The 2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, concurrently with the election of Pennsylvania's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various local elections. Incumbent Governor Tom Wolf won a second term by a double-digit margin, defeating Republican challenger Scott Wagner and two third-party candidates from the Green Party, Paul Glover and Libertarian Party, Ken Krawchuk. The primary elections were held on May 15. This was the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election.
Wagner won eight counties that Wolf won in 2014: Lawrence, Greene, Fayette, Cambria, Clinton, Northumberland, Carbon, and Schuylkill. Meanwhile, this was the first time since Bob Casey Jr.'s landslide State Treasurer win in 2004 that Cumberland County voted for the Democrat in a statewide election.
Democratic primary Governor Candidate Nominated Tom Wolf, incumbent governor
Results
Lieutenant governor Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack faced several controversies during his term, including mistreatment of state police officers assigned as his security detail. As a result, he faced several challengers in the primary, including 2016 Senate candidate John Fetterman. Stack was ultimately defeated by Fetterman, placing fourth overall. Candidates Nominated John Fetterman, mayor of Braddock and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016
Eliminated in the primary Nina Ahmad, former deputy mayor of Philadelphia Kathi Cozzone, Chester County Commissioner Ray Sosa, banker and insurance broker Mike Stack, incumbent lieutenant governor
Withdrawn Aryanna Berringer, Iraq War veteran and nominee for PA-16 in 2012 (endorsed Kathi Cozzone) Madeleine Dean, state representative (running for PA-04) Craig Lehman, Lancaster County commissioner (endorsed Kathi Cozzone)
Declined Erin McClelland, nominee for PA-12 in 2014 and 2016 (endorsed Fetterman)
Endorsements
Polling {| class="wikitable" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)administered ! Samplesize ! Marginof error ! style="width:45px;"| AryannaBerringer ! style="width:45px;"| KathiCozzone ! style="width:45px;"| MadeleineDean ! style="width:45px;"| JohnFetterman ! style="width:45px;"| CraigLehman ! style="width:45px;"| MikeStack ! Undecided |- |Independence Communications & Campaigns, LLCIndependence Communications & Campaigns, LLC | align=center| February 2–4, 2018 | align=center| 467 | align=center| ± 4.53% | align=center| 2% | align=center| 10% | align=center| 4% | align=center| 20% | align=center| 1% | align=center| 8% | align=center| 55%
Primary results
Republican primary Governor Candidates Nominated Scott Wagner, state senator
Eliminated in the primary Laura Ellsworth, attorney Paul Mango, businessman and former U.S. Army officer
Withdrawn Mike Turzai, speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and nominee for PA-04 in 1998
Declined Paul Addis, businessman (ran for U.S. Senate) Lou Barletta, U.S. representative (ran for U.S. Senate) Jake Corman, majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate Mike Kelly, U.S. representative Dave Reed, majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LauraEllsworth PaulMango ScottWagner Other UndecidedSusquehanna Polling & ResearchSusquehanna Polling & Research May 4–8, 2018 545 ± 4.2% 18% 23% 37% 1% 22%ColdSpark Media (R-Ellsworth)ColdSpark Media (R-Ellsworth) May 2018 – – 17% 24% 28% – 30%McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner)McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner) April 2–3, 2018 500 ± 4.5% 9% 24% 50% – 17%Revily (R-American Principles Project)Revily (R-American Principles Project) March 13–15, 2018 800 ± 3.4% 4% 18% 20% – 57%McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner)McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner) September 18–20, 2017 400 ± 4.9% – 16% 45% – 39% 5% 13% 45% – 37%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ScottWagner PaulMango MikeTurzai UndecidedMcLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner)McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner) April 9–10, 2017 500 ± 4.5% 38% 8% 10% 45% Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ScottWagner PaulMango UndecidedMcLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner)McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner) September 18–20, 2017 400 ± 4.9% 45% 16% 39%McLaughlin & Associates (R-Wagner) April 9–10, 2017 500 ± 4.5% 42% 13% 46%
Results
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominated Jeff Bartos, businessman (running with Scott Wagner)
Eliminated in the primary Kathy Coder, political activist Peg Luksik, political activist Diana Irey Vaughan, Washington County commissioner (running with Paul Mango)
Removed from the ballot Joe Gale, Montgomery County commissioner (did not meet minimum age requirement of 30)
Withdrawn Gordon Denlinger, former state representative Otto Voit, candidate for state treasurer in 2016
Considered potential Dave Argall, state senator and nominee for PA-17 in 2010 Erin Elmore, attorney, political correspondent and The Apprentice contestant
Declined Dan Meuser, former Pennsylvania secretary of revenue and candidate for PA-10 in 2008 (running for PA-09) Justin Simmons, state representative (running for PA-15)
Endorsements
Results
Green Party Governor Candidates Nominated
Paul Glover, community organizer
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominated Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick
Endorsements
Libertarian Party Governor Candidates Nominated Ken Krawchuk, technology consultant and nominee for governor in 1998, 2002, and 2014
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominated Kathleen Smith, entrepreneur (running with Ken Krawchuk)
General election Candidates Paul Glover (G), author, community organizer Ken Krawchuk (L), IT entrepreneur, freelance writer Scott Wagner (R), former state senator Tom Wolf (D), incumbent governor
Debates October 1, 2018: Complete video of debate (begins at 08:50)
Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TomWolf (D) ScottWagner (R) Other UndecidedChange ResearchChange Research November 2–4, 2018 1,833 – 53% 42% 3%Ken Krawchuk (L) with 2%, Paul Glover (G) with 1% –Research Co.Research Co. November 1–3, 2018 450 ± 4.6% 54% 39% 1% 6%Muhlenberg CollegeMuhlenberg College October 28 – November 1, 2018 421 ± 5.5% 58% 37% – –Franklin & Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College October 22–28, 2018 214 LV ± 9.5% 59% 33% – 5% 537 RV ± 6.0% 57% 27% 6%Ken Krawchuk (L) with 3%, Paul Glover (G) with 1%; other with 2% 10%Morning ConsultMorning Consult October 1–2, 2018 1,188 ± 3.0% 48% 36% – 16%Franklin & Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College September 17–23, 2018 204 LV – 52% 30% – 17% 545 RV ± 6.1% 52% 28% 2%Ken Krawchuk (L) with 1%, Paul Glover (G) with 0%; other with 1% 18%IpsosIpsos September 12–20, 2018 1,080 ± 3.0% 55% 38% 2% 6%Muhlenberg CollegeMuhlenberg College September 13–19, 2018 404 ± 5.5% 55% 36% 6%Ken Krawchuk (L) with 2%, Paul Glover (G) with 1%, neither/other with 3% 2%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 12–13, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 52% 40% 3% 5%Franklin & Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College August 20–26, 2018 222 LV – 52% 35% 1% 12% 511 RV ± 6.1% 51% 32% 5%Ken Krawchuk (L) and Paul Glover (G) with 1%; other with 1% 14%Marist CollegeMarist College August 12–16, 2018 713 ± 4.2% 54% 40% <1% 6%Commonwealth Leaders Fund (R)Commonwealth Leaders Fund (R) August 13–15, 2018 2,012 ± 3.6% 46% 43% 3% 8%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University June 21–25, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 49% 36% 1% 14%Franklin & Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College June 4–10, 2018 472 ± 6.5% 48% 29% 1% 23%Muhlenberg CollegeMuhlenberg College April 4–12, 2018 414 ± 5.5% 47% 31% 5% 16%Franklin & Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College March 19–26, 2018 137 ± 6.8% 38% 21% 6% 35%
with Paul Mango Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TomWolf (D) PaulMango (R) Other UndecidedMuhlenberg College April 4–12, 2018 414 ± 5.5% 47% 27% 5% 22%Franklin & Marshall College March 19–26, 2018 143 ± 6.8% 49% 22% 4% 25%
with Laura Ellsworth Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TomWolf (D) LauraEllsworth (R) Other UndecidedMuhlenberg College April 4–12, 2018 414 ± 5.5% 46% 26% 4% 24%Franklin & Marshall College March 19–26, 2018 143 ± 6.8% 51% 22% 2% 25%
Results The election was not close, with Wolf defeating Wagner by about 17 percentage points. Wolf won by running up large margins in Allegheny County, including Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia County, including Philadelphia. Wolf's victory can also be attributed to his strong performance in Philadelphia suburbs.
Results by county