Shapiro fires up Butler Democrats with less than two months until election
PENN TWP — Receiving a standing ovation from a room of local Democrats at the Butler Country Club, Gov. Josh Shapiro pitched a reelection campaign centered on affordability, combating the policies of President Donald Trump and helping elect other Democrats across Pennsylvania to help pass his agenda.
His speech at the Butler County Democrats’ Fall Fundraiser Dinner Thursday, Sept. 17, happened in a county where Trump has received roughly 65% of the vote the past three presidential elections. It is also where state Rep. Brandon Dukes, D-12th, an ally of Shapiro, recently won in a special election upset and faces another election in coming months.
“I go everywhere. I’ve spent a lot of time in Butler County and all across our rural communities in Pennsylvania. I think it’s important to show up, to listen and to deliver for folks,” Shapiro told the Eagle.
“This is a community that means a lot to me. I’ve been here many times. I’m going to show up many more times in the future and I couldn’t be more thankful for the support I’ve earned here from, not just my fellow Democrats, but many Republicans and independents as well.”
Less than two months until the Nov. 3 general election, Shapiro was joined by local Democratic officials and candidates hoping to capitalize on recent local success and trends nation- and statewide favoring their party this year.
Both Shapiro and his Republican opponent have claimed their message is resonating with voters. Weeks ago, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican nominee, told the Eagle in an interview she has felt Pennsylvanians are responding to her campaign pillar of “making life affordable.”
But polling shows Shapiro ahead nearing Election Day. Polling from August has Shapiro up 56%-25%, according to PennLive; 50%-25%, according to Franklin & Marshall College; and 54%-37%, according to the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer.
Currently, Democrats hold the state’s House of Representatives 103-100 while Republicans hold the state Senate 27-23.
“I’m here tonight because this is a community that knows how to win,” Shapiro said. “The eyes of the nation a few weeks ago were on Butler County. They said it couldn’t be done in a district that Donald Trump won by 18 points. In a district that the Republican representative dominated by 30 points. They said it couldn’t be done, that a guy named Brandon Dukes could come out of nowhere and be elected.”
In his speech, Shapiro expressed a desire to continue the Democratic Party’s growth and success in Butler County, suggesting the county’s board of commissioners could be a target down the road.
“There’s only one Democrat on that board. We’re going to talk about this in the future, but we need two Democratic commissioners here in Butler County,” Shapiro said to applause from local Democratic donors.
Shapiro’s speech Thursday night centered on the idea of people being “sick and tired of the status quo” and the “chaos and cruelty of the corruption we are seeing in Washington, D.C.”
Trump was a frequent target.
During his speech, he blamed Trump’s tariff policy for raising inflation and increasing costs at grocery stores and local businesses. He also strongly criticized Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran.
“You go to the gas pump today, you try and fill up your car and you’re paying at least $4.20, $4.30 a gallon,” Shapiro said. “Diesel’s up over six bucks. And the reality is, you can draw a straight line between the president’s wrong-headed decision to go into a war in Iran, a war we shouldn’t have been in the first place. He had no reason for going in.”
Shapiro, who recently feuded with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., attacked the Trump administration’s handling of the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania. Measles was eradicated from Pennsylvania in 2000. Now, he said, the outbreak has led to four Pennsylvanians dead and over 1,000 infected.
“His health secretary decided to go out and lie about the efficacy of vaccines. Literally decided to feed misinformation and disinformation to the people of Pennsylvania and across the country,” Shapiro said. “Pray for our commonwealth. Pray for those who are suffering. And pray that Donald Trump finally gets some wisdom and throws RFK the hell out of office.”
As governor, Shapiro has faced a divided state legislature, leading to several delayed budgets due to partisan disagreements over spending levels and how to combat deficits.
“I couldn’t be more proud and humbled to serve as your governor,” Shapiro said. “And I’ve worked my tail off, even with a divided legislature, to deliver for this community. To make sure funding for schools is increased. To make sure our communities are safe. To grow our economy and create jobs.”
But if Democrats win the Senate and give Shapiro a governing trifecta, he pledged Thursday night the first thing Pennsylvania Democrats would do is raise the minimum wage to $15/hour.
Other actions he said would be taken include “protect the union way of life,” “enshrine in the law protections for women to make decisions over their own bodies” and “build more affordable housing.”
Following his speech Thursday night, Shapiro was asked about how his past experiences have impacted his approach to leading the state and running for reelection.
Instead of pondering the past, Shapiro focused on his political efforts.
“I think public service is a privilege and it’s a public trust,” Shapiro told the Eagle. “And you have to earn that trust every day. And I earn that trust by showing up, by listening and by delivering for people. Making sure I make their lives better. Put a few bucks more in their pocket. Create jobs in their communities. Make sure their rights and freedoms are protected. That’s the work I do.
“I must tell you, I’m more energized today than ever before.”
