Shapiro Tops $24 Million in Ads After Data Center Reversal as Garrity Lags in Cash

Gov. Josh Shapiro has spent more than $24 million on ads with seven weeks until Election Day, while Republican Stacy Garrity spent $672 this week. The figures come from AdImpact.

Gov. Shapiro, a Democrat mentioned as a possible 2028 White House contender, has spent more than $2.4 million a week since Aug. 25 from a campaign account topping $50 million. Garrity has spent $743,000 to date. The Republican Governors Association and the Yass-backed Commonwealth Leaders Fund have bought no TV ads for Garrity.

The gap sits atop a data center fight that has scrambled both campaigns. Shapiro reversed course last month with an executive order requiring developers to meet environmental and energy standards, then began running ads casting Garrity as the state's biggest data center booster. She now calls for a pause. Six in 10 Pennsylvania voters oppose data center development, a poll found. Lehigh University's Christopher Borick said Shapiro is "as exposed as her on the issue," but she lacks the money to press it.

Garrity spokesman Matthew Beynon said the spending will not change the record, arguing Shapiro sold out Pennsylvanians and pointing to a failed economic record and ethics scandals. Garrity has put most of her ad money into a digital series called "Twilight Justice," which promises future revelations about the governor.

President Trump endorsed Garrity in January, yet she has spent only $300,000 more than Doug Mastriano had at this point in 2022. Shapiro has spent less than the $28 million he had out by mid-September that year.

New campaign finance filings are due Sept. 22, and the two meet in a televised debate Oct. 7 on ABC27.