to prevent such shenanigans. It’s called Precinct-Preserving Splitline (PPS) districting. The way it works is to define districts by drawing the shortest line possible across the map such that each district holds an equal number of voters, then repeat that process until the right-sized district is formed. The districting is performed mathematically, so it completely eliminates any sort of political favoritism.

One hidden problem with elections is our method of counting votes. Elections in Pennsylvania use the Plurality method of voting, where the person with the highest vote count wins. It’s also universally recognized as the worst way to tally an election. Too often voters are forced to choose the lesser of several evils, thereby being forced to select a candidate they do not want. Rather than Plurality voting, we should use Approve-Approve-Disapprove voting. The beauty of AADV is that it not only captures your LIKES, it also captures your DISLIKES.

Proportional Voting Systems

Would I support a plan to replace our current first-past-the-post voting system with some form of proportional representation? The short answer is Yes. But that’s a huge undertaking! It’d take constitutional changes to make that happen, and I’d be happy to get that ball rolling.

Convention of the States

The short answer is No, I do not support a Convention of the States.

The main reason is that I fear the outcome. Regardless of whether or not they try to limit the topics, the Convention can cover, the risk is great that they’ll begin proposing wholesale changes.

Advocates for in-person voting on Election Day instead of no-excuse mail-in ballots.

Supports requiring identification to vote.

Advocates for banning out-of-state contributions to candidates and political action committees.

Supports eight-year term limits for state legislators, judges, and offices above the county level.

Proposes Precinct-Preserving Splitline districting, which uses shortest-line calculations to create districts with equal numbers of voters.

Advocates for replacing plurality voting with Approve-Approve-Disapprove voting.

Supports replacing first-past-the-post voting with proportional representation.

- Advocates for in-person voting on Election Day instead of no-excuse mail-in ballots.
- Supports requiring identification to vote.
- Advocates for banning out-of-state contributions to candidates and political action committees.
- Supports eight-year term limits for state legislators, judges, and offices above the county level.
- Proposes Precinct-Preserving Splitline districting, which uses shortest-line calculations to create districts with equal numbers of voters.
- Advocates for replacing plurality voting with Approve-Approve-Disapprove voting.
- Supports replacing first-past-the-post voting with proportional representation.
- Opposes a Convention of the States.

When it comes to any federal issue, I look to the federal constitution, specifically: first to the Tenth Amendment, then the Ninth, then Article 1 Section 8, then the rest. If it’s something Pennsylvania has tasked the federal government to do, such as securing the borders, it’s up to the feds to enforce.

So by law, I have nothing to do with any Sanctuary City, either to help them violate federal law or to hinder any violation. It’s the Fed’s responsibility.

Says border enforcement and sanctuary-city enforcement are federal responsibilities, not responsibilities of the governor.

- Says border enforcement and sanctuary-city enforcement are federal responsibilities, not responsibilities of the governor.

Ken Krawchuk

- Pledges to veto every tax increase.
- Advocates for requiring voter approval by referendum for all tax increases.
- Proposes eliminating Pennsylvania's personal income tax over four years.
- Supports right-to-work laws.

- Opposes laws restricting adults' access to hormone or surgical treatment for gender dysphoria and other consensual medical procedures.
- Opposes proposed public-health rules he says would give officials a "blank check" over homes, classrooms, and private medical files.

Stacy Garrity is an Army veteran with business experience.

Stacy is currently the Treasurer of Pennsylvania.

As of October 16, 2026, Stacy Garrity’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Under “Protect Girls’ Sports,” the campaign says: “For generations, we have fought to ensure female athletes have a level playing field. Allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports is unfair and unsafe. We will end it.”

Issues - Stacy Garrity for Governor

Plans to end what the campaign describes as allowing “biological males” to compete in girls’ sports.

- Plans to end what the campaign describes as allowing “biological males” to compete in girls’ sports.

Under its “Unleash Pennsylvania's Energy” section, the Garrity-Richey campaign platform says: “On day one, Stacy Garrity will lift the ban on new drilling sites that is holding Pennsylvania back and call a Special Session on Energy to fast-track permits for natural gas production, pipelines, and power plants; eliminate duplicative and outdated regulations; set firm timelines for approvals; roll back costly mandates; and reform or pause renewable energy and efficiency mandates.”

The campaign's five-step data-center proposal includes a “Data Center Requirements” section stating: “Require data centers to bring their own energy and water sources.”

Data Centers - Stacy Garrity for Governor

Plans to lift Pennsylvania's ban on new drilling sites and fast-track permits for natural gas production, pipelines, and power plants.

Plans to eliminate duplicative and outdated energy regulations and reform or pause renewable energy and efficiency mandates.

Proposes requiring data centers to bring their own energy and water sources.

- Plans to lift Pennsylvania's ban on new drilling sites and fast-track permits for natural gas production, pipelines, and power plants.
- Plans to eliminate duplicative and outdated energy regulations and reform or pause renewable energy and efficiency mandates.
- Proposes requiring data centers to bring their own energy and water sources.

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