Primary election 2026: Learn about PA’s governor, lieutenant governor candidates
Pennsylvania Governor
Description of office: The Governor is the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth, executing the laws of the state through executive agencies. A Governor must be at least 30 years old and have been a U.S. citizen and resident of the state for seven years preceding the election. S/he manages the financial affairs of the state and must annually present a balanced budget to the General Assembly. The Governor has extensive appointive powers, may recommend legislation, and signs or vetoes bills passed by both houses of the General Assembly (subject to 2/3 override). S/he is Commander-in-Chief of the state National Guard, except when they are called into the actual service of the United States. The Governor can grant reprieves, pardons, and paroles. The holder of this office may only be reelected once.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $253,870
Josh Shapiro
Party: Democratic
County: Montgomery
Occupation: Governor of Pennsylvania
Education: University of Rochester, BA; Georgetown University Law Center, JD
Qualifications: Governor of Pennsylvania, who is fighting every day to Get Stuff Done and protect real freedom in our Commonwealth.
Campaign website: joshshapiro.org
Facebook: facebook.com/JoshShapiroPA/
Instagram: instagram.com/joshshapiropa/
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvania residents, and how would you address them?
A: I’ve met with Pennsylvanians on our farms, in our cities, and everywhere in between, and I’ve found that most people want the same key things: good schools, safe communities, good-paying jobs, and their freedoms protected. As Governor, I’ve worked hard to get stuff done on these pressing issues — cutting taxes seven times, securing over $40 billion in private-sector investment, creating over 22,000 good-paying jobs, delivering historic public education funding, and improving public safety by supporting law enforcement and violence prevention programs — but there’s more work to do, and I’m going to keep fighting to ensure all Pennsylvanians have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed here in our Commonwealth.
Q: What are your specific ideas on the funding for public schools, private schools, and cyber charter schools to comply with the Commonwealth Court’s order?
A: I believe in our obligation to ensure our kids have access to a thorough and efficient public education. We’ve brought Democrats and Republicans together to invest a record amount in public education and created a new formula that drives that money out to the schools that need it most. With these investments, schools have served over 224 million free breakfasts, 3,000 more students are enrolled in career and technical education courses, the number of new teacher certifications is increasing, regular attendance and graduation rates are up, and Consumer Affairs now ranks us as one of the top states for quality public education in the entire country. I’m committed to continuing to build on that progress and delivering for all Pennsylvanians.
Q: What do you see as the state’s role regarding federal immigration policy?
A: I have been clear that our country needs comprehensive immigration reform in order to have a secure border, a more clear, efficient, orderly immigration process, a path to citizenship for people who have been living here lawfully, and to protect public safety. That is far from what we are seeing from Donald Trump – who has violated constitutional rights, acted outside the law, and brought chaos to communities across this country. As Governor, I have opposed many of those actions – including the Administration’s desire to bring ICE detention centers to Pennsylvania – and I will continue to protect public safety in our Commonwealth while standing up to reckless federal policies that are harming our communities.
Q: What would you do to ensure Pennsylvania elections are accessible and secure?
A: Our elections are free, fair, safe, and secure – and I’m continuing protect the security of our elections and our democracy in the face of threats from Donald Trump and his allies. I’m proud to have appointed Al Schmidt as Secretary of State – and since taking office, we’ve strengthened voting rights by implementing automatic voter registration, redesigning mail-in ballots to reduce errors and support county election workers, launching an easy-to-use online ballot request tool, and providing voter resources in multiple languages. I have always stood up for our democracy – and I am going to continue to protect our elections and the right to vote.
Stacy Garrity
Party: Republican
County: Bradford
Occupation: Pennsylvania State Treasurer
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Bloomsburg University
Qualifications: 30 year U.S. Army Reserve Veteran with three Combat Deployments (Col., Ret.) | Former VP at Global Tungsten & Powders
Campaign website: garrityforpa.com
Facebook: facebook.com/GarrityForPA
X: GarrityForPA
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stacyforpa/
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvania residents, and how would you address them
A: Pennsylvania families are being squeezed by higher energy bills, failing schools, rising crime, and a government that spends too much while delivering too little. My focus will be simple: make life affordable again, restore safe communities, and create real opportunity. That means unleashing Pennsylvania energy, cutting red tape on job creators, demanding accountability in education, protecting public safety, and bringing fiscal discipline back to Harrisburg. As Treasurer, I returned over $1 billion to taxpayers. As Governor, I’ll bring that same results-driven leadership to lower costs and put Pennsylvania families first.
Q: What are your specific ideas on the funding for public schools, private schools, and cyber charter schools to comply with the Commonwealth Court’s order?
