Shapiro-Garrity PA Gubernatorial Race: Where Both Stand On Key Issues

PENNSYLVANIA — Voters appear to have a distinct choice when it comes to choosing who should run Pennsylvania for the next four years on Nov. 3.

Democratic incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis both are seeking a second term. They are opposed by Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity and her running mate, Pittsburgh attorney Jason Richey.

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Also on the ballot are Libertarian Ken Krawchuk and his running mate, John Thomas.

Shapiro and Garrity, the major party candidates, have divergent views on many key issues. Here's where they stand on them:

HEALTH CARE

SpotlightPA reported that Shapiro has opposed federal Medicaid changes that his administration contends will cause hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians to lose coverage. He also is a proponent of access to abortion and supports protections for LGBTQ+ people.

Garrity backs the federal changes, asserting they will reduce fraud and preserve Medicaid for the needy. She opposes taxpayer-funded abortion and wants to restrict transgender girls' participation in school sporting activities.

TAXES

According to WHYY in Philadelphia, Garrity has called for reducing the overall state tax rate from the current 3.07 percent, but has not specified her preferred reduction. She also wants to eliminate the state inheritance tax and reduce or eliminate the 5.9 gross receipts tax on utilities.

Shapiro has not proposed lowering the state personal income tax, but he has proposed tax relief for working families, seniors and parents. He has expanded the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for older adults and people with disabilities and increased the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, which provides eligible families between $600 and $2,100.

ENERGY

According to SpotlightPA, Garrity has pledged to lift the ban on new drilling sites and call a special legislative session on energy to fast-track permits for natural gas production, pipelines and power plants; eliminate outdated regulations and reform or pause renewable energy and efficiency mandates.

Shapiro supports an approach that includes clean energy - such as solar and wind methods - but also includes oil and gas. He also seeks to harness the profits of utility companies and has warned them he will oppose requests to increase customer rates.

DATA CENTERS

The Capital Star reported that Shapiro has said he favors strict guardrails to protect communities, utility customers and the environment from negative impacts of data center development. Garrity wants a complete pause on data center development until the concerns of local officials and community members can be addressed.

ELECTIONS

According to the League of Women Voters' Greater Pittsburgh Branch, Garrity has said she supports strong voter ID requirements, accurate voter rolls, chain-of-custody protections for
ballots, timely counting, and consistent administrative standards across all 67 counties.

Shapiro has said that since he took office, Pennsylvania has
kept its elections secure and strengthened voting rights by implementing automatic voter registration, redesigning mail-in ballots to reduce errors launching an easy-to-use online ballot request tool, and providing voter resources in multiple
languages.

EDUCATION

According to NorthCentralPA, Shapiro has favored large spending increases, particularly for the state's most poorly funded public school districts. He also has supported a taxpayer-funded private school voucher program. Garrity is a strong proponent of public school alternatives. Regarding higher education, she also focuses on tuition freezes, transparency, and industrial job creation to retain local talent.