Garrity Mar-A-Lago fundraiser draws appearance from President Trump
Last Friday, Republican candidate for governor Stacy Garrity hosted a fundraiser at The Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., and received a warm welcome from the club’s proprietor – President Donald Trump.
Trump greeted Garrity and proceeded to share with assembled guests why he favors the Pennsylvania State Treasurer over current Gov. Josh Shapiro in the 2026 election.
“I gave [Garrity] an endorsement, she should win,” said the 45th and 47th president. “I am very unimpressed by Shapiro. I watched him on an interview … he’s a stiff.”
Trump gave Garrity his endorsement in late January, calling her “a successful businesswoman, retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel … and a true America First patriot, who has been with me from the beginning. Stacy Garrity has my complete and total endorsement to be the next governor of Pennsylvania.”
“President Trump is right. After years of practicing his Barack Obamaimpersonation, you’d think Josh Shapiro would be better,” said Matt Beynon, a spokesman for the Garrity campaign.
“But you can’t fake charisma, and you definitely can’t fake results. Under Josh Shapiro’s failed administration, Pennsylvania ranks 38th economically, 39th in education, and 41st overall. We have 3,000 structurally deficient bridges, and nearly 70 percent of Pennsylvania’s 8th graders can’t read at grade level. As governor, Stacy Garrity’s priority will be fighting for hardworking Pennsylvanians, not trying to get a promotion to Pennsylvania Avenue like Josh Shapiro.”
Cliff Maloney, who started The Pennsylvania Chase, a door-to-door voter contact program focused exclusively on building the Red Wall in Pennsylvania. was in attendance and said that his organization plans to knock 750,000 doors in 2026 around the Commonwealth to help elect Garrity.
Garrity, who raised nearly $1.5 million last quarter, is hoping for a larger haul in Q1 to compete with the $30 million war chest compiled by Shapiro, the incumbent Democrat. And she needed to head to Florida to make connections with Trump donors.
Garrity wants to make that money that Shapiro has in the bank an issue in the campaign.
She says when you follow the money, the picture it paints should concern every Pennsylvanian. Garrity says 58% of the governor’s money comes from outside the Commonwealth with a list of donors that includes data center developers, fossil fuel executives, and real estate interests – all with business interests in state government.
Garrity goes on the say in a fundraising email that, “It makes you wonder who he’s running to represent. Josh Shapiro thinks he can buy this election.”
Pennsylvania Democrats are choosing the weekend affair as another opportunity to paint Garrity as a MAGA candidate.
“As Donald Trump’s failed agenda is spiking gas prices and forcing more Pennsylvanians to lose their health insurance, Garrity is spending her weekend cozying up to Trump and wooing MAGA allies because she is a disastrous candidate running on Trump’s disastrous agenda,” said Ava Pitruzzello, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “Every day it becomes clear Garrity will always defend Trump’s agenda of higher costs and less health care as it continues to hurt Pennsylvania families.”
