Shapiro Reelected Pennsylvania Governor in Doylestown

Josh Shapiro won reelection as Pennsylvania governor on Tuesday night. The victory places him back in the statehouse for another four-year term.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:02 p.m. Shapiro defeated his Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity. This win makes Shapiro the fifth consecutive Democratic governor to secure a second term in the state.

Historical data shows that incumbent governors in Pennsylvania typically win reelection by wide margins. Since the 1967 constitutional amendment allowed consecutive terms, the average victory margin for winning incumbents is 18.46 percentage points.

If the 2014 defeat of Tom Corbett is included in the calculation, the average net margin for all incumbents seeking a second term drops to 14.43 percentage points. Corbett remains the only Pennsylvania incumbent to lose a reelection bid in the modern era.

Shapiro has avoided answering questions about a future presidential run during this campaign. He stated that his focus is on serving the people of Pennsylvania. That question will likely become a major topic as he begins his new term.

Stacy Garrity delivered a concession speech on Tuesday night. She noted that neighbors across the state exercised their rights as Americans. Garrity said she called Shapiro to congratulate him on his victory. She added that she stands before voters with a heart full of gratitude.