Welcome back to Broad + Liberty’s Candidate Spotlight Series! Each week, we reach out to candidates all across the Commonwealth up for election to public office — an equal number of Democrats and Republicans; incumbents and challengers. We ask one question per week about public policy pressing to you. Those who choose to respond will have their answers shared on our website. (Please see a special statement from the editors about unresponsive candidates.)

This week, nominees for public office across our great state will share their thoughts on abortion. We’ve already heard from our nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, and the PA General Assembly. Let’s hear what our nominees for Governor have to say.

If you are a candidate for public office in Pennsylvania and would like to participate, please reach out to lsattler@broadandliberty.com.

This week’s question: For decades, Roe v. Wade provided the context for whether one identified as pro-life or pro-choice. However, the Dobbs decision has scrambled these traditional lines. Pro-life individuals now grapple with what exceptions on abortion they accept, and pro-choice individuals question at what stage in a pregnancy termination is acceptable. Given this new construct, please articulate your personal position on abortion, the role of the federal and state legislatures going forward, and what exceptions you would support regardless of whether you consider yourself to be pro-life or pro-choice.

Josh Shapiro (D)

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, a woman’s freedom to choose now depends on the state in which she lives. While abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania, whether it remains legal will depend entirely on who we elect as our next Governor. 

Our state legislature is poised to pass a law banning abortion in Pennsylvania, and my opponent would sign that bill into law as Governor. He wants to use government to dictate how Pennsylvanians live their lives and has said that his number one priority is to ban abortion — without exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother. He’s also said that he wants to throw doctors in jail for performing abortions and that he would charge women who get an abortion with murder. My opponent and the politicians in Harrisburg are supporting extreme policies and are wildly out of touch with where most Pennsylvanians are on this issue.

It’s clear now more than ever that the rights of women to have control over their own bodies and our fundamental freedoms are on the line.

Throughout my career, I have always fought to protect reproductive rights — and as Governor, I will continue to stand with women and will protect current Pennsylvania law, which allows abortions up to 24 weeks.

Come back later to read the response from Josh Shapiro’s running mate, Austin Davis.


Doug Mastriano (R)

The Mastriano campaign chose not to respond.

Come back later to read the response from Doug Mastriano’s running mate, Carrie Lewis DelRosso.


Broad + Liberty is a nonprofit media endeavor dedicated to sharing voices and stories that are shut out of other media outlets. @BroadAndLiberty

Leave a (Respectful) Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *