Josh Shapiro

Democratic Platform

Democrats support progressive taxation, with higher rates on top earners and corporations to fund public investment. The party favors raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and expanding worker protections. Democrats generally support government investment in infrastructure, education, and social programs as drivers of broad economic growth.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro has focused on attracting business investment and job creation to Pennsylvania, emphasizing the state's location and workforce. He has worked to expand Pennsylvania's semiconductor, technology, and advanced manufacturing sectors. He takes a pragmatic approach to economic development that has drawn support from some business leaders despite his Democratic affiliation.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans favor lower taxes across income levels, with particular emphasis on cutting corporate and capital gains taxes to stimulate investment and job creation. The party supports deregulation, reduced government spending, and free market solutions over federal programs as the primary engine of prosperity.

Democratic Platform

Democrats support expanding access to affordable healthcare, including protecting the Affordable Care Act and moving toward a public option or expanded Medicare coverage. The party broadly favors government negotiation of prescription drug prices and opposes removing protections for pre-existing conditions.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro supports abortion access and has used executive authority to protect reproductive healthcare in Pennsylvania following the Dobbs decision. He expanded Medicaid coverage and has backed legislation to lower prescription drug costs for Pennsylvanians. He has also prioritized mental health and addiction treatment, particularly for opioid recovery.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans have generally sought to repeal or significantly reform the Affordable Care Act, favoring market-based solutions. The party supports expanding health savings accounts, increasing competition among insurers across state lines, and reducing federal mandates on coverage requirements.

Democratic Platform

Democrats generally support pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients, and favor comprehensive immigration reform. The party supports increased resources for legal immigration processing and a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers at the border.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro supports comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level and has taken steps to ensure Pennsylvania state agencies do not conduct federal immigration enforcement. He has highlighted the contributions of immigrant workers to Pennsylvania's agricultural and healthcare industries and has opposed policies he views as harmful to established immigrant communities.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans prioritize border security and strict enforcement of existing immigration law. The party broadly supports completing physical border barriers, ending policies they view as incentivizing illegal entry, and reforming legal immigration to favor applicants with marketable skills.

Democratic Platform

Democrats favor robust federal investment in public K-12 education and higher education, along with policies to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. The party generally opposes using public funds for private school vouchers and supports universal pre-K and affordable childcare.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro has championed education funding equity in Pennsylvania, overseeing record increases in basic education funding and working to address the state's long-standing school funding disparities. He also supports expanding career and technical education pathways alongside traditional college preparation.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans support school choice, including voucher programs for private and religious schools, and local control over curriculum decisions. The party generally opposes federal education mandates and broadly supports parental rights in schooling. Many Republicans oppose student loan forgiveness as unfair to borrowers who repaid their loans.

Democratic Platform

Democrats broadly support stricter gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The party frames these regulations as consistent with the Second Amendment and necessary to reduce mass shootings.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro supports expanded background checks and red flag legislation in Pennsylvania. He has backed gun safety measures through executive action and has called on the Republican-controlled state legislature to pass background check legislation. As Attorney General, he prosecuted illegal firearms cases and supported straw purchase enforcement.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans strongly defend Second Amendment rights and generally oppose new gun control legislation, arguing that existing laws should be enforced more effectively. The party emphasizes mental health intervention, the right to self-defense, and opposes what they view as infringement on law-abiding gun owners.

Democratic Platform

Democrats view climate change as an urgent crisis requiring immediate government action. The party supports transitioning to clean energy through federal investment and regulation, reducing carbon emissions across the economy, and meeting international climate commitments. Democrats generally oppose expanding fossil fuel development on public lands.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro has pursued a pragmatic approach to energy and climate policy that reflects Pennsylvania's position as a major natural gas producer. He supports clean energy investment and rejoined Pennsylvania in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative after leaving under his predecessor, while also defending Pennsylvania's natural gas industry as a source of jobs and energy security.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize American energy independence through domestic production of oil, gas, and coal alongside renewable development. Many in the party are skeptical of aggressive climate regulations they argue harm economic growth and jobs. Republicans generally prefer market-based energy solutions over government mandates and oppose restrictions that raise energy costs for families.

Democratic Platform

Democrats generally support a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing alliances, international institutions, and diplomacy as the first line of engagement. The party broadly supports maintaining NATO commitments, providing aid to democratic allies, and engaging international bodies to address shared challenges.

Josh Shapiro

As governor, Shapiro has engaged federal foreign policy debates primarily through their economic consequences for Pennsylvania. He has backed federal policies supporting domestic semiconductor and steel manufacturing, industries critical to Pennsylvania, and has opposed trade arrangements he argues harm Pennsylvania workers. He has voiced support for U.S. backing of Ukraine and democratic allies.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize American sovereignty, a strong military as a deterrent, and bilateral relationships over multilateral institutions. The party broadly supports robust defense spending and is skeptical of international agreements they view as constraining American action or requiring open-ended foreign commitments.

Democratic Platform

Democrats oppose cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits and support expanding both programs. The party generally favors raising the Social Security payroll tax cap on high earners to ensure long-term solvency and opposes any form of privatization.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro has publicly opposed federal proposals to cut Social Security or Medicare, arguing these programs are essential to Pennsylvania's large elderly population. At the state level, he has supported property tax and rent rebate programs for Pennsylvania seniors on fixed incomes.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans support reforming Social Security and Medicare to ensure long-term fiscal solvency, which some in the party argue requires adjusting benefits or eligibility ages. The party opposes tax increases to fund the programs and some members have supported personal investment account options.

Democratic Platform

Democrats broadly support criminal justice reform, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences, addressing racial disparities in policing and incarceration, and investing in community-based alternatives. The party generally supports police accountability measures and evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism.

Josh Shapiro

Governor Shapiro, as former Attorney General, brought extensive criminal justice experience to the governorship. He has supported reforms to reduce barriers to reentry, expand access to expungement, and address racial disparities in sentencing. He has also focused on combating violent crime and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, as public safety priorities.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize law and order, strong support for law enforcement, and tough penalties for crime. The party generally opposes reducing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenses and supports prosecutors pursuing strong sentences. Republicans broadly oppose policies they view as undermining police authority or creating leniency for criminals.