Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
If the polls<\/a> are accurate, Gov. Josh Shapiro<\/a>, who was twice elected Pennsylvania\u2019s attorney general, should cruise to his fourth statewide election on Nov. 3.<\/p>\n In these divided political times, in one of the most evenly split<\/a> states in the country, that says a lot about Shapiro\u2019s ability to appeal to a broad swath of voters across the commonwealth.<\/p>\n While the two political extremes on the right and left generate the most noise, Shapiro sits in the moderate middle. That rankles many on the far left<\/a> and the right<\/a>, but it is smart politics in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n While Shapiro is pragmatic, he is also tough and empathetic. He takes public service seriously but is also a regular guy from Abington<\/a> who is passionate about Philly sports. He is welcome in boardrooms, Black churches, and even red counties<\/a>.<\/p>\n Shapiro surrounds himself with competent people and prides himself on getting stuff done<\/a>. His administration has been largely free of drama and major scandals<\/a> \u2014 a stark difference from the chaos, corruption, and incompetence coming from the Trump administration.<\/p>\n As state attorney general and governor, Shapiro repeatedly stood up to Donald Trump<\/a>. He went 43-0 defending flimsy lawsuits<\/a> Trump filed to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Shapiro also brought some accountability to opioid companies<\/a>, racist mortgage lenders<\/a>, and decades of sexual abuse<\/a> within the Roman Catholic Church.<\/p>\n As governor, Shapiro has sued<\/a> the Trump administration two dozen times, opposing efforts to slash federal funding for Pennsylvania and roll back environmental regulations. Shapiro \u2014 and Al Schmidt<\/a>, the Republican he appointed<\/a> to run state elections \u2014 are ready<\/a> to defend against Trump\u2019s efforts to subvert the 2026 election.<\/p>\n As democracy teeters, Shapiro\u2019s legal bulwark against Trump is reason enough to keep him in the governor\u2019s mansion. But his commonsense policies, willingness to stand up for what is right, and ability to work across the aisle cements the case for why The Inquirer Editorial Board endorses Josh Shapiro for a second term as governor.<\/p>\n This was not a difficult decision, because his opponent, Stacy Garrity<\/a>, the Republican state treasurer from Bradford County, has a slim record. Even worse, she supports<\/a> Trump\u2019s disastrous MAGA agenda as well as data centers<\/a> and sleazy skill games<\/a> \u2014 three big strikes.<\/p>\n Garrity\u2019s main accomplishment<\/a> as treasurer has been returning unclaimed property to Pennsylvanians and hundreds of unclaimed military decorations to veterans. That constitutes a practical, down-to-earth baseline for her role to be sure, but Garrity\u2019s resum\u00e9 lacks the kind of expansive, broad-based signature achievement to suggest that she would bring a truly transformational approach to governing. Her biggest donor<\/a> is Robert Asher, a longtime GOP power broker from Montgomery County<\/a> who was convicted<\/a> of bribery in 1986.<\/p>\n Garrity\u2019s best argument may be that she is not Doug Mastriano<\/a>, the GOP\u2019s 2022 gubernatorial nominee, who dressed up<\/a> in Confederate garb and helped plan<\/a> Trump\u2019s Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt.<\/p>\n The Editorial Board invited Garrity to advocate for her candidacy, but she did not respond to multiple requests to meet. Shapiro, on the other hand, has a compelling case to make, which explains his commanding lead<\/a> in the polls.<\/p>\n Shapiro\u2019s most high-profile accomplishment was rebuilding<\/a> the stretch of I-95<\/a> that collapsed in Northeast Philadelphia<\/a> after a tanker truck fire in 2023. The highway closure along the main artery connecting the Northeast trucking corridor was expected to take many months to fix.<\/p>\n But Shapiro mobilized federal, state, and local officials, used accelerated emergency contracting rules, and hired a Philadelphia-based construction firm that worked round the clock to reopen the highway in 12 days.<\/p>\n It was a case study<\/a> in how government can do good under the right leadership. It\u2019s also a stark contrast to Trump\u2019s multiple, ongoing fiascos, including the botched reflecting pool<\/a> repairs, the costly White House ballroom<\/a>, and the sabotaging of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Under Shapiro, the commonwealth has lowered taxes<\/a> for some, increased<\/a> public safety, and pushed policies<\/a> to make housing more affordable. Unlike Trump\u2019s relentless efforts to restrict voting<\/a>, the governor expanded<\/a> voter registration by making it automatic for eligible voters when they renew or receive a driver\u2019s license or ID at driver and photo license centers.<\/p>\n Shapiro has also increased funding<\/a> for public education by hundreds of millions of dollars. Pennsylvania remains far below adequate funding levels, even after a state court found<\/a> in 2023 that the state\u2019s funding system was unconstitutional.<\/p>\n Shapiro\u2019s efforts to close the education funding gap faced<\/a> opposition from the Republican-controlled state Senate. The recalcitrant GOP has stymied other efforts to adequately fund mass transit<\/a>, increase the minimum wage<\/a>, and tax skill games<\/a> at the same rate as slots.<\/p>\n But it is not due to a lack of effort by Shapiro. The divided legislature makes Harrisburg largely ungovernable. That is why Shapiro is working to help Democrats<\/a> flip at least two seats to win control of the state Senate and maintain their thin majority in the state House.<\/p>\n The last time Democrats controlled<\/a> all three chambers of government was in 1993. As a result of the chronic stalemate, a lot hasn\u2019t happened in Harrisburg beyond keeping lobbyists employed and lawmakers in power. Just getting the budget passed is an annual ordeal.<\/p>\n If Shapiro\u2019s coattails can power Democrats to control<\/a> of the House and Senate, the first bill he plans to sign will be to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Other major initiatives on Shapiro\u2019s to-do list include increasing mass transit funding and codifying abortion and LGBTQ rights.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a lot more to do, which is why I\u2019m running again,\u201d Shapiro told the Editorial Board.<\/p>\n Of course, the governor is far from perfect. He was for data centers<\/a> before he was against them. (But he listened to voters and adjusted.) He supports legalizing and taxing skill games \u2014 which are more predatory than slot machines \u2014 rather than banning<\/a> them as Kentucky did.<\/p>\n Shapiro has been largely mum on efforts to reform or better yet repeal<\/a> Act 12, which has allowed for-profit companies to buy public water and sewer utilities, and jack up rates for residents. (He did force<\/a> Peco to withdraw a double-digit rate-hike request.)<\/p>\n Shapiro helped attract thousands of new jobs<\/a> to Pennsylvania, often dangling financial incentives like the ones used to lure the Burlington Stores<\/a> headquarters and a Chobani<\/a> facility to Philadelphia. Another pricey deal<\/a> that included more than $600 million in state and federal money combined is expected to add 6,000 jobs at the Philadelphia Port. (Attracting jobs is nice, though there is an argument to be made as to whether the state should use tax dollars to pick winners.) <\/p>\n It is widely assumed Shapiro will run for president in 2028. That campaign will begin early next year, raising concern if Shapiro enters the race that he may be distracted from his day job while campaigning in South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, and beyond. <\/p>\n Since the road to the White House leads through Pennsylvania, Shapiro may be uniquely positioned to clean up Trump\u2019s mess. But a White House win means Shapiro would not complete his gubernatorial term. Though two years of Shapiro is certainly better than four of Garrity.<\/p>\n When asked about running for president, Shapiro told the Editorial Board, \u201cThe only thing I\u2019m running for is governor.\u201d (Check back in a few months and see how well that quote ages.)<\/p>\n During recent campaign events with students at the University of Pennsylvania<\/a> and at an event at a Black church in Abington, Shapiro looked beyond his own reelection and painted a picture of what could happen if Democrats take control of the state Senate and the House in Washington.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have the power to make a difference,\u201d Shapiro told the Penn students.<\/p>\n At Salem Baptist Church, Shapiro told the crowd<\/a> of mostly Black women their votes could give hourly workers a raise, increase funding for mass transit, and protect reproductive rights.<\/p>\n Shapiro\u2019s reelection could bring positive change across Pennsylvania \u2014 and maybe propel the governor to new heights.<\/p>\n