Josh Shapiro emerges as potential Vice President nominee

Democrats across Pennsylvania are supporting Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is seriously being considered for Vice President. Shapiro was swift to back Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election. 

Pennsylvania Democrats are throwing their support behind Gov. Josh Shapiro as a top contender for Vice President following President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign. 

“Gov. Shapiro is the only governor in America right now that has a divided legislature,” Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton told The Keystone in an interview. 

“He’s been able to be the mastermind negotiator behind significant changes in Pennsylvania, … he is the one who can help our Vice President [Kamala Harris] secure Pennsylvania to make sure that she goes on to become our president.”

Biden announced on Sunday that he won’t seek a second term and swiftly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take on Donald Trump in November’s election. 

Following Biden’s decision to step aside, Shapiro praised Biden as a “patriot” calling him “one of the most consequential presidents in modern history,” and went on to endorse Harris for president. 

“Kamala Harris is a patriot worthy of our support and she will continue the work of generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union, protect our democracy and advance real freedom,” Shapiro said in a statement.  

Shapiro soundly defeated State Sen. Doug Mastriano in the 2022 election and quickly became one of Pennsylvania’s most popular governors in recent history. His approval rating is the highest for any first-term governor since former Gov. Tom Ridge. 

In less than two years, Shapiro has racked up a sizable list of accomplishments to run on nationally. 

His most notable achievement is reopening I-95 in less than two weeks after an oil tanker explosion collapsed an overpass in Philadelphia. 

Shapiro has also championed reproductive rights. After signing his first budget, Shapiro canceled a decades-old contract with Real Alternatives, an anti-abortion organization, and used that money to launch a new women’s health program.   

Democratic lawmakers, including McClinton, are using the “#HarrisShapiro2024” hashtag on social media to boost their support for Shapiro. 

“Pennsylvania’s loss would be the United States’ gain,” State Rep. Mike Schlossberg posted on X. “Governor Shapiro would be an incredible Vice President, and Lt. Governor Davis would make an outstanding Governor.”