Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor Stacy Garrity held a campaign event in Altoona to present an affordability plan that centers on expanding the state’s natural gas industry, rolling back certain energy and gas taxes, and reviewing regulations that she says burden small businesses.
- Stacy Garrity campaigned in Altoona outlining an affordability plan focused on natural gas development, energy tax cuts and regulatory review for businesses.
- Democrats highlighted expanded state relief programs, while labor unions that previously backed Garrity are now campaigning against her gubernatorial bid.
- Garrity’s property tax proposal, energy plans and regulatory promises lack detailed fiscal and implementation specifics in public reporting.
- Independent analysis and legislative action would be required to evaluate the feasibility and impacts of her proposals.
What Garrity told voters in Altoona
Speaking inside a small Altoona restaurant, Garrity framed her plan around lowering what she described as rising costs for Pennsylvanians. She said her administration would “unleash Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry, and encourage investment in reliable, affordable power,” and pledged opposition to carbon taxes, cap-and-trade programs and energy mandates she said drive up utility bills. Those remarks were reported by WPSU.
Garrity also criticized what she described as Pennsylvania’s comparatively high tax burden and said she would cut some energy and gas taxes. She told attendees her campaign would assemble a team to review regulations affecting businesses; when asked for specifics she said regulators — rather than the legislature — have created most rules and that her team would examine every regulation.
Local business perspective and event details
The event took place at Family Pizza & Pub, where owner Dave Servello told attendees he has experienced higher wholesale food costs and delayed raising menu prices to avoid burdening customers. WPSU reported that Servello said he recently implemented a price increase after holding off for two years.
During and after the gathering, the Shapiro campaign deployed a mobile billboard near the restaurant. The electronic signs linked Garrity to increased costs from gas, tariffs and health care, according to WPSU’s account.
Democratic response and competing claims
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, speaking to WPSU prior to the Altoona stop, highlighted Democratic administration programs meant to ease local costs. Davis cited expanded benefits under the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, saying that more than 8,800 Blair County residents received over $9 million in relief after the program’s expansion. He also said more than 1,500 families in Blair County were estimated to be eligible for an expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
The Shapiro campaign has criticized Garrity for her support of the war in Iran and ties to former President Donald Trump; WPSU reported Garrity pushed back, saying responsibility for Pennsylvania’s competitiveness lies with the incumbent, not Trump.
How Garrity’s proposals fit into her broader agenda
Garrity has promoted energy-sector and tax proposals elsewhere on the campaign trail. Reporting from the USA TODAY Network (via GoErie) summarized a separate Garrity proposal to eliminate Pennsylvania property taxes by drawing on roughly $11 billion in special state funds and redirecting interest into a short-term vehicle she described as a stopgap while growing natural gas revenues — a plan she outlined in April at a township supervisors conference. That reporting noted legal and legislative complexity in repurposing special funds, which are typically designated by law for specific uses.
Garrity has also used advertising to criticize Gov. Josh Shapiro over data center development and campaign contributions tied to tech and AI interests. The Center Square reported on an ad accusing Shapiro of receiving contributions from out-of-state developers tied to data centers; the Center Square noted it had not independently verified the total amount cited by the ad. Both gubernatorial campaigns have shifted messaging on data centers, with Garrity calling for a pause in development while Shapiro has proposed attracting “responsible” projects with guardrails.
Political context and union opposition
The Altoona stop occurs against a backdrop of shifting endorsements and organized-labor pushback. WHYY reported the Philadelphia Building Trades and Construction Council — which backed Garrity’s 2024 bid for state treasurer — is actively campaigning against her gubernatorial run. The council’s leadership said Garrity broke a promise not to run against Gov. Shapiro; its business manager called the governor a “superior” candidate and said the group would not support Garrity. Garrity’s campaign responded that she would “do what Josh Shapiro has not done — she will fight for Pennsylvania workers and advocate for Pennsylvania businesses,” according to WHYY.
WHYY’s reporting also flagged criticism from labor over Garrity’s acceptance of an endorsement from the Associated Builders and Contractors political arm, which supports right-to-work policies that many unions oppose.
Implications for voters and unresolved questions
- Garrity’s energy-focused affordability plan pitches increased natural gas development and cuts to energy-related taxes as a route to lower household costs. The potential fiscal effects, timeline and specific tax changes she would pursue were not detailed at the Altoona event.
- Her regulatory review for small businesses was presented as an administrative agenda item; Garrity did not specify which regulations she would eliminate or how she would prevent impacts on health, safety or labor standards.
- Democrats emphasize existing state relief programs as evidence of progress on affordability; they point to concrete rebate dollars delivered under expanded programs, while advancing critiques of Garrity’s national political ties and policy priorities.
- Union opposition underscores a realignment since Garrity’s 2024 treasurer campaign and suggests labor groups could play a significant role in the closing months of the gubernatorial race.
Timeline of related developments (selected)
- April 2026 — Garrity publicly discussed using special state funds as a temporary mechanism to eliminate property taxes while expanding natural gas production (reported by GoErie/USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania).
- August 3, 2026 — Garrity released an ad criticizing Gov. Shapiro on data center development and contributions, according to The Center Square.
- August 18, 2026 — WHYY reported the Philadelphia Building Trades Council organizing against Garrity’s gubernatorial bid.
- August 27, 2026 — WPSU covered Garrity’s Altoona affordability event at Family Pizza & Pub and the surrounding campaign activity.
What remains to be clarified
Garrity described multiple policy directions in Altoona and elsewhere, but several details require further specification: the exact taxes she would reduce and the fiscal offset plan; which regulations she would remove and how oversight would work; and what precise permits or approaches would accelerate natural gas development while addressing environmental or community impacts. Journalists and voters will need quantitative estimates, legislative pathways and independent fiscal analysis to assess the feasibility and consequences of her proposals.
“My administration will unleash Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry, and encourage investment in reliable, affordable power,” Garrity said at the Altoona event, as reported by WPSU.
Reporting for this article relied on WPSU’s coverage of Garrity’s Altoona event, WHYY reporting on union opposition, The Center Square’s account of Garrity’s ad campaign on data centers, and USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania reporting on her property-tax proposal and broader fiscal claims.
