(The Center Square) – Gov. Josh Shapiro will make a campaign swing through north-central Pennsylvania on Saturday, with two of the events taking place in rural counties where voters historically favor conservatives.
According to a press advisory, Shapiro will hear from Pennsylvanians about the issues that they’re facing and discuss the stakes of this year’s elections.
“As Governor, Josh Shapiro has brought people together to get stuff done for all Pennsylvanians and protect our freedoms and our democracy,” the campaign wrote in a release. “Whether it’s investing in our schools and small businesses, supporting Pennsylvania law enforcement and farmers, expanding economic opportunity, or standing up to Donald Trump’s chaos, cruelty, and corruption – Governor Shapiro is fighting for Pennsylvania families and continuing to move our Commonwealth forward.”
Shapiro’s first stop will be an appearance at the Centre County Democrats’ Breakfast in State College on Saturday morning. Then, he’s scheduled to hold meet-and-greet events in the afternoon with the Clinton County Democrats in Lock Haven and the Lycoming County Democrats in Williamsport.
This visit takes Shapiro to regions of the commonwealth that have traditionally favored Republicans.
Shapiro, who is seeking a second term as governor in November, carried Centre County by 17 points in 2022 over GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano. Shapiro won statewide by the same margin, 17 points, in 2022. However, he lost Clinton County by 22 points and Lycoming County by 30 points.
The primary election is just over one month away, although jockeying for the general election has begun for both parties. Shapiro is not facing a primary challenger and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity is the only Republican to file for the race for governor.
Shapiro has emphasized the importance of rural regions of Pennsylvania throughout his tenure as governor. Garrity, a native of Bradford County, has highlighted her roots in rural Pennsylvania and laid out plans for what she believes will benefit those areas.
The regions that Shapiro will be campaigning in on Saturday shifted even more in favor of Republicans during the 2024 presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris won Centre County by just 2 points, while Trump won Clinton County by 40 points and Lycoming County by 41 points.
Garrity, who recently attended a fundraiser at Mar-A-Lago, has the support of Trump in the race. On her campaign website, Garrity has a picture of her alongside the president, describing herself as a “strong ally.”
Although Trump won Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes in 2024, recent polling shows the president’s approval rating underwater in the Keystone State.
Recent campaign finance reports show that Shapiro holds a significant cash-on-hand advantage over Garrity in the 2026 race, as polls also show the incumbent holding a double-digit lead over Garrity.
Despite Pennsylvania’s status as a battleground state, a trio of national ratings outlets indicates that Shapiro is the favorite in November.
