Gov. Josh Shapiro endorsed a pair of local Democratic candidates for state office as part of a broader slate of endorsements in races that could prove key to Democrats maintaining their narrow majority in the state House and potentially regaining a state Senate majority long held by Republicans.
In local contests, the Democratic governor endorsed Democrat Brian Wrightson of Archbald in his 40th state Senate District race against incumbent GOP state Sen. Rosemary Brown of Middle Smithfield Twp., Monroe County. He also endorsed Democratic Wilkes-Barre City Council Chairwoman Jessica McClay in her race against Republican Bear Creek Village Mayor Mike Harostock to replace retiring longtime Democratic state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski in the 121st state House District.
A news release announcing the endorsements identified those as being among “the most critical State House and Senate races across Pennsylvania where Democrats have an opportunity to win key seats in order to protect the House majority and flip the State Senate for the first time in decades.”
“We’ve gotten a lot done for Pennsylvania in my first term, but there’s more work to do to keep moving this Commonwealth forward and delivering even more results,” Shapiro said in the release. “That’s why I have been fighting to win up and down the ballot this November — and it’s why I am proud to endorse these leaders who are fighting for their communities and I know will be strong partners in getting stuff done for all Pennsylvanians.”
A Wrightson victory in the 40th Senate District spanning parts of Lackawanna and Wayne and all of Monroe counties would bolster his party’s chances of wresting control of the state Senate from the GOP, which currently maintains a four-seat majority in the upper chamber. Only even-numbered Senate districts are on the ballot this cycle.
Democrats currently maintain a three-seat majority in the state House, where all 203 seats are up for election Nov. 3. A McClay victory in the 121st House District — which includes the city of Wilkes-Barre; Bear Creek Village and Laurel Run boroughs; and Bear Creek, Buck, Plains and Wilkes-Barre townships in Luzerne County — would keep the seat in the hands of Democrats as they seek to expand the slim House majority they won in 2022 and held in 2024.
Shapiro, meanwhile, seeks a second term as governor this cycle and faces a challenge from Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Polls have consistently shown Shapiro with a commanding, double-digit lead over Garrity in the gubernatorial race.
Republican State Leadership Committee Press Secretary Matt Laux reacted to Shapiro’s recent endorsements in comments reported by the nonprofit news outlet The Center Square.
“Josh Shapiro’s continued investment in down-ballot races makes one thing clear: Democrats are willing to spend whatever it takes to seize full control of Harrisburg,” Laux said, per The Center Square. “These races will determine the direction of Pennsylvania, and voters have a clear choice between Republicans focused on lowering costs and delivering results and Democrats pushing a costly, out-of-touch agenda.”
Shapiro said in the endorsements news release that Democrats have an opportunity to expand and gain majorities in the state House and Senate, respectively, “in order to make real progress for Pennsylvania — from raising the minimum wage, lowering costs, and creating more jobs, to building more housing, codifying abortion rights, passing statute of limitations reform, and more.”
“That’s what we’re working to deliver in these midterms, and we’re going to keep fighting every day to win all across the Commonwealth,” he said.