2026-CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT
Pennsylvania Governor
Description of office: The Governor is the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth, executing the laws of the state through executive agencies. A Governor must be at least 30 years old and have been a US citizen and resident of the state for seven years preceding the election. S/he manages the financial affairs of the state and must annually present a balanced budget to the General Assembly. The Governor has extensive appointive powers, may recommend legislation, and signs or vetoes bills passed by both houses of the General Assembly (subject to 2/3 override). S/he is Commander-in-Chief of the state National Guard, except when they are called into the actual service of the United States. The Governor can grant reprieves, pardons, and paroles. The holder of this office may only be reelected once.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $253,870
DEMOCRATIC PARY
Josh Shapiro
Josh Shapiro is Pennsylvania’s 48th Governor, serving since January 2023. Before becoming Governor, he served as Pennsylvania Attorney General, Montgomery County Commissioner, and State Representative. He is seeking reelection in 2026 alongside Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. His policy priorities include public education, economic development, infrastructure, public safety, and protecting individual rights.
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Stacy Garrity
Stacy Garrity is Pennsylvania’s 78th State Treasurer, serving since January 2021. A retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel and former business executive, she was reelected as State Treasurer in 2024. She is running for Governor in 2026 alongside Jason Richey. Her policy priorities include fiscal responsibility, reducing taxes, economic development, public safety, and government transparency.
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
Ken Krawchuk
Ken Krawchuk is a Pennsylvania businessman, information technology consultant, and longtime Libertarian Party member. He previously ran for Governor in 1998, 2002, and 2018 and served as Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. He is running for Governor in 2026 alongside John Thomas. His policy priorities include reducing taxes, privatizing education, limiting government spending, election reform, and protecting individual liberties.
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor
Description of office: The Lieutenant Governor will be elected jointly with the Governor in the General Election although candidates are nominated separately in the Primary. A Lieutenant Governor must be at least 30 years old and have been a US citizen and resident of the state for seven years preceding the election. S/he is President of the Senate, presiding over the Senate but having no vote unless the Senate is equally divided. S/he is Chair of the Board of Pardons and the PA Emergency Management Council. The PA Constitution provides that in case of the death, conviction or impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation, or other disability of the Governor, the powers, duties, and compensation of the office shall be transferred to the Lieutenant Governor for the remainder of the term or until the disability is removed. There are no term limits to this office.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $213,248
DEMOCRATIC PARY
Austin Davis
Austin Davis is Pennsylvania’s 35th Lieutenant Governor, serving since January 2023. A McKeesport native and former Pennsylvania State Representative, he is the first Black Lieutenant Governor in Pennsylvania history. He is seeking reelection in 2026 alongside Governor Josh Shapiro. His policy priorities include gun violence prevention, public safety, economic opportunity, supporting small and minority-owned businesses, and expanding opportunities for working families.
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Jason Richey
Jason Richey is a Pittsburgh-area attorney and former Chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County. A graduate of Allegheny College and Ohio State University’s law school, he has nearly three decades of legal experience in construction, real estate, and energy. He is running for Lieutenant Governor in 2026 alongside Stacy Garrity. His policy priorities include reducing taxes, expanding natural gas production, economic development, public safety, government transparency, and protecting constitutional rights.
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
John Thomas
John Thomas is a Pennsylvania educator, community volunteer, and former candidate for the U.S. Senate. A resident of Kittanning, he has nearly 20 years of experience in public, private, and cyber charter education. He is running for Lieutenant Governor in 2026 alongside Ken Krawchuk. His policy priorities include expanding educational choice, reducing taxes, limiting government spending, protecting individual liberties, and increasing parental involvement in education.
Pennsylvania US Representative District 12
Description of office: The US Constitution requires that the House of Representatives be composed of Representatives from each state, elected in proportion to population. There are 435 members of the House of Representatives, with 17 Representatives allotted to Pennsylvania after the 2020 census. A US Representative must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years, and be a resident of the state they seek to represent at the time of the election (though not necessarily the same district). The House of Representatives is responsible for introducing and voting on bills, resolutions and amendments, and for approving the budget. Representatives also serve on various policy committees. The House may send Articles of Impeachment of elected officials to the Senate and elects the President if there is a tie in the Electoral College.
Term: 2 years
Salary: $174,000
DEMOCRATIC PARY
Summer Lee
Summer Lee is the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, serving since January 2023. A former Pennsylvania State Representative, attorney, and community organizer, she is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania. She is seeking reelection in 2026. Her policy priorities include affordable housing, economic justice, workers’ rights, healthcare access, environmental justice, public education, and criminal justice reform.
REPUBLICAN PARTY
James Hayes
James Hayes is a Pittsburgh-area businessman, economist, and former Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond employee. He holds degrees from Georgetown University, Princeton University, the University of Chicago, and Case Western Reserve University. The Republican nominee for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District in 2024, he is running again in 2026 against incumbent Congresswoman Summer Lee. His policy priorities include economic development, reducing government spending, expanding domestic energy production, public safety, supporting small businesses, and protecting Second Amendment rights.