Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) will announce his official candidacy to become the commonwealth’s next Governor on Wednesday.

Shapiro’s candidacy for governor has been one of the worst kept secrets in Pennsylvania politics, since Tom Wolf was re-elected to the position in 2018,

Only days later, in Bucks County political circles, Shapiro’s name became attached as the pre-race choice among politicos in the area,

Shapiro will formally kick of his bid in Pittsburgh on Wednesday with a campaign speech, his director of communications told the Associated Press on Monday. 

Shapiro, 48, has served as a state representative and Chair of the Montgomery County commissioners.

The early announcement, as one political insider observed is meant to clear Shapiro’s path of any challengers for the Democratic nomination.

“No democrat will even consider challenging Josh” the observer said confidentially Monday.

Shapiro, has become a national figure in recent years leading an investigation into sexual abuse charges against the clergy and more recently  pushing back on former President Donald J Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 elections.

Shapiro, who won reelection by 4.5 percent is a self described progressive, has the support of Wolf, who is constitutionally barred from running for a third term, has in his campaign coffers $2.7 at the beginning of this year, according to AP.

Last month Shapiro sued the Senate Republicans over there attempts to gain access to voters private data.  

“Giving this data away would compromise the privacy of every Pennsylvania voter — that violates Pennsylvanians’ constitutional rights. By trying to pry into everyone’s drivers license numbers and social security numbers they have gone too far,” said AG Shapiro. …We say enough is enough. What they are doing is against the law and we intend to win.”

The case is still under court consideration.

On the Republican side, there are a myriad of candidates who have entered the race all ready with expected names to announce in the coming days but none so far have received major support of any kind from party operatives.

One name, that is expected to announce his candidacy is the state Senate’s president pro tempore, Jack Corman. He told reporters recently he’ll turn his attention to the 2020 election cycle once the municipal elections are over.

Other note worthy Republicans running are Lou Barletta, former Hazelton Mayor, four term member of Congress and loser to Senator Robert Brady in 2018 by double digits.

The race for 2022 is on and the 2021 municipal election hasn’t even taken place yet, a political strategist said Tuesday morning, discussing Shapiro’s entrance into the race.

“You know what’s going to be interesting?” the operative said aloud “who runs for AG. That’s still a mystery of sorts.”