Why Did Trump Pick This Loser to Run a Swing State?

Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity, a staunch election denier endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is emerging as a central figure in the 2024 battleground state race. The Trump-backed candidate, who has built her political identity around loyalty to the former president and his baseless claims of a stolen 2020 election, secured her party’s nomination in May 2024. Her campaign reflects the broader trend of election denialism within the GOP, raising concerns among voting rights advocates and Democrats about the integrity of Pennsylvania’s electoral process in November.

Garrity, a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, has been a vocal advocate for Trump’s false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. She played a prominent role in a January 5, 2021 rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, held just one day before Congress was set to certify the Electoral College results. The event, which included speakers amplifying Trump’s election fraud claims, is seen as a precursor to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Garrity has not distanced herself from these claims, instead doubling down on them during her campaign. Her refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania—where he won by over 80,000 votes—has cemented her status as one of the state’s most prominent election deniers.

Her campaign for governor has focused heavily on themes of election integrity, a common rallying cry among Trump-aligned candidates nationwide. Garrity has pledged to “restore trust in elections” in Pennsylvania, a state that will once again be a critical swing state in the 2024 presidential race. However, critics argue that her approach risks undermining public confidence in the electoral system rather than strengthening it. Voting rights organizations have expressed alarm over her proposals, which include stricter voter ID laws and increased scrutiny of mail-in ballots—measures that opponents say disproportionately affect Democratic-leaning voters.

Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race is among the most closely watched of the 2024 cycle, with national implications for election administration. The office of governor holds significant authority over the state’s electoral processes, including the certification of election results and the appointment of key officials such as the secretary of state. Democrats have warned that a Garrity victory could lead to further erosion of trust in elections and potential challenges to the outcome of future races.

Garrity’s nomination is part of a broader pattern of Trump-backed candidates winning Republican primaries nationwide, often by embracing his false claims about the 2020 election. In Pennsylvania, she defeated several primary opponents to secure the GOP nomination, including state senator Doug Mastriano, another election denier who was endorsed by Trump in 2022 but failed to advance in the gubernatorial race this year.

As the general election approaches, Garrity faces Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s current attorney general, in what is expected to be a highly competitive race. Shapiro, who has positioned himself as a defender of voting rights and election integrity, has criticized Garrity’s election denialism and her alignment with Trump’s divisive rhetoric.

The outcome of Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race could have far-reaching consequences for the 2024 presidential election, particularly in a state that played a decisive role in Biden’s victory four years ago. With both major parties mobilizing voters, the campaign is expected to draw significant national attention and resources.

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