Pennsylvania Governor 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Josh Shapiro (Democrat), Stacy Garrity (Republican) and Ken Krawchuk (Libertarian) are the candidates for governor of Pennsylvania in the November 3, 2026 general election. Josh Shapiro is the incumbent. Semblen has analyzed 75 ads in this race; 11 used at least one manipulation technique, most often glittering generalities and loaded language.
Josh Shapiro (DEM, incumbent), Stacy Garrity (REP), Ken Krawchuk (LIB).
On the ballot as listed by Ballotpedia. 75 ads analyzed, 11 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08.
$621,800–764,029 on all ads, $98,700–126,382 on flagged ads · Meta reports ranges; these are the sums of their ends
Example
“make your dreams come true” — Glittering Generalities, paid for by Josh Shapiro
· the flagged ad with the highest reported spend that shows the most common technique
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Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 15% of ads.
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Money in this race
Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Pennsylvania's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
The ads
75 ads, newest first.
Showing the 46 ads paid for by Josh Shapiro. Show all 75 ads
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-10-082 variantsspend $500–69810,100–15,998 impressions
It’s official: I JUST launched my reelection campaign here in battleground Pennsylvania. We’re fighting for freedom and democracy in the nation’s closest swing state. Can I count on you to become a Founding Donor?
Hey, before you scroll away, I need a quick favor.
It’s critical that we finish this race strong. Will you please pitch in just $5 and help us out? Thanks!
False Urgency: The capitalized 'JUST' and 'It's official' create a sense of immediacy and urgency around the campaign launch — for example: I JUST launched
Glittering Generalities: Vague emotionally positive terms like 'freedom' and 'democracy' are invoked as rhetorical flourish without any specific policy substance — for example: fighting for freedom and democracy
Bandwagon Appeal: The label 'Founding Donor' implies joining an exclusive founding group, pressuring the reader to conform and not be left out of a prestigious movement — for example: become a Founding Donor
False Urgency
Glittering Generalities
Bandwagon Appeal
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-10-05 to 2026-10-07spend $1,000–1,49915,000–19,999 impressions
Josh Shapiro here. We're just a couple weeks from Election Day, and soon I'll be back on the bus touring Pennsylvania.
Trump's driven gas prices up, so it's going to take a little more to keep us fueled.
Will you chip in $2 to help us get to a community near you?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-10-05 to 2026-10-07spend $700–7999,000–9,999 impressions
Hey, it's Josh Shapiro. My favorite part of this campaign is getting on the bus and touring Pennsylvania, meeting folks where they are. Between that and what Trump's done to gas prices, I could use some help keeping us fueled up.
Will you chip in $2 to help us get the bus to your community?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-10-05 to 2026-10-08spend $25,000–29,999350,000–399,999 impressions
On Wednesday night, I take the debate stage against Trump's hand-picked candidate for governor. I need your help getting our message out. Will you chip in $1 right now?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-28 to 2026-10-082 variantsspend $76,000–86,998980,000–1,089,998 impressions
Hey – It's Gov. Josh Shapiro here. I'm standing with my friend Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to talk about what's at stake here in Pennsylvania. I'm one of the last statewide Democrats left in this Commonwealth, and they're throwing everything they've got at us. Will you rush $1 or whatever you can before midnight?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-22 to 2026-10-02spend $25,000–29,999350,000–399,999 impressions
Hey, it's Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA). My final end-of-the-quarter deadline of the entire campaign is here. So you will never, ever hear me ask for an end-of-quarter deadline in this governor's race, and all I need from you right now is $1.
If you could pitch in $1 right now, it would make a huge difference. Thank you!
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase invokes vague, emotionally positive notions of hard work and dreams without any substantive policy content — for example: make your dreams come true and a governor on your side.
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence flatters the audience by implying they are deserving insiders who need a champion on their side, creating an in-group identity around the implied candidate — for example: 'You deserve a governor on your side'
Glittering Generalities
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Appeal to Fear: Acknowledges difficult times to create a sense of anxiety that primes the audience to be receptive to the speaker's solutions — for example: times are tough
Card Stacking: Selectively highlights positive actions (tax cuts, fighting rate hikes) without providing context, counterarguments, or evidence of effectiveness, presenting a one-sided picture — for example: cut taxes 10 times and fought back against utility rate hikes
Glittering Generalities: Uses a vague, emotionally positive framing about keeping money in people's pockets without substantive detail about actual outcomes — for example: keep more money in your pockets
Appeal to Fear
Card Stacking
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-193 variantsspend $1,800–2,49730,100–36,997 impressions
Josh Shapiro here. Donald Trump and his enablers like my opponent, they're doing everything they can to undermine our freedom and undermine our democracy.
And I'm standing up for you. I'm standing up for our Constitution. I'm standing up for all Pennsylvanians.
I need your help.
If you could rush a $1 recurring contribution to my reelection campaign right now, it would make a huge difference.
Join our effort to protect our freedoms and our democracy.
$1.