A: Every Pennsylvania child deserves access to a great education, no matter their ZIP code or the type of school that best fits their needs. We should absolutely support strong public schools, but families must also have meaningful choices, including charter schools, cyber charters, private schools, and scholarship opportunities. The focus should be on funding students and outcomes, not protecting systems that are failing too many kids. I will fight to ensure parents remain in the driver’s seat, expand high-quality school choice options, and demand accountability so every education dollar is helping students succeed.
Q: What do you see as the state’s role regarding federal immigration policy?
A: Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, but Pennsylvania has an obligation to protect its communities and uphold the rule of law. As Governor, I will ensure state agencies fully cooperate with federal authorities when it comes to violent criminals, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Pennsylvania should never be a sanctuary for those who break our laws. The state’s role is to keep communities safe, prevent taxpayer resources from being misused, and partner with federal officials where public safety is at stake.
Q: What would you do to ensure Pennsylvania elections are accessible and secure?
A: Pennsylvanians deserve elections that are easy to participate in and impossible to doubt. I support strong voter ID requirements, accurate voter rolls, chain-of-custody protections for ballots, timely counting, and consistent standards across all 67 counties. We should expand access for eligible voters through clear rules, early preparation, and well-trained local election officials, while cracking down on fraud, noncitizen voting, and administrative loopholes. One illegal vote is one too many. My goal is simple: every legal vote counted, every illegal vote stopped, and every voter confident the system is fair.
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor
Description of office: The Lieutenant Governor will be elected jointly with the Governor in the General Election although candidates are nominated separately in the Primary. A Lieutenant Governor must be at least 30 years old and have been a U.S. citizen and resident of the state for seven years preceding the election. S/he is President of the Senate, presiding over the Senate but having no vote unless the Senate is equally divided. S/he is Chair of the Board of Pardons and the PA Emergency Management Council. The PA Constitution provides that in case of the death, conviction or impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation, or other disability of the Governor, the powers, duties, and compensation of the office shall be transferred to the Lieutenant Governor for the remainder of the term or until the disability is removed. There are no term limits to this office.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $213,248
Austin Davis
Party: Democratic
County: Allegheny
Occupation: Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh
Qualifications: From serving as a State Representative to now as the current Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis is delivering real results for all Pennsylvanians and will continue working to move our Commonwealth forward.
Campaign website: davisforpa.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AustinDavisPA/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/austindavispa/
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvania residents, and how would you address them?
A: We’re focused every day on building a good education for our kids, safer communities, economic opportunity, and protecting Pennsylvanians’ rights and freedoms. I’m proud of the work the Governor and I have done to deliver real results for all Pennsylvanians on these critical issues – creating thousands of good-paying jobs, attracting over $40 billion in private-sector investment, cutting taxes seven times, investing our schools, and supporting both community-based violence intervention programs and state and local law enforcement. I’m committed to fighting for all Pennsylvanians – and we are going to keep working to create real opportunity for our families to get ahead and be able to live the American dream right here in our Commonwealth.
Q: What are your specific ideas on the funding for public schools, private schools, and cyber charter schools to comply with the Commonwealth Court’s order?
A: Since taking office, we have increased K-12 funding by nearly 30 percent and implemented an adequacy formula to drive investments to schools in the most need. Governor Shapiro and I are making sure Pennsylvania students are set up to succeed everyday with safe, healthy learning environments — providing universal free school breakfast, hiring mental health counselors, and investing in school safety. We are building upon our cyber charter school reforms to ensure students have regular, engaged contact with teachers online — saving schools districts millions in the process. I know that when we invest in education, we invest in the future of our children, which is why we will keep building on these investments to support our students.
Q: What do you see as the state’s role regarding federal immigration policy?
A: Keeping our communities safe is our number one priority – but the federal government and their recklessness across the country has manufactured fear and chaos, making that work harder. Here in Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro and I have worked to invest in law enforcement and violence prevention programs to build trust and build safer communities – and while we have been clear that we need a secure border and comprehensive immigration reform, we do not need the Trump Administration’s chaos in our Commonwealth. We will continue to stand up to it while we work to keep Pennsylvanians safe and move our Commonwealth forward.
Q: What would you do to ensure Pennsylvania elections are accessible and secure?
A: Pennsylvania’s elections are free, fair, safe, and secure – and together with Governor Shapiro, we have defended the integrity of our elections and Pennsylvanians’ right to vote so that all eligible voters can exercise that fundamental right. Since taking office, we have taken steps to strengthen voting rights and decrease voter errors here in the Commonwealth by implementing automatic voter registration, re-designing mail-in ballots, and working closely with local elections officials to support their work. While the federal government attacks the sanctity of our elections, Governor Shapiro and I will continue to stand up and protect our democracy and Pennsylvanians’ freedom to make their voices heard and ensure their votes are counted.
