A report has come to light that alleges Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro supported a Republican treasurer’s 2024 reelection bid over the candidate from his own party.
The report initially came from Axios.
Shapiro ally Bob Brooks told a group of Democrat students at Lehigh University last week the governor had asked his firefighters union to back Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity instead of Democrat candidate Erin McClelland.
“That was a request, ironically, from Gov. Josh Shapiro,” said Brooks, who is also the president of Pennsylvania’s firefighters union.
He added the request came after McClelland “came out hard about something on Josh Shapiro.”
“Josh Shapiro had requested because Stacy, er, Erin McClelland came out hard about something on Josh Shapiro, and really, the Democratic Party as a whole turned on Erin McClelland. And he said, ‘I would like you guys to endorse Stacy Garrity.'”
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Brooks words on the matter came after a person at the Lehigh gathering asked Brooks why his union had backed Garrity in 2024.
At that time, Shapiro was being vetted as a potential running mate for then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
McClelland publicly questioned whether Shapiro would be willing to serve under a female president and referenced a controversy involving a former top aide accused of sexual harassment.
Brooks later walked back what he said and claimed in a statement, “I misspoke and made an inaccurate comment.”
“Many people in our party — including organized labor across the commonwealth — were upset with McClelland’s bad-faith attacks against our governor,” Brooks said. “The governor did not ask my union to make any endorsements.”
Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder said Brooks’ comment at the college was “inaccurate,” adding, “The governor did not ask Bob Brooks to make any endorsements in that race — and the only races he is focused on are winning up and down the ballot this November.”
Garrity ultimately won reelection and is now running against Shapiro for governor.
The incumbent governor is a strong favorite in the race, as he holds a sizable polling lead and a major fundraising advantage.
On a national scale, many believe the report could raise questions about Shapiro’s political approach as he is viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender.
Critics — including some within his own party — have suggested he can be vindictive, take critiques too personally and be willing to push aside allies to get ahead, the outlet reported.
