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In the summer heat of July 2025, Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity found herself at the center of a political firestorm that perfectly encapsulates her unlikely rise from decorated combat veteran to the Republican Party's brightest gubernatorial hope.
The controversy was about a Philadelphia union boss's blunt threat that exposed just how seriously Democrats are taking her potential challenge to Governor Josh Shapiro.
"Should Treasurer Garrity make the foolish decision to challenge our Governor, she will never again have the support of the Philadelphia Building Trades. Not even for county dog catcher," declared Ryan Boyer, the business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, in a Facebook post that sent shockwaves through Pennsylvania politics.
The statement was particularly jarring because Boyer's union had enthusiastically endorsed Garrity just months earlier during her reelection campaign for treasurer. "Stacy Garrity is the real deal," Boyer had said in September 2024. "Stacy's got our backs, and we've got hers."
What changed? The 60-year-old Garrity, who hasn't even officially announced her gubernatorial candidacy, has become viewed as such a credible threat to Shapiro that even his labor allies are issuing preemptive warnings.
The Pennsylvania Laborers' District Council joined Boyer's warning, stating that "a bid to run on the Republican ticket for Governor against him will sever any relationship we ever maintained with the Treasurer."
The Record-Breaking Treasurer
Garrity's political trajectory reads like something out of a Hollywood script.
In 2020, she pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Pennsylvania politics, defeating incumbent Democratic Treasurer Joe Torsella despite being outspent 11-to-1 and trailing in every poll. Four years later, she shattered electoral records, receiving more than 3.5 million votes — the most for any statewide candidate in Pennsylvania history, surpassing even Shapiro's 2022 record.
Her success stems from an unusual political coalition that includes traditional Republican voters, rural Pennsylvanians, and until recently, labor unions that typically support Democrats.
"She scooped up endorsements from groups that don't typically back a Republican, like building trades unions — forming what [political observers] called 'a nontraditional coalition of support,'" noted Republican consultant Christine Havey.
From Combat to Politics
Garrity's background sets her apart in Pennsylvania's political landscape.
Born and raised in Bradford County, she earned degrees in finance and economics from Bloomsburg University before embarking on a 30-year military career that would define her public persona.
She served three combat deployments: Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004, and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008-2009.
It was during her Iraq deployment that Garrity earned the nickname that still follows her today.
As a major in charge of detainee operations at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, she managed a facility housing 7,000 prisoners during one of the most challenging periods of the Iraq War.
While other detention facilities like Abu Ghraib became synonymous with abuse scandals, Garrity's operation achieved what she calls "a perfect record" with zero abuse allegations during her command.
"Iraqis dubbed her 'the Angel of the Desert' when her service at Camp Bucca in Southern Iraq resulted in (that) perfect record. She kept the camp secure and American troops safe without a single complaint of abuse from Iraqi soldiers interned there," according to her official biography.
The NPR report from 2004 described a facility where "Americans soldiers and Iraqi prisoners [were] smiling together" in photographs that painted "a very different picture of prison life than other images that have saturated the media" during the height of the Abu Ghraib scandal.
Her approach included setting up a post office system for detainees and procuring soccer balls. These efforts earned appreciation from both American troops and Iraqi prisoners.
The Labor Union Puzzle
The recent threats from Boyer and the Laborers' District Council highlight one of the most intriguing aspects of Garrity's political appeal. Her ability to win support from traditionally Democratic labor groups while maintaining strong Republican credentials makes her particularly dangerous to Shapiro's coalition.
Boyer claims Garrity went back on her word, alleging she "made assurances" to building trades members during her 2024 treasurer campaign that she wasn't planning to run for governor.
"When you tell me something you said you're not going to do and then you do it, in North Philly, we call that a lie," Boyer told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
However, the harsh tone of Boyer's statement triggered a backlash from Republican women in the state Senate. "I'm not one to play the sexist card but I have to say I have absolutely no doubt that the statement would not have been made had our state treasurer been a man," said Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill.
The 10 female GOP state senators, led by President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, issued a joint statement defending Garrity.
"It is clear the statement posted on Facebook was intended to bully Treasurer Stacy Garrity from getting into the race for Governor, but we know Stacy as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who doesn't scare easily and doesn't back down."
Why Democrats Are Worried
Political observers believe the preemptive attacks on Garrity reveal Democratic anxiety about her potential candidacy. Unlike Doug Mastriano, who lost to Shapiro by 15 points in 2022 after running a far-right campaign that alienated moderate voters, Garrity represents a more mainstream Republican challenge.
"She would be a great candidate. She's strong. She will fight. She is not a wallflower. And she's smart. If I were Josh Shapiro, I wouldn't want to run against her, either," said State Senator Kim Ward.
GOP consultant Charlie Gerow noted that Garrity has been "ubiquitous" in Pennsylvania political circles, attending "every political wake and wedding for the last number of years, and that has a cumulative effect, as you saw in the election."
Her record as treasurer has been notably competent and scandal-free. She's returned more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property to Pennsylvanians, including military decorations to veterans and their families.
Her management of the state's finances has drawn praise even from some Democrats, and she's maintained a productive working relationship with Shapiro's administration.
The Shapiro Challenge
Shapiro presents a formidable opponent for any Republican. The 51-year-old former attorney general won the 2022 gubernatorial race by nearly 15 points and maintains strong approval ratings. His national profile has led to speculation about presidential ambitions in 2028, and he was seriously considered as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in 2024.
The governor has remained publicly silent about the brewing controversy surrounding Garrity, with his spokesperson declining to comment on Boyer's statements. This restraint suggests a calculated approach to avoid elevating Garrity's profile before she officially enters the race.
The Road Ahead
Garrity has been coy about her intentions, though she recently posted on Facebook what many interpreted as a precursor to a campaign announcement.
"It's been an honor to serve as the first Republican Treasurer in 16 years — and the first from rural Pennsylvania in more than 40. But today, I believe Pennsylvania is at a crossroads — and like many of you, I'm thinking about what comes next."
At the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference's annual straw poll, Garrity overwhelmingly won support from attendees, receiving 41% of votes compared to 9% for Congressman Dan Meuser and 6% for Mastriano.
If she runs, Garrity will face questions about her relationship with Donald Trump, whom she has strongly supported. In a recent speech, she praised Trump's return to the White House and compared her work stopping improper Treasury payments to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency efforts.
"Imagine what [Trump's detractors] are planning to do now that they know he means business," she said.
The early labor union controversy may actually benefit Garrity by generating media attention and positioning her as someone Democrats take seriously. As one GOP commentator noted in the State Senate Republican Women's Caucus statement, "Intimidation is a form of harassment, and the statement he issued crossed the line."
For now, Pennsylvania political watchers are waiting for Garrity's official announcement, which is expected "in the coming weeks," according to recent reports. If she runs, the Angel of the Desert will bring a unique combination of military credibility, business experience, and proven electoral success to what promises to be one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races in the country.
The question isn't whether Garrity can win the Republican nomination, GOP leaders have already begun coalescing around her candidacy. The real test will be whether her unconventional coalition can withstand the loss of labor support and still provide a credible challenge to one of America's most popular governors.
Given her track record of defying political expectations, it would be unwise to bet against her.
