2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

The 2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor and [Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|lieutenant List of governors of Pennsylvania|governor of Pennsylvania], concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Governor Tom Corbett was defeated by Tom Wolf. This was the only governorship Democrats flipped in the 2014 midterms. Wolf was sworn in on January 20, 2015, marking the most recent time the Pennsylvania governor's office changed partisan control. This was one of nine Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Barack Obama won in the 2012 presidential election. As of 2025, this is the only Pennsylvania gubernatorial election since William Bigler in 1854 where the incumbent was defeated.
Corbett was considered vulnerable, as reflected in his low approval ratings. An August 2013 Franklin & Marshall College poll found that only 17% of voters thought Corbett was doing an "excellent" or "good" job, only 20% thought he deserved to be reelected, and 62% said the state was "off on the wrong track". Politico called Corbett the most vulnerable incumbent governor in the country, The Washington Post ranked the election as the most likely for a party switch, and the majority of election forecasters rated it "likely Democratic".
Wolf in 2014 managed to outperform Barack Obama and Bob Casey Jr.’s performances in the 2012 presidential and U.S. Senate races, respectively. He also won 20 counties that Corbett won in 2010: Erie, Lawrence, Beaver, Allegheny, Greene, Fayette, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Northumberland, Dauphin, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Berks, Bucks, and Chester. Meanwhile, this is the last time these counties have voted Democratic in a statewide election: Lawrence, Greene, Fayette, Cambria, Clinton, Northumberland, Carbon, and Schuylkill.
This is the first Pennsylvania gubernatorial election since 1982 in which the winner was of the same party as the incumbent president, and the first time since 1934 this occurred during a Democratic administration. This also remains the last time that a Pennsylvania gubernatorial election has been decided by a single-digit margin, as Democrats have won each subsequent election with more than 56% of the vote. 2014 is also the most recent election where Pennsylvania voted for a gubernatorial candidate of a different party from fellow Rust Belt states Michigan and Wisconsin.

Background

Democrats and Republicans have alternated in the governorship of Pennsylvania every eight years from 1950 to 2010. This has been referred to as "the cycle", but it was broken with a Democratic Party win in 2014. Pennsylvania has also voted against the party of the sitting president in 18 of the last 19 gubernatorial contests dating back to 1938; Democrats lost 16 of the previous 17 Pennsylvania gubernatorial races with a Democratic president in the White House, a pattern begun in 1860. The last incumbent governor to be defeated for re-election was Democrat William Bigler in 1854. Until 1968, governors could only serve one term; the state constitution now allows governors to serve two consecutive terms. Libertarian nominee Ken Krawchuk failed to file the paperwork to be on the ballot in time and was excluded from the election as a result.

Republican primary

Incumbent Tom Corbett filed to run, as did Bob Guzzardi, an attorney and conservative activist. However, Guzzardi failed to file a statement of financial interests as required by law, after being told by an employee of the State Department that it was unnecessary. Four Republicans, backed by the state Republican Party, sued to have him removed from the race. The case reached the state Supreme Court, which ordered that Guzzardi's name be struck from the ballot. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Norm Benning backed Governor Corbett during the later half of the NASCAR season with "Re-Elect Tom Corbett" posted on his truck.

Candidates

Declared

Tom Corbett, incumbent governor of Pennsylvania

Disqualified

Bob Guzzardi, attorney, businessman and conservative activist

Declined

Bruce Castor, Montgomery County Commissioner
Jim Gerlach, U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 2010
Tom Smith, businessman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012
Pat Toomey, U.S. Senator

Polling

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Bob Guzzardi	Undecided
Gravis Marketing	January 22, 2014	956	± ?	42%	23%	35%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Someone else	Undecided
Gravis Marketing	January 22, 2014	956	± ?	38%	41%	22%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	491	± 4.4%	42%	47%	11%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	373	± 5.1%	37%	49%	13%
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	490	± 6%	45%	37%	17%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Bruce Castor	Jim Gerlach	Mike Kelly	Tom Smith	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	491	± 4.4%	42%	—	31%	—	—	26%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	491	± 4.4%	42%	—	—	31%	—	27%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	373	± 5.1%	43%	23%	—	—	—	35%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	373	± 5.1%	37%	—	—	—	33%	30%
Harper Polling	February 27–28, 2013		±	49.04%	21.07%	—	—	—	29.89%
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	490	± 6%	51%	11%	—	—	—	38%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

** Internal poll for the Tom Wolf campaign
^ Internal poll for the Kathleen McGinty campaign
* Internal poll for the Allyson Schwartz campaign

General election

Candidates

Tom Corbett, incumbent governor
Paul Glover, activist
Jonathan D. Jewell, Independent
Ken Krawchuk, technology consultant and nominee for governor in 1998 and 2002
Tom Wolf, former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

Debates

, September 22, 2014
, October 8, 2014

Spending

As of mid-October, Wolf had raised $27.6 million and spent $21.1 million while Corbett had raised $20.6 million and spent $19.3 million. The two campaigns had run over 21,000 television ads, costing over $13 million.

