[VT PA January 28, 2026]President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Republican Stacy Garrity, the Pennsylvania State Treasurer, as the GOP candidate in the 2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, adding national Republican backing to her campaign against incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
In a post on his Truth Social platform Tuesday evening, President Trump described Garrity as a “true America First Patriot” and pledged that, if elected governor, she would pursue goals such as economic growth, cutting taxes and regulations, promoting U.S. manufacturing, securing the border, strengthening the military and safeguarding elections and Second Amendment rights.
Garrity, a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel and two-term state treasurer, thanked Trump for his endorsement, saying she is “honored” and emphasizing her alignment with the president’s policy priorities. She also framed the race as a clear contrast with Gov. Shapiro, calling Shapiro “President Trump’s number one adversary” and vowing to work with Trump’s team to defeat him in November.
Garrity is currently the only Republican running for governor and has secured the backing of the Pennsylvania GOP ahead of the May 19 primary, after other potential GOP contenders declined to run. Once officially nominated, she will face Shapiro in the general election on November 3, 2026.
The endorsement is expected to boost national Republican interest and fundraising for Garrity’s campaign, which has lagged far behind Shapiro’s haul. Earlier reports noted Shapiro’s campaign had amassed a substantial war chest, while Garrity’s early fundraising totals were significantly smaller.
Democratic leaders responded swiftly to the endorsement. Pennsylvania Democratic Party officials criticized Garrity’s close alignment with Trump, accusing her of pledging to carry forward national GOP policies they say are unpopular in the state and tying her campaign directly to the president’s agenda.
The governor’s race in Pennsylvania — a key battleground state — is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of 2026, with implications for control of statewide offices and broader political dynamics ahead of the 2028 presidential cycle.