John Ventre
Party: Republican
County: Westmoreland
Occupation: Retired Executive
Education: AA in Criminal Justice
Qualifications: I have 26 years of executive experience as a multistate security, public affairs, crisis mgmt., and claims director in 6 states. I have a 27-point plan to improve PA. My resume matches perfectly with the Lt Governor responsibilities: executive experience, crises mgmt and security director.
Campaign website: vote4ventre.com
Facebook: facebook.com/vote4ventre/
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvania residents, and how would you address them
A: Affordability: our Governor is spending 7% more than we take in and increased 40% over the past 5 years. Our businesses are bogged down in regulations. We need a DOSE department of state efficiency. We need to freeze hiring except for law enforcement and nurses. I also believe through efficiency, we can eliminate the fuel tax (2% of budget), freeze property taxes for seniors and eliminate property taxes for disabled vets.
Q: What are your specific ideas on the funding for public schools, private schools, and cyber charter schools to comply with the Commonwealth Court’s order?
A: The Judicial shouldn’t be telling the State how to form policy. Overspending on education makes up 38% of the budget but results are ranked at # 39. We spend $25K per student which ranks #5 highest. We need to outsource like a business and have true ESA Arizona style school choice. We need to encourage as many students as possible to not go to public schools. Cyber funding should’ve been increases, not decreased by $175M. Public school funding is a teachers union monopoly and needs to end.
Q: What do you see as the state’s role regarding federal immigration policy?
A: I will support ICE and federal law. We have a legal system of immigration; all others overstaying their vacation, need to leave. There will be zero sanctuary counties or cities. We need to identify what careers are lacking candidates and import those individuals. Open borders was a deliberate attempt to destroy the fabric of America.
Q: What would you do to ensure Pennsylvania elections are accessible and secure?
A: Act 77 must be replaced by the SAVE Act. Elections must be secure. Europe tried mail in ballots and 64% of countries went back to voter ID. Satellite centers will be reduced to 30 days and open to observation or eliminated. Non-citizens will be issued green drivers licenses so there is no doubt regarding citizenship.
Jason Richey
Party: Republican
County: Allegheny
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Allegheny College, BA (Economics/Political Science Double Major); The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, JD.
Qualifications: Growing up in Aliquippa, I saw the impact of economic decline & learned the value of hard work. I became a 3-time NCAA Academic All-American at Allegheny College. I worked in a steel mill through law school. Over a 30-year legal career, I’ve led high-stakes cases & teams across major industries.
Campaign website: richeyforpa.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/JasonRicheyforPa/
Instagram: instagram.com/RicheyforPA
Q: What are the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvania residents, and how would you address them?
A: The most pressing issue facing Pennsylvanians is affordability. Families are struggling with rising energy costs, high taxes, and housing costs. Pennsylvania sits atop the Marcellus Shale, one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, yet it has not been fully leveraged to benefit our citizens. I will expand responsible natural gas development, streamline permitting related to drilling and infrastructure, and position Pennsylvania as a world leading energy producer. This growth will lower energy costs and generate new revenue to reduce taxes, especially property taxes to lower housing costs. By connecting energy policy to tax relief, we can create jobs and make Pennsylvania more affordable.
Q: What are your specific ideas on the funding for public schools, private schools, and cyber charter schools to comply with the Commonwealth Court’s order?
A: A child’s future should not be determined by their address. The Commonwealth Court’s order is an opportunity to create a fair, student-centered funding system. I support increasing public school funding through a weighted formula that prioritizes low-income students, English learners, and special education needs. I also support expanding school choice through charter and cyber options, and by pursuing federal school choice opportunities alongside a Pennsylvania Scholarship Program that empowers parents with direct access to funding. Dollars should follow students, with clear accountability for results. No system should receive automatic funding without performance. Parents, not bureaucracies, should drive educational decisions.
Q: What do you see as the state’s role regarding federal immigration policy?
A: The federal government sets immigration policy, but the state has a clear responsibility to protect public safety and enforce the law. Pennsylvania should not be a sanctuary for those who commit crimes or undermine public safety. State and local law enforcement should fully cooperate with federal authorities in identifying, detaining, and removing individuals who are in the country illegally and have committed violent crimes or other serious offenses. At the same time, we should ensure resources are focused on securing communities, supporting victims, and maintaining order. A safe immigration system requires clear rules, consistent enforcement, and no tolerance for criminal activity that puts Pennsylvania families at risk.
Q: What would you do to ensure Pennsylvania elections are accessible and secure?
A: Pennsylvanians deserve elections they can trust completely. I will help ensure both accessibility and security by supporting voter ID requirements, regular maintenance of voter rolls, and strict chain-of-custody standards for ballots. We should also establish uniform election administration rules across all 67 counties so every voter is treated equally. Every eligible voter must have a clear, accessible path to cast a ballot, including early voting, while every safeguard must ensure only legal votes are counted and results are accurate and timely. The standard is simple: it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat.