Pennsylvanians think Gov. Josh Shapiro is doing a good job.

At least that’s what the findings from a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday show.

Three in five (60%) of respondents approve of the job that the third-year chief executive has done, while just 28% disagree. That is the highest job approval rating for Shapiro since Quinnipiac began asking this question of registered voters in Pennsylvania in June 2023.

There is always a caveat, isn’t there?

Shapiro’s disapproval rating of 28 percent is also the highest – up a tick from 27% in October 2023.

Not surprisingly, Democrats overwhelmingly approve at 93 percent, while two-thirds of independents surveyed also gave him high marks. Also not surprising, more than half of Republicans polled (58%) disapprove of the former Pennsylvania Attorney General’s performance.

2026 Governor’s Race

A hypothetical matchup between Shapiro and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the endorsed candidate by the PA GOP, shows the governor with a 16-point advantage at 55-39%.

A hypothetical rematch between Shapiro and 2022 GOP candidate Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams/Franklin) found the incumbent with a 17-point edge, 56-39%. Mastriano has not declared whether he is a candidate for the race, but has dropped hints that he intends to run.

Governor Josh Shapiro clinches an enviable 60 percent job approval and leaves his two potential gubernatorial challengers in the rear-view mirror in a very early look at Pennsylvania’s 2026 gubernatorial race,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

2028 Presidential Race

Looking ahead to 2028, Quinnipiac polled respondents on a hypothetical matchup between Shapiro and Vice President JD Vance that showed the governor with a 10-point advantage among Keystone State voters, 53-43%. Party lines showed up in the question, as 97% of Democrats supported Shapiro, while 89% of Republicans favored the VP. Among independents, though, Shapiro topped Vance by 25 points (58-33%).

“With the caveats that it’s a long way off and it’s a purely hypothetical race, native son Shapiro looks to have a healthy lead over potential opponent Vice President Vance,” added Malloy.

Favorability Ratings

Voters were asked whether they have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of:

• Josh Shapiro | 58% favorable, 28% unfavorable, 11% haven’t heard enough about him
• Stacy Garrity | 13% favorable, 12% unfavorable, 73% haven’t heard enough about her
• Doug Mastriano | 23% favorable, 35% unfavorable, 41% haven’t heard enough about him
• JD Vance | 43% favorable, 47% unfavorable, 11% haven’t heard enough about him

Job Approvals

• Sen. Dave McCormick | 39% favorable, 35% unfavorable, 26% not offering an opinion
• Sen. John Fetterman | 46% favorable, 38% unfavorable, 16% not offering an opinion

Republicans approve of Fetterman’s job performance more than Democrats. 62 percent of GOP respondents think the former lieutenant governor is doing a good job, while just 54% of Democrats agree. Independents are split evenly on the question, 43-43%.

“One-time Democratic darling John Fetterman flips the approval script as Republicans embrace him and Democrats give him low marks nearly two years after GOP voters wouldn’t give him the time of day,” added Malloy.

State Budget

Voters were asked who is to blame for the lack of a Pennsylvania state budget.

• Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate equally | 46%
• Republican-controlled Senate | 26%
• Democratic-controlled House | 21%

State of Pennsylvania Economy

• Excellent | 2%
• Good | 44%
• Not So Good | 38%
• Poor | 14%

This compares to February 2020, the last time Quinnipiac University asked this question of Pennsylvania registered voters, when 70 percent of voters described the state of Pennsylvania’s economy as either excellent (12 percent) or good (58 percent) and 29 percent described it as either not so good (22 percent) or poor (7 percent).

In today’s poll, when asked whether Pennsylvania’s economy has gotten better since Donald Trump became president in January, gotten worse, or remained about the same, 41 percent of voters say it has gotten worse, 36 percent say it has remained about the same, and 21 percent say it has gotten better.

President Donald Trump

Forty-three percent of registered voters in Pennsylvania approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 54 percent disapprove. Republicans (90%) approve, while Democrats (96%) and independents (64%) disapprove.

1,579 self-identified registered voters in Pennsylvania were surveyed from September 25th – 29th with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points, including the design effect.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.