Polling

With Corbett

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	John Hanger	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	February 19–24, 2014	1,405	± 2.6%	37%	40%	4%	20%
Quinnipiac University	December 11–16, 2013	1,061	± 3%	42%	37%	2%	19%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	32%	51%	—	16%
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	42%	41%	2%	15%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	504	± 4.4%	34%	41%	—	25%
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	675	± 3.8%	41%	37%	—	21%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Tom Knox	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	40%	39%	1%	19%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Robert McCord	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	February 19–24, 2014	1,405	± 2.6%	36%	43%	4%	17%
Gravis Marketing	January 22–23, 2014	717	± 4%	36%	48%	—	16%
Quinnipiac University	December 11–16, 2013	1,061	± 3%	39%	42%	2%	18%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	31%	50%	—	18%
Quinnipiac University	May 30–June 4, 2013	1,032	± 3.1%	35%	43%	1%	20%
Quinnipiac University	April 19–24, 2013	1,235	± 2.8%	35%	44%	1%	20%
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	42%	38%	1%	19%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	504	± 4.4%	34%	45%	—	21%
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	675	± 3.8%	41%	35%	—	24%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Kathleen McGinty	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	February 19–24, 2014	1,405	± 2.6%	38%	40%	3%	18%
Quinnipiac University	December 11–16, 2013	1,061	± 3%	37%	44%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	32%	47%	—	21%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Michael Nutter	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	675	± 3.8%	41%	38%	—	21%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Ed Pawlowski	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	December 11–16, 2013	1,061	± 3%	39%	41%	2%	18%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	33%	45%	—	22%
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	38%	44%	2%	16%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Ed Rendell	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	675	± 3.8%	40%	46%	—	14%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Allyson Schwartz	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	February 19–24, 2014	1,405	± 2.6%	38%	44%	3%	15%
Gravis Marketing	January 22–23, 2014	717	± 4%	35%	44%	—	21%
Quinnipiac University	December 11–16, 2013	1,061	± 3%	37%	45%	1%	16%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	33%	48%	—	20%
Benenson Strategy Group	August 6–8, 2013	600	± 4%	41%	49%	—	10%
Quinnipiac University	May 30–June 4, 2013	1,032	± 3.1%	35%	45%	1%	19%
Public Opinion Strategies	April 30–May 2, 2013	600	± 4%	34%	46%	—	20%
Quinnipiac University	April 19–24, 2013	1,235	± 2.8%	34%	47%	2%	17%
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	39%	42%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	504	± 4.4%	34%	45%	—	21%
Benenson Strategy Group	January 15–17, 2013	600	± 4%	42%	50%	—	9%
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	675	± 3.8%	41%	34%	—	25%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Joe Sestak	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	April 19–24, 2013	1,235	± 2.8%	34%	48%	1%	17%
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	38%	47%	1%	14%
Public Policy Polling	March 8–10, 2013	504	± 4.4%	34%	45%	—	21%
Public Policy Polling	January 4–6, 2013	675	± 3.8%	42%	36%	—	23%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Mike Stack	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	March 6–11, 2013	1,116	± 2.9%	39%	40%	1%	20%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Corbett	Jack Wagner	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac University	February 19–24, 2014	1,405	± 2.6%	37%	44%	3%	15%
Quinnipiac University	December 11–16, 2013	1,061	± 3%	36%	48%	1%	15%
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	30%	50%	—	20%

With Gerlach

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jim Gerlach	Allyson Schwartz	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	31%	39%	—	29%

With Guzzardi

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Guzzardi	Robert McCord	Other	Undecided
Gravis Marketing	January 22–23, 2014	717	± 4%	31%	43%	—	26%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Guzzardi	Allyson Schwartz	Other	Undecided
Gravis Marketing	January 22–23, 2014	717	± 4%	33%	42%	—	25%

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Guzzardi	Tom Wolf	Other	Undecided
Gravis Marketing	January 22–23, 2014	717	± 4%	30%	38%	—	31%

With Kelly

Poll source	Date administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Kelly	Allyson Schwartz	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 22–25, 2013	693	± 3.7%	33%	41%	—	27%

Results by county

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Corbett won ten of 18 congressional districts, despite losing statewide to Wolf. However, at the time, most of the districts were gerrymanders drawn by Republican legislators. Wolf won the 6th, 7th and 8th districts, which all elected Republicans to the House.

District	Corbett	Wolf	Representative
1st	16%	84%	Bob Brady
2nd	8%	92%	Chaka Fattah
3rd	54%	46%	Mike Kelly
4th	56%	44%	Scott Perry
5th	51%	49%	Glenn Thompson
6th	49%	51%	Jim Gerlach
6th	49%	51%	Ryan Costello
7th	48%	52%	Patrick Meehan
8th	48%	52%	Mike Fitzpatrick
9th	55%	45%	Bill Shuster
10th	59%	41%	Tom Marino
11th	53%	47%	Lou Barletta
12th	53%	47%	Keith Rothfus
13th	30%	70%	Brendan Boyle
14th	30%	70%	Mike Doyle
15th	50%	50%	Charlie Dent
16th	54%	46%	Joe Pitts
17th	39%	61%	Matt Cartwright
18th	54%	46%	Tim Murphy

2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Background

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Disqualified

Declined

Polling

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

General election

Candidates

Debates

Spending

Polling

Results by county

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district