Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is running for a second term as Pennsylvania's governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Shapiro faces three challengers: Stacy L. Garrity (Republican), Kenneth Krawchuk (Libertarian) and Tony Dastra (Green), according to BallotReady election data. Shapiro is certified for the ballot.

Chester County falls within the governor's jurisdiction, and the race carries direct implications for West Chester and the Goshens on issues including public education funding, minimum wage and energy policy.

Candidate information

  • Name: Josh Shapiro
  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: Pennsylvania governor
  • Born: June 20, 1973, in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Britannica
  • Hometown: Grew up in Upper Dublin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Rochester (1995); juris doctor, Georgetown University (2002)
  • Family: Married Lori (Ferrara) Shapiro in 1997. They have four children, three sons and a daughter.
  • Faith: Shapiro is an observant Conservative Jew. He has said his faith played prominently into his decision to enter public service, according to Spotlight PA.

Experience and public service

Shapiro has held elected office at the local, county and state levels, according to BallotReady and Spotlight PA:

  • State representative, District 153: Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2004–2011)
  • Commissioner: Montgomery County (2012–2017)
  • Attorney general: State of Pennsylvania (2017–2023)
  • Governor: State of Pennsylvania (2023–present)

Before holding elected office, Shapiro worked as a senior foreign policy advisor in the office of U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, a New Jersey Democrat, and as an attorney at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, according to Spotlight PA.

Shapiro's campaign says he authored a memoir titled "Where We Keep The Light," released in 2026.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from reporting by WHYY and Spotlight PA, with one position attributed to the candidate's own statements.

Public education funding: Shapiro has directed billions of additional dollars toward public schools and backed an adequacy formula aimed at underfunded districts. State support for public education has increased by more than $3 billion since he took office, according to WHYY.

Minimum wage: Shapiro has proposed raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour. He has backed the increase in all four of his budget addresses, according to Spotlight PA.

Energy policy: Shapiro supports what he calls an "all of the above" energy approach that includes natural gas, nuclear power and renewables, and would tighten some environmental standards. He has proposed a state-level cap-and-trade program that would require legislative approval, according to WHYY.

Criminal justice: Shapiro has continued the moratorium on executions put in place by his predecessor. He has said he evolved to oppose the death penalty and has argued against Pennsylvania's sentencing requirement of life in prison without parole for felony murder convictions, according to Spotlight PA.

Law enforcement: Shapiro says he believes in providing adequate funding for law enforcement, particularly for training officers in de-escalation methods, as well as for community organizations that do violence prevention work. He opposed calls to defund the police, according to his campaign.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to BallotReady:

  • AFL-CIO
  • AFT Pennsylvania
  • PA Conference of Teamsters
  • Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals
  • Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council
  • Allegheny County Democratic Committee
  • Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council
  • Chester County Democratic Commitee
  • Five County United Labor Council
  • Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council
  • Harrisburg Region Central Labor Council
  • Jewish Democratic Council of America
  • Johnstown Regional Central Labor Council
  • Kennedy Democrats PA
  • Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club
  • Montgomery County Democratic Committee
  • Pennsylvania - Bucks County Democrats
  • Pennsylvania - York County Democrats
  • People for the American Way's Next Up Victory Fund
  • Philadelphia 2nd Ward Democrats
  • Philadelphia 8th Ward Democrats
  • Philadelphia Ward 39A Democrats
  • Seven Mountains Central Labor Council
  • Steel City Stonewall Democrats
  • University of Pennsylvania Democrats

The West Chester-Goshen Courier sent a questionnaire to all candidates in this race. Shapiro's campaign did not respond. This profile is based on public records and published reporting.