Pennsylvanians will head to the polls on Nov. 5 to choose who they want to serve as their state treasurer for the next four years.

The state treasurer is one of three elected row officers in the commonwealth, and plays a crucial role in managing state dollars. They can serve a maximum of two four-year terms.

State revenue is deposited into the Treasury, and the office uses the money to pay bills for things like contracts and workers. The treasurer also invests state savings, and sits on the boards of Pennsylvania’s two massive public sector pension funds.

The position is commonly seen as a stepping stone for higher office; U.S. Sen Bob Casey (D., Pa.) is a former treasurer.

Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity seeks a second term. She will face Democrat Erin McClelland, and multiple third-party candidates are also running for the position: the Constitution Party’s Troy Bowman, Chris Foster of the Forward Party, and Libertarian Nick Ciesielski.

Pennsylvania's treasurer plays a vital role in managing state finances, overseeing approximately $50 billion in savings and ensuring timely payment of bills. The treasurer's influence extends to public pension funds, where they advocate for efficient investment strategies. Reporting on state finances and promoting sound fiscal policies are key aspects of the job. The treasurer also administers various tax-free savings programs, including Keystone Scholars, which provides initial savings for newborns. Their responsibilities encompass disbursing unemployment and insurance payments, as well as managing the state's unclaimed property program. Through these diverse functions, the treasurer's office significantly impacts Pennsylvania's financial health and provides valuable services to residents.

Erin McClelland, Democrat

Erin McClelland, a Western Pennsylvania native and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham University, brings a diverse background to her candidacy for Pennsylvania Treasurer. Her career spans substance abuse and mental health counseling, project management, and program direction. McClelland founded Arche Wellness, Pennsylvania's first orthomolecular recovery program for addiction, which received significant funding from the Usher Family Foundation. She later worked as a project manager for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services from 2015 to 2024.

This isn't McClelland's first foray into politics. She won Democratic primaries for Congress in Pennsylvania's 12th District in 2014 and 2016 but lost both general elections to Republican incumbent Keith Rothfus. Her 2016 campaign alongside Trump's presidential run informed her view that her party was neglecting rural and working-class voters' issues.

In her current campaign for treasurer, McClelland has taken strong stances on several issues. She opposes the Keystone Saves program, a Democrat-sponsored bill creating a statewide retirement plan option, calling it dangerous and unregulated. McClelland advocates for strengthening the treasurer's contract oversight authority, proposing to deny state contracts to companies that can't verify their supply chains are free of goods from countries with human rights abuses. She has stated she would refuse to fund any school voucher program passed by the legislature unless forced by the state Supreme Court, a stance criticized by her opponent's campaign. Additionally, McClelland proposes boosting the Treasury's cybersecurity by collecting cyberattack data from local municipalities.

Her primary campaign faced some controversy. She received criticism for endorsing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for vice president, referencing a sexual harassment scandal involving Shapiro's former aide. McClelland also faced scrutiny over campaign finance issues, though the Department of State found no violations.

Despite these challenges, McClelland secured an unexpected victory in the Democratic primary over the party-endorsed candidate, Ryan Bizzarro. She has garnered significant endorsements, including from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, several labor unions, and education associations. 

McClelland's campaign emphasizes her unique perspective as a small business owner and her commitment to protecting workers and taxpayers. She views the treasurer's role as extending beyond office duties, seeing "so much opportunity there" to impact state policies and practices.

Stacy Garrity, Republican

Stacy Garrity, the Republican incumbent for Pennsylvania Treasurer, brings a diverse background of military service and business experience to her role. A Bradford County native and Bloomsburg University graduate, Garrity served as a U.S. Army Reserve colonel, earning two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit award during three deployments. Her military service included overseeing a detention center in Iraq, where she earned the nickname "Angel of the Desert" for her humane approach.

After her military career, Garrity worked at Global Tungsten & Powders, rising to vice president of government affairs and industry liaison before her election as treasurer in 2020. In her first term, Garrity focused on transparency, unclaimed property returns, and reducing state spending. She upgraded the Treasury's transparency portal and oversaw significant improvements in returning unclaimed property, with the Treasury holding $4.5 billion and returning $550 million during her tenure.

Garrity's accomplishments include upgrading the 529 college savings program to a gold rating, eliminating minimum deposits, and reducing contribution requirements. She also took action on foreign policy issues, divesting from Russian holdings following the invasion of Ukraine and selling most Chinese-associated securities citing human rights concerns.

However, Garrity has faced criticism for her connections to former President Trump, particularly for speaking at a rally questioning the 2020 election results. She has been outspoken on controversial issues beyond the treasurer's purview, opposing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and supporting Texas's immigration policies.

Garrity advocates for a state-run retirement savings program and expansion of PA ABLE, a savings program for people with disabilities. She has worked with Republican lawmakers to introduce legislation for the Keystone Saves program, which passed the state House with bipartisan support but awaits Senate action.

In her re-election bid, Garrity emphasizes her record of transparency, efficient management of state funds, and commitment to returning unclaimed property. She has garnered endorsements from various organizations, including the Pennsylvania Republican Party, business associations, and labor unions.

Garrity's campaign highlights her mix of military leadership, business acumen, and public service experience, positioning her as a candidate focused on fiscal responsibility and transparent governance.

The race for Pennsylvania Treasurer includes three minor party candidates. Chris Foster, representing the centrist Forward Party, is a former Democrat from Allegheny County with a background in tennis and clinical research. He aims to provide transparent and efficient management of state finances. Nick Ciesielski, the Libertarian candidate, is a mechanical engineer from Allegheny County. He prioritizes privatizing government services, growing the energy industry, and increasing reliance on alternative assets like gold and bitcoin. Ciesielski pledges to prevent overspending and hold other officials accountable. Troy Bowman, the Constitution Party candidate, chairs the party's Lancaster County branch and serves as the state party's treasurer. The Forward Party, backed by Andrew Yang, seeks to qualify as a minor political party in Pennsylvania, which requires their candidate to secure at least 2% of the highest vote-getters total statewide and in ten counties.