Gov. Josh Shapiro announces reelection bid

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro launched his reelection campaign in Pittsburgh Jan. 8 at an afternoon rally at the Carpenters Union Local 432.

The announcement was made amid a steady lineup of speakers — politicians, union leaders and community advocates — who each emphasized Shapiro’s record in western Pennsylvania and across the state.

The theme of the news conference, “GSD”— short for either “get stuff done” or “get sh-t” done, depending on the speaker — was repeated in each of the speeches.

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It’s a theme Shapiro amplified, using the off-color version of the phrase on X in a post that contained a red, white and blue campaign sign with the same declaration.

Steve Mazza, a representative of the East Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, opened the rally by highlighting Shapiro’s support of the building trades and construction in the region.

“His administration has made clear that construction and downtown conversion projects should create family-sustaining union jobs, not race to the bottom like a lot of other developers and elected officials,” he said.

Mazza pointed to the Shapiro administration’s expansion of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, which he said are the backbone of union trades like carpentry.

“Since taking office the Shapiro administration has enrolled almost 18,000 new apprentices and more than 3,000 additional students enrolled in CTE [career and technical education] programs and VO tech programs,” he said.

Mazza drew attention to Shapiro’s 10-year plan for downtown Pittsburgh, the governor’s support of the Montgomery lock and dam improvement project, the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and his support of the Esplanade Project on the city’s North Shore, among other things.

State Democrat Party Chair Eugene Depasquale spoke of working with Shapiro in the state’s general assembly, when they both served on the budget and judiciary committees.

He highlighted Shapiro’s investment in public education while governor and his work in public safety.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Depasquale said. “We have a chance to expand our state house majority, flip the state senate and make Donald Trump a lame duck.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor emphasized the new Pittsburgh International Airport and Shapiro’s support as the city prepares to host the NFL draft — including Market Square’s redevelopment, the creation of Arts Landing and work at Point State Park.

“He’s a great leader and a great partner,” O’Connor said.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato spoke of the assistance provided by the governor when Allegheny County experienced power outages due to windstorms.

“He really unlocked resources to make sure that we could rebuild and that we could care for our neighbors in need,” she said.

The governor, Innamorato said, showed up after the explosion at the U.S. Steel plant in Clairton when two workers were killed.

“He met with the families, he met with the workers,” she said. “He offered condolences and comfort at a really difficult time.”

The county executive said Shapiro also supported job creation, helping the region transform to a “new clean tech economy.”

Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis, a McKeesport native, was the penultimate speaker. He spoke of his relationship with the governor and also announced his intention to seek a second term.

While speaking of divisions across the country, Davis said Pennsylvania has sought a different path.

“We put progress over partisanship, compassion over division and solutions that work above all else,” he said. “We’ve shown leadership that expands opportunity instead of restricting it, leadership that fights with hope not fear, leadership that gets sh-t done.”

Shapiro, who is Jewish, is widely regarded as a potential candidate in the 2028 presidential primary. He and his family were targeted in an antisemitic arson attack at his residence in April 2025, carried out by an anti-Israel activist after a Passover seder.

The governor has supported Israel during its war against Hamas but has been critical of the Jewish state’s Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu.

Shapiro said that residents of Pennsylvania share more similarities than differences.

“Most Pennsylvanians want the same few things,” he said. “They want good schools for their kids and grandkids, safe communities, economic opportunities where they can get ahead. They want to dream big dreams and be able to live in affordable communities they love. They want their rights and their freedoms protected.”

He went on to list what he considered his administration’s accomplishments, including an increase in mental heath counselors at schools; making universal free school breakfasts the law; funding nearly 2,000 additional law enforcement officers; and, expanding school programs and violence intervention programs meant to mitigate gun violence and violent crime.

The governor mentioned several times that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has remained at or below the national average for “30 straight months.”

He pointed to more than $35 billion in private investments made during his time in office, which he said led to the creation of 18,000 jobs across the state.

Shapiro said that during his term, 400,000 seniors and 219,000 families received tax cuts.

“The good people of Pennsylvania, y’all have been my North Star,” he said. “So, I came back here today to say thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to listen and serve you. I’m here to say we’ve only just begun. We’ve got more stuff to do.” PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.