Pennsylvania governor candidate Stacy Garrity says GOP was correct to let health care tax credits expire

Stacy Garrity, the Republican frontrunner in Pennsylvania’s 2026 gubernatorial race, says congressional Republicans were “absolutely correct” to let the premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expire.

Garrity made the comments during a Christmas party with the Monroe Council of Republican women on Dec. 17, 2025, weeks after Republicans in Congress decided to allow the tax credits to expire and increase health care costs for millions of Americans. According to audio provided to Heartland Signal, after an audience member asked for her thoughts about health care, Garrity said that her party is going “down the right path to fix it” and that they will solve the health care crisis.

“So I think they’re going down the right path to fix it. I think that’s absolutely the right thing to do,” Garrity said. “Don’t give money to the insurance companies. Give it to the people. I mean, I get it. But, so I think I have 100% confidence that Republicans are going to solve this, and they’re starting to go down the right path. We just need a little bit more time.”

Garrity’s campaign did not respond to requests to comment for this story.

Pennsylvania Democratic party spokesperson Ava Pitruzzello said Garrity is supporting policies that put Pennsylvanians in impossible situations. 

“Stacy Garrity fully backed Trump’s massive health care cuts, and she supported Republicans in Congress when they chose to allow health care costs to skyrocket,” Pitruzzello said. “Now, Pennsylvanians have been forced to make impossible decisions on how to afford the same or worse health insurance with over 100,000 forced to drop their coverage altogether. Garrity will put her complete allegiance to Trump ahead of Pennsylvanians every time — she cannot be trusted to lead our Commonwealth.”

As of March 24, Pennie, the state’s local health insurance marketplace, says that over 120,000 Pennsylvanians recently dropped their coverage through the program.

“Many of these individuals are now uninsured.” Pennie’s website says. “The terminated population cited the loss of the enhanced tax credits and increased premiums as the primary reason for leaving, and the number leaving continues to grow.”

Last year, more than 420,000 Pennsylvanians were receiving financial support from the tax credits. A survey published by the Kaiser Family Foundation last week found that 80% of ACA marketplace enrollees reported higher health care costs this year, with over half of respondents saying their costs were “a lot” higher.

In a February press release from the Pennsylvania Democratic party, resident Tori Baggot said Garrity’s loyalty to Trump and his policies makes her unfit to lead the state. 

“Stacy Garrity has proven her loyalty to Trump supersedes her loyalty to Pennsylvanians by supporting the drastic health care policies that have made my monthly bills skyrocket,” Baggot said. “She does not have the courage to stand up for Pennsylvanians like me who have been hurt and forgotten about by Garrity and Trump’s Republicans, and that is why I believe Stacy Garrity is not fit to be our governor.” 

Republicans allowed prices to increase

Garrity’s remarks came the same day Republicans voted on a health care bill that also did not extend the tax credits. The bill included provisions allowing small businesses to band together to purchase insurance coverage along with transparency requirements for pharmacies meant to lower drug costs.

At the time, a group of Republicans, many of whom face tough reelection chances this November, advocated for extending the tax credits. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said an extension of ACA tax credits “only hides the true cost of the failed law.” Garrity and other Republicans have echoed the sentiment that the tax credits are nothing more than a wasteful handout to insurance companies.

In January, the U.S. House passed House Resolution 1834, which would extend the tax credits through 2028. All Democrats and 17 Republicans, many of whom are in vulnerable electability positions, approved the bill. The U.S. Senate has yet to vote on the bill, and negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in the chamber have stalled.

A growing group of Democrats are supporting the Medicare for All platform, which would establish a publicly funded health care system in the United States to replace insurance companies.