Coasting to the Finals
For just the second time in state history, the Democratic and Republican nominees are running unopposed in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial primaries with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and GOP state Treasurer Stacy Garrity advancing to the general election on Tuesday. The only other cycle in which neither party held a contested primary for the office was in 2006 when Democratic Governor Ed Rendell and former NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann won nominations without opposition. Uncontested primaries were also held in 1930, 2018, and 2022 for the Democrats and 1970, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, and 2014 for the GOP out of the 29 primaries held for the office since 1914.
– Stunningly, no one opposed Shapiro for the GUV nomination either this year or 4 years ago – a free ride very few major party nominees for the post had been given.
– Interestingly, Shapiro chose not to actively help – or even perfunctorily endorse – the nominee of his own party for treasurer 2 years ago after she publicly questioned the suitability of Shapiro to be the vice presidential nominee.