Well folks, it’s about that time again. It’s time to get into the gubernatorial spirit! The Pennsylvania governor race is in full swing, and it’s about time that everybody familiarizes themselves with the campaigns. It’s currently down to two governor hopefuls, Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican Doug Mastriano. In this article, I will cover the big issues facing Pennsylvanians today and the two candidates’ ideas to solve them.

Abortion

Josh Shapiro’s website states that “As Governor, Josh will defend access to reproductive health care — and continue to defend a woman’s right to choose in Pennsylvania.” Essentially, he is saying that he will protect and support abortion. On the right side of the aisle, Doug Mastriano’s website states that he will sign the Heartbeat Bill into law and end all state funding to Planned Parenthood. In short, he strongly opposes abortion.

Energy

Pennsylvania is the largest energy exporter in the country, and both Shapiro and Mastriano want to keep that title. They just have different ways of going about it. Shapiro is encouraging investments into clean energy, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, while Mastriano wants to invest into the natural gas and coal industry, as well as lifting taxes and restrictions for drilling.

Education

These two candidates have wildly different visions for the education of Pennsylvania. Shapiro wants to fund the public school system more, and update the school buildings. Mastriano, meanwhile, is a much more parent-focused candidate, advocating for parental rights and an immediate ban on Critical Race Theory, as well as reviews on “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” plans.

Well, I hope this article helped you to decide who to root for. Now we just have to wait 54 days to see who wins.