PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro Launches Gubernatorial Bid

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro formally kicked off his 2022 gubernatorial campaign Wednesday via Twitter and a video preceding a live speech in Pittsburgh later in the day.

"The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines," Shapiro stated on Twitter. "It's time we all get in the game and fight for our rights, our democracy, our commonwealth. This will be one of the closest races in the country - and I need you on my team."

Shapiro, 48, is the first Democratic candidate to declare his intent to succeed Gov. Tom Wolf, who is barred by the state constitution from seeking a third term. Wolf already has endorsed Shapiro.

So has state Rep. Ed Gainey, the Democratic nominee for Pittsburgh mayor who appears in Shapiro's video and later spoke at Shapiro's campaign event.

"As attorney general, he stood in the way of those that wanted to upend last year's election, and he will always fight to protect voting rights for everyone," Gainey states in the video.

Shapiro chaired the Montgomery County commissioners and was a state representative before being elected attorney general in 2016.

While Shapiro is the lone Democrat in the race thus far, a bevy of Republican candidates have declared their candidacy for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. At least 10 are running, with several more likely to enter the race.

The primary will be held next May.

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