Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro made his run for reelection official on Thursday at an event in Pittsburgh, where he reminded voters of his accomplishments and shared his vision for the state’s future while touting himself as a leader who has “never backed down from a fight.”
But despite the speech’s focus on state issues, the governor is also eyeing a potential presidential run in 2028, and his standing in the swing state of Pennsylvania will be pivotal to that campaign.
A Quinnipiac University poll shows that Shapiro had his highest job approval rating in October since he entered office in 2022, at 60%. He also had his highest disapproval rating — 28% — with the remaining 11% of surveyed Pennsylvanians declining to offer an opinion.
Shapiro spent the tail end of his speech criticizing the actions of politicians in Washington, particularly when it comes to recent debates around health care, food programs and affordability.
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“It’s because of the toxicity in D.C.,” Shapiro said. “Some politicians who know better are too cowardly to speak up. They abandon their principles.”
Shapiro launched his 2026 campaign alongside Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, with whom he will share a ticket. He is not expected to face a significant primary challenge.
Shapiro referred to the people of Pennsylvania as his “North Star,” telling crowds on Thursday, “You deserve someone focused on solving your problems, not creating more obstacles. Someone who goes to work for you every day.”
In his reelection video, Shapiro touts accomplishments such as fixing a collapsed overpass in under two weeks, cutting taxes, protecting abortion, removing the requirement for a college degree to get a state job and more.
He hopes that with his name atop the ticket, Democrats can flip four Republican House seats potentially up for grabs in 2026, according to CNN. Maintaining the governorship could pave the way for success in 2028, but a loss could harm his chances at the presidency.
Shapiro is facing a showdown with Republican Stacy Garrity, the current Pennsylvania Treasurer, who has criticized Shapiro for “spending his time running for president and fundraising in California and other liberal states,” in her campaign launch video. Both have won several elections in Pennsylvania.
Since 2000, Pennsylvania has leaned Democratic in presidential elections, though President Donald Trump won the swing state in 2016 and 2024. The same Quinnipiac University poll puts Shapiro up 53-43 percent in the state of Pennsylvania if he ran against Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election.
Though the gubernatorial candidate did not mention a presidential run during his speech on Thursday, Shapiro made several comments about politicians in Washington, all wrapped into his personal promise to represent Pennsylvanians.
Shapiro told the crowd in Pittsburgh, “Every step of the way, I’ve stood up for my fellow Pennsylvanians, sometimes in a court of law, and other times by simply refusing to back down.”
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