PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro along with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis officially announced their bid for reelection in Philadelphia Thursday night.
The pair traveled both ends of the state with news of their campaign, ending the night in Philadelphia’s Nicetown neighborhood at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center.
Shapiro said both in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that he’s not done, and he will continue to lead with empathy and progress and in rejecting extremism.
“We have only just begun. We’ve got more stuff to do. We’ve got more people to help, and we’ve got more problems to solve, and so I say to you with a servant’s heart and an ear for your concern, progress made and with a hunger to do more for you, I am here to announce that I am running for reelection as governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro announced at the Sixth Man Center.
The 52-year-old Democratic governor from Montgomery County highlighted how he’s “gotten stuff done,” but with a more colorful choice of words.
“If anyone tries to mess with a Pennsylvanian — restrict our freedoms, take away what’s ours — they’ll have to go through me,” Shapiro stated.
Shapiro along with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis spoke to a packed gymnasium, making several digs at the Trump administration.
“Things are very different from when Josh and I were first elected. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been,” said Davis. “We can follow the politics of fear and division coming from politicians in Washington, or we can stand up for our freedom, make our own choices and show the nation what’s possible when steady leadership is at the helm.”
From rebuilding the collapsed portion of Interstate 95 in 12 days to creating 18,000 jobs and increasing funding for public education, Shapiro starts his bid for a second term as one of the 10 most popular governors in the country, according to recent national surveys and a poll from Quinnipiac University.
“I believe you deserve someone focused on solving your problems, not create more obstacles. Someone who goes to work for you every day, focused on you and on getting stuff done,” Shapiro said.
Following Shapiro’s announcement, the Republican Governors Association released the following statement: “Under Josh Shapiro’s complete fiscal mismanagement, Pennsylvania families are paying more for groceries, utilities, and basic needs. Shapiro has been more focused on his political ambitions while Pennsylvania’s economy, fiscal stability, and business climate are among the worst in the country. That’s not being a leader, it’s being a politician.”
Shapiro’s bid for a second term comes months after Pennsylvania treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, said she planned to enter the race.
If elected for a second term, this will be the third time Shapiro will serve the Commonwealth. Before becoming governor, he was the state’s attorney general.