Josh Shapiro Elected Governor of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Governor-elect Josh Shapiro delivers remarks at a victory party in Oaks, PA after his win was announced on November 8th (Andrew McKeough/AKSM Photography).

Shapiro was confirmed the next Governor of Pennsylvania with Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, beating out Republican Doug Mastriano late Tuesday night.

Article by Tommy Lynch, White House Reporter

OAKS, Pa. - Democrat Josh Shapiro has beat out Republican Doug Mastriano to become the next governor of Pennsylvania.

Shapiro took the stage at his victory party in Oaks, Pennsylvania to thank his family, campaign team, and all the people who voted for him. This victory was expected, as Shapiro was polled to have a 10.4 point lead over Mastriano going into election day.

“No matter what you look like… you are valued here in Pennsylvania, and we hear you,” he said.

Shapiro focused on the unity he plans to bring to the commonwealth, reaching across party lines to make Pennsylvania the best it can be.

“We have to keep coming together to make progress,” he said, calling upon the entire state, “that is what we agree on.”

One of the most polarizing issues on the ballot today was abortion rights. Shapiro was fighting to defend a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion in Pennsylvania, whereas Mastriano plans to protect the right to life and to end Planned Parenthood.

Voting rights were also a hot topic, with Shapiro promising to veto any attempt to ban mail-in voting while Mastriano promised to ban “no-excuse” mail-in voting.

Shapiro served in the Pennsylvania house of representatives from 2005 to 2012, then served on the Montgomery County board of commissions from 2012 to 2017, and has been serving as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania ever since.

“I’ve done a whole lot of listening, a whole lot of learning, and a whole lot of growing,” Shapiro said, “ you’ve helped me become a better man and humbled me along the way.”

Shapiro's victory means Austin Davis has become Lieutenant Governor. Davis will be the first black Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvanians have chosen unity over division, love over hate, and progress over extremism,” Davis said.

Davis focused his victory speech on how he will help unite Pennsylvania, and how this victory is progress but not the end of the story.

“Anything is possible when you give a child the resources they need coupled with an environment in which they can thrive,” Davis said.

Davis then focused on the hardworking middle class families of Pennsylvania.

“If you felt unseen, unheard, or forgotten, this victory is for you” he said.