Audio: Shapiro Ally Says Governor Pressed Firefighters Union To Back GOP Candidate — He Later Says He "Misspoke"

An ally of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told a small group of college Democrats that the governor privately asked the Pennsylvania firefighters union to endorse Republican Stacy Garrity over Democrat Erin McClelland in the 2024 state treasurer race, Axios reported. A roughly 50-second audio clip of the remark was published by Axios; the ally later told the outlet he had "misspoke."

What was said on tape

"That was a request, ironically, from Gov. Josh Shapiro because Erin McClelland was running against her," Bob Brooks — a Shapiro-endorsed Democratic congressional candidate — told students at Lehigh University, according to the audio. Brooks added that Shapiro asked the union to endorse Garrity after McClelland publicly criticized Shapiro being floated as a vice-presidential pick.

Context

Erin McClelland had posted on X in 2024 that she wanted a vice-presidential pick "secure enough to be second under a woman" and someone who "won't undermine the president" and "doesn't sweep sexual harassment under the rug." Axios noted McClelland's remarks appeared to reference allegations involving Shapiro's former top aide, Mike Vereb, and reporting that the administration later reached a $295,000 settlement with Vereb's accuser. Shapiro has said he did not learn of the complaint until months after it was filed.

Brooks's Follow-Up And Reactions

After the audio became public, Brooks told Axios he "misspoke and made an inaccurate statement." Reporters Holly Otterbein and Alex Thompson wrote that the episode feeds into a perception — even among some supporters — that Shapiro can use aggressive political tactics and may be vindictive toward critics.

Background On The Race And The Candidate

Stacy Garrity, then the state treasurer, defeated McClelland in the 2024 election. Bob Brooks — who lists Shapiro's endorsement on his campaign site — is running as a Democrat in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA). Brooks served as a firefighter from 2005 to 2025 and has in recent weeks apologized for older social-media posts, including a pro-gun meme featuring Clint Eastwood and comments defending police during unrest tied to the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Bottom Line

The audio clip and Brooks's subsequent retraction leave the incident clouded by competing accounts: an initial allegation that the governor privately urged support for an opposing-party candidate, and a later clarification that the ally's description was inaccurate. Axios and other outlets reported the remarks; Mediaite originally reposted the story.