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged words chosen to trigger a reaction rather than convey facts. — for example: undermine our freedom and undermine our democracy.
Name Calling: Derogatory labels used to discredit a person or group rather than address their arguments. — for example: his enablers like my opponent.
Repetition: The word 'undermine' is deliberately repeated twice in close succession to reinforce the negative framing of the opponent's actions — for example: 'undermine our freedom and undermine our democracy'
Glittering Generalities: References to 'freedom' and 'democracy' are used as vague, emotionally positive terms without specifying what concrete actions or policies are actually at stake — for example: 'our freedom and undermine our democracy'
Transfer: Invoking the Constitution borrows legitimacy from a revered national symbol to validate the speaker's position without specifying what constitutional principle is at stake — for example: 'standing up for our Constitution'
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'join our effort' implies a collective movement already underway and pressures the reader to conform by participating, suggesting that others are already involved — for example: 'Join our effort'
Loaded Language
Name Calling
Repetition
Glittering Generalities
Transfer
Bandwagon Appeal
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-19 to 2026-10-02spend $40,000–44,999500,000–599,999 impressions
Hey you! Yes, you! Before you scroll away:
I'm running for reelection in the most competitive swing state in the country, and he can’t pull off a victory without the help of grassroots supporters like you.
Will you chip in right now to help us reach thousands of undecided voters and win on Election Day?
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-14 to 2026-09-293 variantsspend $27,000–37,997445,000–529,997 impressions
Donald Trump handpicked the candidate to run against me. I need your help to stop Trump and stop her.
So chip in $5 right now to support my reelection campaign and send a clear message to Donald Trump that we will not allow a rubber stamp for him and his policies here in the governor's office in Pennsylvania.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-14 to 2026-09-293 variantsspend $6,500–7,997140,000–159,997 impressions
Pennsylvania is a HUGE and expensive state to run for reelection in, and I need your help right now. If you could chip in a buck, five bucks, whatever you can, it would be a huge, huge help right now. Thank you!
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-14 to 2026-10-083 variantsspend $15,000–20,997235,000–279,997 impressions
Hey, it's Josh Shapiro, the governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the swingiest of all swing states, and we're facing an election in just a few weeks, and I need your help now. Chip in a buck right now to support my reelection. Thank you!
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-14 to 2026-09-293 variantsspend $17,500–23,997360,000–414,997 impressions
My opponent was asked to name one issue where she disagreed with President Trump. She couldn't come up with anything.
Well, there's a lot I disagree with Trump on, and a lot I fought back against him on and won against him on as your governor here in Pennsylvania. And right now I'm running for reelection, and I need your help.
If you could chip in $5 to support my campaign, I'd appreciate it a lot.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $700–799125,000–149,999 impressions
“In addition to funding initiatives such as free breakfast and hygiene products and a student teacher stipend program aimed at bolstering the education workforce, the budget also requires public schools to perform weekly wellness checks on students in cyber programs.”
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $1,500–1,999300,000–349,999 impressions
"Pennsylvania youngsters will once again have to learn the art of cursive handwriting as part of their schooling, under a bill signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Feb. 11."
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $10,000–14,9991,000,000+ impressions
"Education leaders and state lawmakers are encouraging more people to enter the teaching profession through a student-teacher stipend program aimed at easing financial barriers amid ongoing staffing shortages across Pennsylvania."
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-02spend $15,000–19,9991,000,000+ impressions
"Gov. Josh Shapiro will visit Gateway High School in Monroeville on Thursday to celebrate the passage of the budget, which also includes $565 million in additional support for historically underresourced schools and mandatory wellness checks for students attending both traditional public and charter schools virtually."
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $2,500–2,999500,000–599,999 impressions
"When Josh Shapiro was campaigning to become governor of Pennsylvania back in 2022, the Montgomery County Democrat vowed that he would make public education a priority."
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $1,000–1,499200,000–249,999 impressions
"The Pottstown and Boyertown school districts were the greatest beneficiaries of the new $50.85 billion state budget, which funneled $670 million in new funding to school aid."
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $3,500–3,999600,000–699,999 impressions
“Under the budget, schools must provide at least 30 minutes of daily recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and 15 minutes for half-day kindergarten. The budget directs the State Board of Education to provide guidance on scheduled recess and breaks”
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Josh Shapirofrom 2026-09-11 to 2026-10-01spend $500–599100,000–124,999 impressions
Gov. Shapiro: “Students need to spend time focused on learning, on socializing with their peers, and on developing the critical skills they’ll need later in life”
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it ran mostly in PA and names a nominee for governor — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office (a U.S. Senate or House campaign included), or it also names PA's Senate nominees, in which case it is on the Senate race's page. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
The candidates are the ones certified for the November ballot, from the source linked at the top. Governors are state offices, so there are no FEC filings behind this page: no money figures, and outside groups are placed on a side only when they are a campaign or a party committee.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific manipulative move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. The check runs once and its result is shown to everyone afterwards. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.
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