Stacy Garrity & Josh Shapiro Take Part In Lone 2026 Debate

(The Center Square) – Gov. Josh Shapiro and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity faced off in the lone gubernatorial debate on Wednesday evening. 

The two candidates covered a wide range of topics, often finding themselves at odds, during the nearly hour-long event hosted by Nexstar Media Inc. and moderated by ABC27’s Dennis Owens and WPXI’s Lisa Sylvester.

Shapiro, who was elected to the office in 2022, touted a variety of investments his administration has made in the past few years and painted the picture of progress in Pennsylvania. 

“I’m the only governor in the country over the last four years with a divided legislature: a Senate led by Republicans, House led by Democrats,” Shapiro said. “Yet I have found ways to bring them together to cut costs.”

“We cut taxes 10 different times for small businesses, for seniors. We delivered the largest targeted tax cut for seniors in more than 20 years, for families trying to afford childcare, for startups, and of course for working Pennsylvanians,” he continued. “A million working Pennsylvanians are receiving up to 800 bucks back as a result of their hard work, we’re just trying to help them make ends meet.”

At the same time, Shapiro, a Democrat, also linked Garrity to President Donald Trump. 

“Now I understand if you’re at home, you don’t necessarily feel that because when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania put $1 in your pocket, the policies of the Trump administration, tariffs, and this war in Iran: two things that my opponents support, well, that makes it feel like they’re yanking two bucks out,” Shapiro said. “We feel that when we go to the grocery store and see higher prices because of the tariffs. We feel the pain at the pump because of the war in Iran. Again, two things my opponent supports.”

Garrity, who is currently serving her second term as state treasurer, highlighted her background in elected office and as a veteran. She made the case that Pennsylvania has fallen behind under Shapiro’s leadership. 

“So, friends: we have so many blessings. We are blessed with the best, hardest working people, world class industries, natural resources that are the envy of the world,” Garrity said. “So, why are we falling behind?”

“Pennsylvania has a 25% higher inflation rate than the national average. We have the fifth highest tax burden in the nation, and the governor’s been in charge for four years, and he can’t continue to blame other people, not for his spending, not for the failures, and not for his scandals,” she continued. “Pennsylvanians deserve better. If you’re happy with high taxes, a weak economy, and backdoor deals in Harrisburg, he’s your guy. But if you believe like me that it doesn’t have to be this way, Pennsylvania’s best days are ahead. Then please vote for me.”

The first topic at hand during the debate was AI Data Centers, an issue where both candidates have evolved.

While each once championed them as positives for Pennsylvania’s economy, the candidates detailed where they now stand on the matter, as polling shows they are not popular in the Keystone State. 

Shapiro touted an executive order he signed in August, describing it as the “strictest guardrails in the nation when it comes to AI data center development” and detailed several steps that needed to be reached for them to be approved by the local community and the state. 

“Only then, if a local community supports it, will the Commonwealth even consider the permits,” Shapiro said. “This EO, this executive order that I put in place, is now being drafted by other states across the country.” 

“It’s become a model for how we can do responsible development in our communities and protect our communities from predatory developers,” he added. 

Garrity has made the case that a “pause” on data center development would be best for Pennsylvania. 

“I talked to township supervisors, commissioners, local solicitors, community leaders, and I heard the same thing,” Garrity said. “They’re not against data centers, but they want time to get their zoning updated.”

However, when pressed by Owens, she didn’t specify exactly how long a pause she thinks is needed. 

“So, a real leader doesn’t need that long of a pause,” Garrity said. “You get all the stakeholders around the table, and you find out ‘what do you need to protect ratepayers and protect communities.’ So as long as it takes.”

“I come from the private sector, so I think you could get it done very quickly,” she added. 

Shapiro noted that he isn’t in favor of a moratorium, which has been enacted in states like Texas and New York.

Affordability has emerged as one of the defining issues of the 2026 election cycle in Pennsylvania and beyond. 

The Independent Fiscal Office noted that Pennsylvania faces a $5 billion structural deficit next year, even as the state’s budgets have continued to increase under Shapiro’s watch. 

Shapiro touted the four budgets enacted during his tenure, noting that Democrats and Republicans have come together in a bipartisan fashion. 

“Four balanced budgets that make critical investments in public safety, in education, in economic development,” Shapiro said. “Four balanced budgets that have received a majority vote of Republicans. Only a few extreme Republicans have opposed it.” 

“I would note that my opponent has opposed it,” he continued. 

Shapiro also said he disagreed with the characterization of the state’s fiscal situation, noting that the economy is growing and that there is $8 billion in Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund, the commonwealth’s de facto emergency savings account. 

Garrity has argued that the $50.8 billion budget signed by Shapiro is too high and noted that all of the state budgets have been signed past the constitutionally mandated deadline.

“His administration, he spent all your money,” Garrity said. 

“You are not supposed to use a rainy day fund to plug a budget hole,” she said. “A rainy day fund is there for an economic downturn or a crisis, and so he claims that he passed for balanced budgets, but clearly he didn’t because every time you took money from the surplus and used it to plug a budget hole.”

Garrity noted her previous experience in the private sector as proof she’d be able to find waste and use the tax dollars effectively. 

The two were also at odds over several hotly debated topics in Pennsylvania, including how much to tax skill games, federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, education funding, and the death penalty. 

The debate on Wednesday night was the first time gubernatorial candidates in Pennsylvania faced off since 2018. During the 2022 cycle, Shapiro and Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano couldn’t agree on terms.

In place of a one-on-one debate in 2022 between both gubernatorial candidates hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Shapiro accepted an invitation to address members at the organization’s annual dinner. 

In 2018, Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican state Sen. Scott Wagner met for one debate, which was also hosted by the chamber and moderated by “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek.

Polling and national ratings outlets throughout the cycle have characterized Shapiro as the frontrunner in the race over Garrity.

The last day to register to vote for the 2026 general election is Oct 19. The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot for the upcoming general election is Oct. 27. 

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, Election Day.

This story was first published by the The Center Square, a statehouse and statewide news news organization.