When a governor brags, ‘I’ve created high paying jobs in this state,‘ they don’t usually mean their own communications staffers at taxpayer expense.
At the tail end of today’s Morning Jolt, I mentioned a curious expenditure on the part of Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro’s campaign. Shapiro is a figure worth keeping an eye on as he runs for reelection in 2026, and likely, runs for president in 2028. Shapiro is a heavy favorite against the GOP nominee, state treasurer Stacy Garrity (no relation), outraising her roughly 10-to-1.
Still, Garrity is likely to be the most serious opponent Shapiro has faced in a long time, unless you want to count the state’s Democratic senator, John Fetterman, who reportedly encouraged Kamala Harris to pick someone else as her running mate.
In 2022, Republicans effectively conceded the gubernatorial race by nominating Doug Mastriano, who was modestly interested in state issues but really interested in talking about how the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Shapiro never had to break a sweat, cruising to victory with a 56.4 percent to 41.7 percent.
As governor, Shapiro has put unprecedented resources into his press and social media teams:
Shapiro’s social media machine is fueled by a staff that has nearly doubled in size since his predecessor, Gov. Tom Wolf, left office. Counting his communications, press, web, and social media staffers, 21 employees are dedicated to promoting Shapiro’s image, touting his achievements, and communicating his views as governor. . . .
In total, Shapiro’s communications, press, and social media staff cost taxpayers nearly $3 million per year. Twelve of these staffers make more than $100,000 per year, with some earning as much as $190,000.
When a governor brags, “I’ve created high paying jobs in this state,” they don’t usually mean their own communications staffers at taxpayer expense.
After the arson at the governor’s mansion last year, everyone in the state wants to see Shapiro and any future governors get top-tier security to protect them and their families. But the Pennsylvania State Police wanted more than $1 million to pay for security upgrades at Shapiro’s private home. Garrity responded to that request with the statement, “the Treasury does not currently have the legal authority to pay for security improvements to a personal residence.” Shapiro’s office accused Garrity of playing politics. State legislators are considering legislation to create a review board to approve of large-scale security expenditures.
Right now, the Pennsylvania State Senate has 27 Republicans and 23 Democrats; the Pennsylvania State House has 102 Democrats and 97 Republicans with four vacancies. If Shapiro wins and his coattails are long enough, he could well have the first Democratic “trifecta” — control of the governor’s mansion and both chambers — since 1994.
And that, Republicans in the state fear, could lead to a full-blown Abigail Spanberger scenario, where a newly reelected governor with presidential ambitions aims to enact the progressives’ dream wish list in his state before competing in the primaries. Shapiro’s already flip-flopped on school choice; he’ll probably become a full-blown opponent if he wants the endorsement of the teachers’ unions. Shapiro’s budget proposals have called for massive increases in spending that would drain the state’s general fund; so far his spending ambitions have been hindered by the slim GOP majority in the state senate.
Note that Shapiro didn’t really have significant coattails in 2022; while he was winning big in the governor’s race, the balance of power in the state senate remained the same. It is a very safe bet that Garrity – who broke the record for most votes in a statewide election in Pennsylvania in 2024, with more than 3.5 million votes — will do better than Mastriano; the question is whether she can make Shapiro look less like a potential nominee guaranteed to carry his home state, and more like a guy whose political career has been helped along by running against weak opponents in blue-wave years.