Here’s a look at where Garrity and Shapiro stand on Medicaid, data centers, and immigration enforcement ahead of the 2026 general election.
A lot is at stake for Pennsylvania in November. The upcoming election will have voters choose between Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger and state treasurer Stacy Garrity for governor.
Here’s a look on where the candidates stand on the key issues that matter to Pennsylvanians.
Medicaid
Next year, changes to the federal Medicaid program will begin. The changes were enacted in President Trump’s landmark H.R.1, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The changes restrict the program to ensure that only U.S. citizens who are eligible receive benefits. At the state level, whoever is elected as governor will play a key role in how these changes are implemented.
Shapiro has been critical of the sweeping changes to the program, saying the funding cuts are cruel. He joined a lawsuit challenging the rollout of new work requirements under the bill.
Garrity has been an outspoken supporter of the reforms, promising to work with President Trump’s administration to implement the law’s “anti-fraud protections.” She has also promised independent performance audits of Pennsylvania’s Medicaid programs.
Her campaign said that the reforms would strengthen Medicaid “by cracking down on fraud, waste, abuse, and improper enrollment” to “protect taxpayers while preserving Medicaid for [those] who depend on it the most.”
As attorney general, Shapiro made a statement in which he estimated that Pennsylvania likely loses $3 billion a year due to fraud and improper billing in the state’s Medicaid program. He then supported a “false claims” law that would financially incentivize whistleblowers to come forward. Whistleblowers could receive a share of money that’s recovered through litigation.
Garrity has criticized Shapiro on the fraud issue, saying, “instead of addressing fraud as Attorney General, he focused on increasing state spending as Governor – raising the risk of even more waste. Taxpayers deserve better.”
Rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse has been a priority for Garrity during her campaign.
Data Centers
Data centers are top of mind for many Pennsylvania voters this election cycle. On the issue, Shapiro has been supportive of voluntary environmental, workforce development, and energy standards in exchange for incentives. He has remained silent on a moratorium.
Garrity has been supportive of mandatory rules not tied to climate and a pause on data center development in the state.
“[Shapiro] claims to be putting guard rails on an industry he was championing just a few months ago. It’s really a massive flip-flop, plain and simple,” Garrity recently said of her opponent.
Shapiro’s campaign said that Garrity has a “long record of supporting completely unregulated data center development.”
Both candidates were initially supportive of data centers, but have reduced their enthusiasm to a more cautious approach.
Shapiro even launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with OpenAI for government workers to use ChatGPT. He attended an AI summit with U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) to announce billions of dollars in investments in Pennsylvania AI infrastructure.
Pennsylvanians are concerned over data center development and its impacts on energy prices and water availability.
Supporters of data centers cite their importance in creating jobs and critical advancements during a competition with Chinese innovation.
Immigration Enforcement
The two candidates take opposing sides on immigration issues, including immigration enforcement. Governor Shapiro has been outspoken against President Trump’s actions to secure the U.S. border from illegal immigration.
He opposed Trump’s move to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border following the Biden-era open border policy.
In March, Shapiro refused to send the Pennsylvania National Guard to the border when Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked for support.
He remains supportive of immigrant communities and opposes immigration enforcement action taken by the Trump administration to curb illegal immigration.
Garrity’s campaign said that she “will work with any president in the best interests of Pennsylvania, regardless of party,” when asked about her stance on the Trump administration’s plans.
“Pennsylvanians deserve a governor who will put their security and their safety first, and a governor who will review issues with the seriousness that they deserve and not follow the political winds as their guide.”
“I understand the seriousness of protecting our nation from threats, and I also appreciate the importance of treating those in case and custody with dignity and respect,” Garrity said in a release.
In November, Pennsylvania voters will choose whether to keep Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro in office or to elect Republican state treasurer Stacy Garrity to the post.
