Gov. Josh Shapiro’s name kept coming up last week amid speculation about Joe Biden possibly dropping out of the presidential campaign, most likely as Kamala Harris’ running mate.
Resigning from his run for reelection, Biden said on Sunday. Shapiro and other potential running partners will undoubtedly come under more scrutiny now that Biden has endorsed Harris to be the Democratic candidate.
Next month, in Chicago, the Democratic convention delegates will choose the party’s candidate.
Shapiro is being screened as one of many possible vice presidential candidates, according to a Saturday Washington Post article. The process is being supported by significant Democratic funders. Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona were all included on the list.
Shapiro may have the greatest advantage in assisting in the distribution of Pennsylvania’s vital electoral votes.
After graduating from Georgetown Law, the 51-year-old defeated prominent Trump supporter state senator Doug Mastriano by almost 15 percentage points to win the governorship in 2022. He served as state representative from Montgomery County, which is located just north of Philadelphia, and state attorney general prior to that.
With the fall of the I-95 flyover in June 2023, he became well-known throughout the country. About two weeks thereafter, the flyover reopened.
Following the July 13 attempt on Trump’s life in Butler County, Shapiro found himself back in the public eye. US Senate candidate Dave McCormick, a member of the GOP, even praised Shapiro’s leadership.
Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion Chris Borick indicated that Shapiro was a “slam dunk” for the Democrats in an interview conducted before to Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
“The most coveted swing state, Pennsylvania, is where he hails,” he said. He is seen as a rising star within the [Democratic] party and is quite popular here in his capacity as governor of the state.
Shapiro has a competitive advantage against Democratic governors like Beshear and Cooper, according to Borick, because of his Pittsburgh connections.
North Carolina is very competitive, but maybe a bit too far for Democrats; Kentucky, on the other hand, is definitely not a competitive state, he pointed out. In terms of electoral politics, Pennsylvania is now the Holy Grail. It would be highly sought after to have a well-liked governor of that state on your ticket.
Shapiro’s two years as governor may not be as significant a disadvantage for the GOP vice presidential contender, JD Vance, as opposed to Vance’s less than two years as a senator, according to Borick.
In support of his claim that Shapiro had been involved in many of these matters for more than two years, he cited his work as attorney general.
Investigating allegations of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic Church members was one of Shapiro’s first tasks as attorney general. An investigation by his agency claimed that throughout the 1940s, over 300 priests had sexually assaulted over 1,000 children.
Vance’s experience in politics is much less. In addition to writing “Hillbilly Elegy,” he was a Marine for four years before to being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. Along with working as an attorney and venture investor, he also studied Yale Law.
Although it isn’t as severe as Vance’s, political expert Samuel Chen of the Liddell Group said last week that Shapiro’s brief political career may present issues.
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About the electoral side of the problem, he added, Shapiro’s background is both a plus and a minus.
Shapiro has had his moments in the national limelight, but Chen—whose experience includes working for Republican governor Tom Corbett and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey—added that he is still not a household name. This is the position that Vance attained after his book “Hillbilly Elegy” shot to fame as a best-seller and was featured extensively in the media due to the conservative audience’s affinity for its ideas.
Chen also said that Vance’s lack of previous political office may appeal to individuals who are disgusted with established politicians.
Shorter resumes, according to Borick, could even be beneficial since political careers are notorious for producing more flaws the longer they serve.
Shapiro accepted gifts from contributors while serving as governor-elect, and those gifts have drawn criticism. As one example, Chen mentioned courtside tickets to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Political meeting” was how Shapiro’s campaign referred to it.
The governor of Pennsylvania has previously resigned from office to take a position in the federal government, should Shapiro defeat Harris in the race.
After the events of September 11, 2001, Governor Tom Ridge became the first secretary of Homeland Security in the George W. Bush administration.
Shapiro would become the first elected Jewish politician in American history if elected.
In reference to rallies against the conflict in Israel and Gaza, Chen said that this may help win over a large number of Jewish voters who were unhappy with the Democratic party.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis would assume leadership if Shapiro were to depart before the end of his term.
Westmoreland County Republican Senator Kim Ward, a Republican, would become lieutenant governor in accordance with Pennsylvania’s chain of succession. Joe Scarnati, R-Centre, assumed the position when Catherine Baker Knoll passed away in 2008, making it the first time the state’s deputy governor is not a member of the same party.
Shapiro tweeted his homage to President Biden shortly after the former decided to withdraw his acceptance of the Democratic Party’s candidature for a second term.
As a senator, vice president, and one of the most important presidents in modern history, Joe Biden is a patriot who has honourably served his country. According to the tweet, he has accomplished a great deal to advance the nation, uphold democracy, and safeguard genuine freedom. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he was reared, is the reason I am honoured to work with him and appreciate his leadership and relentless dedication to achieving success.
About his future, Shapiro made no remark. Following his conversation with Biden, he talked with Harris and endorsed her in a statement he published later on Sunday:
The notion that unity was essential for our success was evident when our forefathers assembled in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to proclaim our independence and institute our democracy. The American spirit has always prevailed despite the challenges that our nation and its citizens have faced in the 248 years that have passed.
“The Democratic Party should coalesce behind Vice President Harris as soon as possible and return its attention to capturing the presidency. The route to success in November passes through Pennsylvania, the starting point of our collaborative effort, since the difference in this race could not be more stark,” he said in the statement. “To help Kamala Harris become the 47th President of the United States, I will exert every effort.”