Gov. Shapiro spent over $2.4 million on ads this week; Garrity spent $672
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's reelection campaign is heavily outspending his GOP challenger, Stacy Garrity. Data center regulation has emerged as a key issue in the statewide race, with both candidates shifting positions due to public unpopularity. Shapiro recently signed an executive order imposing environmental and energy requirements on new data center developments in the state.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's reelection campaign is significantly outspending his Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, with over $24 million spent as the November 3 election approaches. Media tracking firm AdImpact reports Shapiro spending more than $2.4 million weekly since late August, while Garrity has spent a comparatively small fraction on ads.
Data center regulation has become a prominent issue in the statewide race, influencing both candidates' platforms. While initially supportive, both Shapiro and Garrity have adjusted their stances as data center projects face increasing unpopularity among voters. Shapiro's campaign has even run ads criticizing Garrity's past support for data centers, despite his own earlier backing of the industry.
In response to public sentiment and evolving energy concerns, Governor Shapiro signed an executive order last month. This order mandates that all prospective data center developers in Pennsylvania must now meet specific environmental and energy criteria to secure approval for their projects. Garrity, meanwhile, is now advocating for a "pause" on data center development within the commonwealth.
Political science professor Christopher Borick of Lehigh University notes that Shapiro's extensive ad spending, despite a double-digit polling lead, indicates a risk-averse strategy. Garrity's campaign, facing fundraising challenges, has largely focused on a digital social media campaign, with her attack ads against Shapiro regarding data centers reaching a much smaller audience.