Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania Treasurer, stands outside the 60-ton door of the 1939 York Safe & Lock Co. built safe in Harrisburg...1-110221 Pmk State Treasury Vault
She was thinking about it. She teased it earlier this month. And now, it's official.
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a two-term incumbent and retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel, officially launched her bid Monday for the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election 2026.
A decorated veteran and former vice president at Global Tungsten & Powders Corp., Garrity emphasized in an exclusive interview with Fox News that she would bring jobs back, strengthen the state economy and make Pennsylvania more affordable for families in every corner of the state.
"I have a much different vision for the Commonwealth," Garrity, 61, told Fox News. "We really need to take advantage of what we have right under our feet, which would create a lot of financial breathing room for the Commonwealth that we desperately need."
Garrity has recently stepped up her criticism of Shapiro, accusing him of being soft on crime and dismissive of her “pro-worker, pro-energy” agenda.
In contrast, Shapiro criticized Garrity’s support for President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill", warning it would harm rural hospitals, increase energy costs, and blow up the deficit.
Political analysts view Garrity's task as formidable. She has spent under $3 million total in her two campaigns for treasurer, whereas Shapiro, who has won three statewide races, spent more than $70 million during his previous run—setting a new record in Pennsylvania campaign finances.
Moreover, Shapiro is not just a state-level heavyweight. He was reportedly on Vice President Kamala Harris’s shortlist for the 2024 ticket, eventually being passed over in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and many see Shapiro as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
By running against Shapiro, Garrity has immediately lost the support of the Philadelphia Buildings and Trades Council, who backed her re-election campaign for state treasurer.
But they warned they would never endorse her again if she challenged Shapiro.
Adding to Garrity’s complexity, GOP operative Doug Mastriano, who ran for governor against Shapiro in 2022 and lost, has also signaled potential interest in the 2026 gubernatorial race, hinting at a competitive primary.
Republican strategists highlight the broader implications: a strong challenger in the governor’s race could help bolster the party’s narrow hold on key U.S. House seats during the 2026 midterms—four of which are in competitive districts in Pennsylvania.
Garrity’s political ascent started in 2020 when she upset Democratic incumbent Joe Torsella to become state treasurer, despite being outspent and underpolled.
In her 2024 re-election, she secured over 3.5 million votes—setting a record for the most votes cast for a candidate in Pennsylvania state history, even surpassing Shapiro’s previous record when he ran for attorney general.
Before entering public office, Garrity served three deployments in the U.S. Army Reserve, earning two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit.
Known as the “Angel of the Desert” for her leadership at Camp Bucca in Iraq, she transitioned into business and public service, overseeing transparency initiatives and returning billions in unclaimed property as treasurer.
Garrity’s entry into the race now sets the stage for what promises to be a consequential and closely watched gubernatorial primary—one whose outcome may resonate far beyond Pennsylvania’s borders.
