Josh Shapiro Leads Pennsylvania Governor Race by 13 Points in Quinnipiac Poll

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro leads Republican candidate Stacy Garrity by 13 percentage points in the state's gubernatorial race, Newsweek reported. The Quinnipiac University poll conducted July 9 to 13 showed 53 percent of registered voters planning to support Shapiro and 40 percent backing Garrity.

Shapiro's margin narrowed from 18 points in a February Quinnipiac survey that recorded 55 percent for him and 37 percent for Garrity.

His approval rating remained steady at 56 percent, while disapproval rose to 34 percent from 29 percent. Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they had not heard enough about Garrity to form an opinion, compared with 14 percent for Shapiro. Shapiro received support from 96 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of independents, while Garrity's backing among Republicans increased to 87 percent from 82 percent.

A separate Franklin & Marshall College poll conducted June 8 to 14 showed Shapiro at 50 percent and Garrity at 28 percent. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the race Likely Democratic and Cook Political Report rates it Solid Democratic. The Quinnipiac poll also recorded low approval for Senator John Fetterman among Democrats.

Nineteen percent of Democrats approved of his job performance while 69 percent disapproved. Overall, 48 percent of Pennsylvania voters approved and 41 percent disapproved. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans approved of Fetterman.

Fifty-seven percent of Democrats said they would like Fetterman to leave the party. ” Fetterman formed a joint fundraising committee with Republican Senator Dave McCormick. Pennsylvania voted for President Donald Trump by nearly 2 percentage points in 2024 after supporting former President Joe Biden by just over 1 point in 2020.