Shapiro-Garrity contest set for fall
Austin Davis will battle Jason Richey in the race for lieutenant governor.
By STACY WOLFORD
swolford@yourmvi.com
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican Stacy Garrity cruised to victory Tuesday in their uncontested primaries, setting up a November contest for the executive suite in a premier presidential battleground state.
According to unofficial election results, Shapiro had 989,009 statewide votes shortly before 11 p.m., while Garrity had 565,882.
Shapiro will go into the fall as a heavy favorite to win reelection over Garrity, the state treasurer. Shapiro is on track to break his own campaign spending record and has reported outraising Garrity by more than 10-to-1.
For Shapiro, the election year is more than an opportunity to win a second term: It’s a chance to show his battleground-state political strength should he decide to run for president in 2028.
In addition to trying to win his own race, Shapiro is aiming to help Democrats flip key Republican-held U.S. House seats in Pennsylvania and deliver Democratic control of the state Legislature to advance his own agenda.
Republicans acknowledge Shapiro’s electoral strength, and many in the party hope Garrity can at least make it a close contest to help protect other Republicans on the ballot.
The U.S. House campaigns will put Pennsylvania on the front lines of Democratic efforts to retake control of Congress and block the last two years of President Donald Trump’s agenda.
“We’ve gotten a lot of stuff done in the last few years — growing our economy and creating thousands of good-paying jobs, investing in public education and law enforcement, standing up for our freedoms and democracy — but there’s a lot more to do,” Shapiro said. “Tonight, with a commitment to continuing to fight and deliver for all Pennsylvanians, I’m proud to accept the Democratic nomination for reelection as the governor of this great commonwealth.
“This year in Pennsylvania, we have the power to reign in the chaos, cruelty and corruption of Donald Trump and his administration and chart a better path forward for our commonwealth and our country — and we’re going to use it. This is our charge, this is our time, this is our task — and we’re ready to win. This November, Pennsylvanians have the power to not only change the trajectory of our commonwealth, but of the country by electing strong Democratic leaders to work with me in Harrisburg and to flip the balance of power in the U.S. House.”
Davis, who voted in West Mifflin Tuesday morning, said, “Serving as lieutenant governor for the last three and a half years has been one of the highest honors of my life, and I am deeply humbled and proud to accept the Democratic nomination for reelection.”
Democrats and Republicans also cast votes Tuesday for their parties’ candidates across races for lieutenant governor, state House and Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
The winners will face each other during the Nov. 3 general election.
At the top of the ballot this election is the governor’s race. Here’s a look at unofficial election results in statewide races:
Lieutenant governor
In Pennsylvania, candidates for lieutenant governor must run for the role in the primary separately from gubernatorial candidates, though they can team up and campaign together as a ticket if they choose.
The candidate for the Democratic Party is incumbent Austin Davis. Davis of McKeesport, who had 950,114 unofficial votes shortly before 11 p.m.
Davis will face GOP candidate Jason Richey, who defeated fellow Republican John Ventre for his party’s nomination. According to unofficial votes, Richey secured 65% of the votes to Ventre’s 34%.
Richey is a construction, real estate and commercial law attorney at a Pittsburgh-based firm, where he has worked for almost three decades and is a partner. Garrity formally backed his run for lieutenant governor in hopes of him becoming her running mate for the fall.
Ventre is running without endorsement from Garrity or the state GOP.
Pennsylvania General Assembly
There will be 228 state legislative races on the ballot this year — this includes all of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives and half the state Senate.
U.S. House 12th Congressional District
An outspoken Democratic congresswoman from Allegheny County’s eastern suburbs is poised to earn her party’s nomination to run for another term in Washington in the November election.
As of 9:35 p.m., with 47% of the 12th Congressional District’s precincts reporting unofficial results, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, had collected nearly 81% of the votes tallied compared to about 19% for challenger Will Parker.
Parker is an app developer who previously launched unsuccessful, low-budget bids to become Allegheny County executive, Pittsburgh mayor and U.S. senator.
The Associated Press called the race for Lee at 8:58 p.m.
In November, Lee will again face Republican candidate James Hayes, a businessman who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s GOP primary. Lee beat Hayes with 60% of the vote in 2024.
The 12th District includes Pittsburgh, suburbs in eastern and southern Allegheny County and communities in western Westmoreland County. Democrats hold a 2-to-1 voter-registration edge in Allegheny County.
14th Congressional District
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, a Republican from Peters Township will face Donora native and Democrat Alan Bradstock in the fall, as they both secured their party’s nominations.
As of 10:30 p.m., Reschenthaler had 3,309 votes in Greene County, 16,010 in Washington County, 14,714 in Westmoreland County and 6,708 in Fayette County.
Bradstock had 2,137 in Greene County, 14,914 in Washington County, 16,759 in Westmoreland and 7,623 in Fayette.
The 14th Congressional District includes most of Westmoreland County along with Washington, Somerset, Greene, Indiana and Fayette counties.
32nd state Senate District
Incumbent state Sen. Pat Stefano of Bullskin Township, Fayette County, defeated former state Rep. Harry Young Cochran of Connellsville by a wide margin to secure his party’s nomination for reelection. With 50% of precincts reporting in Westmoreland County, Stefano had 81% of the votes to Cochran’s 18%. Stefano had 66% of the votes in Fayette County, with Cochran at 33%, with 89% of the precincts reporting as of 10:30 p.m.
Stefano will face Democrat Jacob H. Cecil of Windber, Somerset County, in the fall.
35th state House District
Rep. Dan Goughnour, a McKeesport Democrat, will face Republican challenger Jim Edwards in the fall as neither had opponents. Goughnour had 6,521 votes and Edwards had 1,563 votes with 95 of 97 precincts reporting at press time.
38th state House District
State Rep. John Inglis, D-West Mifflin, had 7,237 votes as of press time. He had no opposition.
48th state House District
Incumbent Rep. Tim O’Neal, a Republican, will face Democratic challenger Rebecca Mactaggert in the fall. With 100% of precincts reporting, O’Neal had 5,057 votes, while Mactaggert had 4,756 votes, according to unofficial results.
58th state House District
State Rep. Eric Davanzo, R-Smithton, is shown Tuesday night speaking during his campaign gathering at Kimberly’s Barn in Rostraver Township. Davanzo secured the Republican nomination in his bid for reelection. MVI
Rep. Eric Davanzo, a Smithton Republican, will face Democratic challenger Cherri Rogers in the fall. With 100% of precincts reporting, Davanzo had 3,805 votes, while Rogers had 4,413, according to unofficial election results.
