2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Pennsylvania. Incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro is eligible to run for re-election to a second term but has not yet stated if he will do so. This will be one of five Democratic-held governorships up for election in 2026 in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2024 presidential election.
Democratic primary
[edit]Governor
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Josh Shapiro, incumbent governor (2023–present)[1]
Declined
[edit]- Bob Casey Jr, former U.S. Senator (2007–2025) and son of former governor Bob Casey Sr.[2]
Lieutenant Governor
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Austin Davis, incumbent lieutenant governor (2023–present)
Republican primary
[edit]Governor
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania State Treasurer (2021–present) (decision expected summer 2025)[3]
- Scott Martin, state senator from SD-13 (2017–present) and candidate for governor in 2022[4]
- Doug Mastriano, state senator from SD-33 (2019–present) and nominee for governor in 2022[5]
Declined
[edit]- Dan Meuser, U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election)[6]
- Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania Attorney General (2025–present)[7]
- Glenn Thompson, U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district (2009–present)[8]
- Mike Turzai, former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2015–2020) from the 28th district (2001–2020)[7]
Endorsements
[edit]Dan Meuser (declined)
- U.S. presidents
- Donald Trump, 45th and 47th president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[9]
Polling
[edit]Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Stacy Garrity |
Doug Mastriano |
Scott Perry |
Kristin Phillips-Hill |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City & State[10] | April 8, 2024 | 240 (RV) | 7% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 80% |
Lieutenant Governor
[edit]Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Doug Mastriano, state senator from SD-33 (2019–present) and nominee for governor in 2022 (if Garrity runs for governor)[11]
Libertarian convention
[edit]Governor
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Ken Krawchuk, member of the Libertarian Party Judicial Committee, perennial candidate, and nominee for governor in 1998, 2002, and 2018[12]
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[13] | Likely D | January 23, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[14] | Battleground | February 6, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[15] | Likely D | May 1, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[16] | Likely D | June 30, 2025 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Pennsylvania Governor Race in 2026: Shapiro Faces GOP Challenger". Spotlight PA. June 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
- ^ Swartz, Katherine (December 31, 2024). "'The Feistiest I've Ever Seen Him': Inside Bob Casey's Final Days in the Senate". NOTUS. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
Gov. Josh Shapiro is up for reelection in 2026, but if he runs for president over another term in Harrisburg, Casey said he's not interested in vying for the job
- ^ Stockburger, George (July 9, 2025). "Stacy Garrity's Pennsylvania gubernatorial announcement coming 'very soon' after Meuser declines to run". WHTM-TV. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ White, Jaxon (April 4, 2025). "State Sen. Scott Martin doesn't rule out potential entrance into 2026 governor's race". Lancaster Online. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ Terruso, Julia; McGoldrick, Gillian (July 27, 2025). "Doug Mastriano says an early GOP endorsement won't keep him out of the 2026 Pa. governor's race: 'I have a plan'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ Toth, Matthew (July 9, 2025). "'My focus needs to remain on doing my job': Rep. Meuser won't run for Pa governor in 2026". Lebanon Daily News. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ a b McGoldrick, Gillian (December 8, 2024). "U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser is considering a run for Pa. governor in 2026 — and Treasurer Stacy Garrity isn't ruling one out". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ Cole, John (March 13, 2025). "Q&A: Congressman Glenn Thompson talks tariffs, SNAP, and immigration's impact on agriculture". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
Thompson: I would be honored to serve the state of Pennsylvania as governor, but I do think at this point in time with where I'm at in Congress that my best leadership and service for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is right here in Washington, DC.
- ^ Samuels, Brett (May 30, 2025). "Trump says he would back GOP Rep. Meuser for Pennsylvania governor bid". The Hill. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ City&State PA
- ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (March 28, 2025). "Garrity-Mastriano 2026? Doug Mastriano floats teaming up with Stacy Garrity to beat Dan Meuser in GOP primary for Pa. governor". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Pelullo, Antonio (June 9, 2023). "Libertarian Candidate for Governor Visiting Butler". Butler Radio Network. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.