On July 14, 2026, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis campaigned in Philadelphia alongside Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity. This visit occurred as Garrity trails incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro by approximately 20 points in polls. DeSantis, despite having ended his presidential campaign, remains a prominent figure in the Republican Party and continues to support GOP candidates.
DeSantis has personal ties to Pennsylvania, as his father grew up in Aliquippa. The fundraiser at the Union League of Philadelphia featured ticket prices up to $25,000, aimed at leveraging DeSantis's national donor network to assist Garrity's campaign.
During the event, DeSantis and Garrity participated in a discussion on affordability and future governance. Garrity has praised DeSantis's leadership and expressed her desire to emulate his policies in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party criticized the event, highlighting concerns about Garrity's alignment with DeSantis's political agenda. If elected, Garrity would be the first female governor of Pennsylvania.