Pennsylvania Treasurer Accuses Governor of Playing Politics with Anti-Hate Conference Speech

Strategic Insights -

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity accused Governor Josh Shapiro of politicizing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during his keynote speech at an anti-hate conference earlier this week. Garrity, a Republican challenging Shapiro for governor in 2026, claimed Shapiro only mentioned Kirk once in his 25-minute speech and made the event about himself instead of honoring Kirk's legacy. The controversy comes as Garrity also announced she had been endorsed by former Republican Governor Tom Corbett.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity accused Governor Josh Shapiro of politicizing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during his keynote speech at an anti-hate conference.
  • Garrity claimed Shapiro only mentioned Kirk once in his 25-minute speech and made the event about himself instead of honoring Kirk's legacy.
  • Garrity announced she had been endorsed by former Republican Governor Tom Corbett, who introduced Shapiro's speech earlier this week.
  • Corbett said he endorsed Garrity over a week ago and did not play a role in deciding the timing of the announcement.
  • Garrity criticized Shapiro for not condemning state Democratic officials who made critical statements about Kirk in the wake of his killing.
  • Shapiro denounced the assassination of Kirk and ordered flags at half mast in his honor, but Garrity took issue with his comments on President Trump's response to the killing.
  • Garrity also acknowledged the attack on the governor's mansion during Passover was wrong and unacceptable, but argued Shapiro should know better than anyone that acts of political violence aren't about photo ops for politicians.

Statistics:

  • 25 minutes: The length of Shapiro's keynote speech at the anti-hate conference.
  • 1: The number of times Kirk was mentioned in Shapiro's speech, according to Garrity.
  • 11: The number of lives lost in the 2018 deadly antisemitic attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill.
  • 2026: The year of the upcoming gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania, in which Garrity will challenge Shapiro.
  • 2024: The year in which an attempt was made to assassinate President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Sources:

  • The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • Tribune Content Agency, LLC
  • TribLIVE
  • WHYY
  • The Bob Cordaro Show