Josh
Shapiro

Pennsylvania's Department of State announced that eligible voters must register by October 19 to participate in the November 3 general election.

Obama announced his endorsement of Shapiro in a video, saying 'Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro has your back — and in this election, I'm asking you to have his.'

Shapiro and Garrity debated in Harrisburg, covering data centers, taxes, skill games, gas prices, voter ID, education, and the measles outbreak. Shapiro said communities could block unwanted data centers and expressed openness to a gas-tax suspension requiring legislative action. Garrity raised a sexual-harassment settlement involving former aide Mike Vereb, funded by $295,000 in taxpayer money; Shapiro said the claim was investigated and Vereb resigned.

A Quinnipiac poll of 1,159 likely Pennsylvania voters surveyed October 1–5 showed Shapiro leading Garrity 59% to 34%, with Krawchuk at 2% and 5% undecided. The margin of error was ±3.9 percentage points.

PoliticsPA reported that over the same three-month period, Garrity raised $1.8 million compared with Shapiro's reported $13.3 million, highlighting a significant fundraising gap.

Shapiro's campaign reported raising $13.3 million since June and more than $60 million toward reelection since he took office, according to preliminary figures reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A Quinnipiac University poll of registered Pennsylvania voters showed Shapiro leading Garrity 59% to 34%. Quinnipiac noted this should not be directly compared with its later likely-voter poll.

Shapiro signed an executive order removing data centers from the state's Fast Track permitting program and requiring local approval before permits could be issued. The order followed earlier state efforts to encourage data-center development and became an issue in the October debate.

Josh Shapiro secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination without a primary challenger. He appears on the November ballot alongside running mate Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.