{"id":2629636,"date":"2026-07-14T13:44:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T17:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-tests-political-strength-in-pa-with-fundraiser-for-garrity\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T13:46:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T17:46:13","slug":"desantis-tests-political-strength-in-pa-with-fundraiser-for-garrity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-tests-political-strength-in-pa-with-fundraiser-for-garrity\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis tests political strength in PA with fundraiser for Garrity"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-tests-political-strength-in-pa-with-fundraiser-for-garrity%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629636&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) visited Philadelphia to campaign with Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity, highlighting his influence in a battleground state were his presidential campaign has struggled.DeSantis has personal ties to Pennsylvania, as his father was raised in Aliquippa. during the event, Garrity aimed to align herself with DeSantis\u2019s policies on taxes, education, and economics to counter her polling and fundraising disadvantages against Democrat Josh Shapiro. The event included a fundraiser at Philadelphia\u2019s Union League with high ticket prices, seeking to leverage DeSantis\u2019s national donor network.<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis and Garrity also participated in a discussion on affordability and freedom, with Garrity praising DeSantis\u2019s leadership. The visit coincided with another Republican gathering, the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle, though DeSantis was not scheduled to speak there. The Republican efforts come amidst criticism from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, which mocked Garrity\u2019s alignment with DeSantis. If accomplished, garrity could become Pennsylvania\u2019s first female governor, overturning Democratic incumbent Shapiro. Garrity emphasizes her work ethic and background in contrast to Shapiro\u2019s political polish, positioning herself as a supporter of energy and manufacturing industries, and criticizing Shapiro as a career politician preoccupied with national ambitions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"575\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) traveled to Philadelphia on Tuesday to campaign with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"629\">Pennsylvania<\/a> GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity, bringing one of the nation\u2019s highest-profile Republican governors into the political backyard of Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-shapiro\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5122\">Josh Shapiro<\/a>, a Democrat widely viewed as a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11676\">2028 presidential<\/a> contender.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The visit comes as Garrity <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/local21news.com\/news\/local\/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-leads-stacy-garrity-in-2026-governors-race-polls-franklin-and-marshall-college-president-donald-trump-republican-democrat-voting\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/local21news.com\/news\/local\/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-leads-stacy-garrity-in-2026-governors-race-polls-franklin-and-marshall-college-president-donald-trump-republican-democrat-voting\">trails Shapiro<\/a> by roughly 20 points, raising questions about how much political influence DeSantis carries in a battleground state where his 2024 presidential campaign struggled to break through. Despite ending his White House bid, DeSantis remains one of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"514\">Republican Party\u2019s <\/a>most recognizable governors and continues to campaign for GOP candidates who have embraced his governing style and agenda.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4647332\/burt-jones-support-rick-jackson\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Burt Jones torn on supporting Rick Jackson after losing primary to him: \u2018We\u2019ll see\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4647263\/hochul-sign-one-year-ban-data-center-construction\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Hochul to sign one-year ban on data center construction<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4645945\/mamdani-continue-work-strategist-morris-katz-after-platner-scandal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mamdani to continue to work with Morris Katz after Platner scandal<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis also has personal ties to the Keystone State. His father was raised in Aliquippa, giving the Florida governor a family connection to western Pennsylvania that his allies have highlighted during previous visits.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appearance also gives Garrity an opportunity to align herself with one of the GOP\u2019s best-known governors as she works to narrow a wide polling deficit and fundraising disadvantage against Shapiro. Garrity has frequently pointed to DeSantis\u2019s record in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"159\">Florida<\/a>, particularly on taxes, education, and economic policy, as a model she would like to replicate in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday\u2019s fundraiser at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/philadelphia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"901\">Philadelphia\u2019s<\/a> Union League, where top-tier tickets are priced as high as $25,000, underscores another reason for DeSantis\u2019s appearance, tapping into his national donor network to help bolster a campaign facing an incumbent with a significant financial advantage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis\u2019s visit coincides with another major Republican gathering in Pennsylvania. President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> is scheduled to headline the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, where senior government officials, military leaders, defense executives, investors, and technology innovators are expected to gather. Organizers, including Sen. Dave McCormick\u2019s (R-PA) office, have said the summit will showcase Pennsylvania\u2019s growing role in defense manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, critical minerals, and other emerging technologies while featuring major investment and partnership announcements.\u00a0DeSanits\u00a0does not appear on the list of scheduled speakers, and it is unclear if either he or Garrity will attend the two-day event.  <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, DeSantis and Garrity will participate in a \u201cfireside conversation on affordability and the future of freedom\u201d at the Union League of Philadelphia, as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_a9951479-848e-4679-a60d-05fe9c4ee120.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_a9951479-848e-4679-a60d-05fe9c4ee120.html\">first reported<\/a> by the <em>Center Square<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe look forward to seeing you for an inspiring afternoon of great conversation, great company, and a shared commitment to Pennsylvania\u2019s future,\u201d Beth Sawyer, who is listed on the invitation, said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Garrity has repeatedly praised DeSantis\u2019s leadership and governing record.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI would say Gov. DeSantis is arguably, probably, if not the best, one of the best governors that we have had in modern history,\u201d Garrity said during a recent interview on the <em>Beth Sawyer Show<\/em> on WVLT.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was a VIP meet-and-greet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">General admission tickets cost $300. Sponsorship packages range up to a $25,000 VIP level that includes a private meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with DeSantis and Garrity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pennsylvania Democratic Party criticized the event ahead of DeSantis\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor the low price of $25,000, you can listen to Stacy Garrity talk about affordability alongside another MAGA politician she wants to imitate: abortion-banning Governor Ron DeSantis,\u201d Ava Pitruzzello, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said. \u201cAs if her complete and total allegiance to the Trump agenda, making life more expensive across our Commonwealth, wasn\u2019t enough, this is yet another example of just how out of touch and wrong Garrity is for Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Garrity were to defeat Shapiro in November, she would become Pennsylvania\u2019s first female governor, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the state\u2019s modern political history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After launching her campaign last summer, Garrity described Shapiro as \u201ca smooth talker, much smoother than me,\u201d while contrasting his political resume with her own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/2730524_sd_6a55450a9017e_1783973130.jpg\" type=\"attachment\" id=\"4646748\">JOSH SHAPIRO SIGNS $50.8 BILLION BUDGET DEAL BUT LEAVES KEY DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES BEHIND<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s a very polished politician, a career politician. A prolific fundraiser. But you know what? I am a hard worker,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Garrity, a second-term state treasurer, former Army Reserve officer, and manufacturing industry veteran, was the only Republican on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4573623\/josh-shapiro-stacy-garrity-pennsylvania-governor-showdown\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4573623\/josh-shapiro-stacy-garrity-pennsylvania-governor-showdown\/\">May 19 primary ballot<\/a>. Her campaign has centered on supporting farmers, expanding Pennsylvania\u2019s natural gas industry, and portraying Shapiro as a career politician more focused on a future White House bid than on leading the commonwealth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DeSantis campaigns with Garrity in PA as she trails Shapiro<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2629637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26096661823402.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[33399,4980,8135,5836,32504],"class_list":["post-2629636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-2024-elections","tag-desantis","tag-fundraiser","tag-pennsylvania","tag-political-strategy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26096661823402.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629636"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629640,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629636\/revisions\/2629640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}