Stacy Garrity Brings Gubernatorial Campaign to Penn State

Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity made a campaign stop at Penn State Berkey Creamery on Sunday as she prepares for Tuesday’s election.

The event, hosted by Penn State College Republicans, aimed to share her vision for Pennsylvania with young voters. She was joined by lieutenant governor candidate Jason Richey and Pennsylvania House candidates Kirsten McTernan, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. Paul Takac in the 82nd district, and Michelle Schellberg, who faces Democratic incumbent Rep. Scott Conklin for the 77th district.

Garrity’s visit came a week after Gov. Josh Shapiro brought his campaign tour to the University Park campus.

After kicking off the event with ice cream and greeting those in attendance, Garrity and Richey addressed the crowd and the media.

Richey spoke about what Shapiro’s administration has done, and why they are different. He highlighted Shapiro’s salary, the state’s economy, education and taxes, saying the Democrat “has failed in every way a governor can fail.”

“One of the reasons why I agreed to put my life on hold, I have been campaigning as hard as I possibly can since February, is because I know [Garrity] is in it for all the right reasons.”

He spoke about Garrity’s decorated military experience, her private-sector experience, and her work as state treasurer.

“We are doing this for these kids here at Penn State, for my kids. We want them to live here. We want our grandkids to be here; that is what Stacy wants,” Richey said to end his section of the rally.

Garrity called her campaign “an all-hands-on-deck mission,” and touted her vision

“I believe we should produce energy, we should build things, we should create jobs. I believe, just like our candidates here, Michelle, Kirsten, the money that Harrisburg spends, that politicians should remember that it doesn’t belong to them; it belongs to you,” she said.

Garrity discussed issues including prioritizing affordable housing, creating a first-time homeowner program that reduces interest rates by 3%, lowering electricity bills by 20%, and unleashing state energy.

She said the first thing she would do in office would be to lift the state’s moratorium on drilling.

“We have to because it’s going to fix the structural deficit. It is going to improve the economy. It’s going to lower inflation,” she said.

Garrity talked about state funding per in-state undergraduate and how the university’s general support funding has remained flat despite inflation and rising operating costs.

“We need to look at [the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education]; we need to look at the whole thing. It’s not just, you know, Penn State versus the others… We want to be affordable in all areas,” she said.

She also spoke about issues such as data centers, Flock cameras and her AI-generated advertisement depicting her opponent.

“I don’t need another title, I really don’t. I am doing this for the same reason that I put on the uniform, the same reason that I fought for American jobs in the private sector, and that is to serve,” she said. “But public service isn’t about whose name is on the door. It’s about the people on the other side of that door.”