(WHTM) – Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) says she’s “always been the underdog” and that Gov. Josh Shapiro is “going to be a formidable candidate” as she enters the 2026 Pennsylvania governor’s race.

“What I think is we have an incredible opportunity to turn the state around,” said Garrity, who formally entered the race this week. “We’re at a crossroads, and when you look at the fiscal year we just ended, we spent $3 billion more than what we brought in.”

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This Week in Pennsylvania

In an interview with Dennis Owens on Wednesday, Garrity noted having safe communities, parents being a leading voice in education and the unleashing of natural gas “under our feet” as key issues in her campaign against Shapiro, whom she called a smooth talker and a polished career politician.

“And if you just look at the independent fiscal office’s numbers, we would be totally out of the surplus, plus the rainy day fund, in two years,” said Garrity. “Pennsylvania has the fifth-largest tax burden, and so what would happen after we’re out of money?”

Garrity said other than leading the repair of a collapsed portion of I-95 in 2023, Shapiro hasn’t met his slogan of ‘getting stuff done’ for Pennsylvania. Instead, she claims, he’s focused on potentially running for president in 2028.

“Instead of looking at polls, I look at, you know, Pennsylvanians and, you know, I’m not playing politics. I am working hard every day for Pennsylvanians, and that’s what I’ll continue to do,” said Garrity.

Garrity cited her history of overseeing major state financial programs, such as the 529 college savings program, and returning unclaimed property funds as qualifying factors for her to be governor.

Democrats this week, however, have called Garrity extreme, claiming she “championed policies that would roll back fundamental freedoms and make life harder for hardworking families.”

“The only thing I’m extreme about is serving Pennsylvanians,” Garrity responded.

Garrity, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, said she believes Pennsylvanians appreciate several of Trump’s policies, such as the “no tax on tips” provision of the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

“And I think,” Garrity added, “when I talk to Pennsylvanians, they’re okay if we have able-bodied people with no dependents working or volunteering 20 hours a week so that we can protect the program for the vulnerable that really rely on it.”

Who is running for Governor of Pennsylvania?

When asked about the issue of abortion, Garrity said she would not support a ban in Pennsylvania and noted the topic was personal for her, saying she went through several rounds of In Vitro Fertilization, also known as IVF.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party is expected to endorse Garrity next month with hopes to clear her path in the spring primary, similar to what Dave McCormick received in his 2024 Senate run. State Senator Doug Mastriano, who was the party’s gubernatorial nominee in 2022, said despite Garrity’s announcement, he’s still considering getting in to the race.

Mastriano has been critical of the state party and, in his view, their plan to “coronate” Garrity as the party’s nominee months before the election.

“(Republicans are) going to lose the general election because the state party decides they’re going to decide and coronate somebody,” Mastriano said hours after Garrity declared on Monday.

Garrity responded to Mastriano’s concerns saying she’d be honored by the state Republican Party’s endorsement and noted it’s made up of hundreds of residents, not just a small group of party leaders. She said she’s “not focused on Doug Mastriano right now,” adding she’s “focused on Josh Shapiro.”

“I don’t think (Shapiro has) been transparent,” said Garrity. “I think he’s spending his time really running for president. I mean, look, we don’t have a budget and he’s flying around the country on late-night talk shows talking about his run for president.”

When Garrity was sworn in after receiving a record number of votes last year, Shapiro said her re-election was a “testament to the work she’s done over the past four years that the people of Pennsylvania have put their trust in her once more.”

“Through our private conversations and our work together, I’ve seen just how hard she works,” Shapiro added. “The miles that she puts in, the hours that she works every day. She is mission-driven.”

“Well, this isn’t personal,” Garrity said when asked about Shapiro’s popularity in the state. “I just have a totally different vision for what our Commonwealth could be.”

When asked about Garrity entering the race, Shapiro said Tuesday that “(Republicans) are going to have their intramural fight, they’ll send someone along to face me next year, we’ll be ready.”

If elected, Garrity would be Pennsylvania’s first female governor; it’s a job that has existed since 1790.

“If I was the first female governor, that would be an honor,” said Garrity.

Garrity is the only major Republican Party candidate to enter the race after Congressman Dan Meuser, who represents Garrity’s home of Bradford County, declined to enter the race earlier this year. Westmoreland County native John Ventre, a perennial Republican candidate, said he plans to run for governor.

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