Update: Shapiro joins list of Democrats backing Kamala Harris as presidential nominee
The Pennsylvania governor has been mentioned as possible nominee or running mate.
Update: The Pennsylvania Delegation to the Democratic National Convention is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. The unanimous decision by the Pennsylvania Delegation follows a vote by the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to officially endorse Harris, according to a press release.
Gov. Josh Shapiro on Sunday threw his support for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for the Nov. 5 presidential election.
"The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” Shapiro said in a statement hours after Biden announced he would no longer be seeking reelection.
Shapiro is among at least more than 100 Democratic leaders who quickly backed Harris on Sunday, according to The Washington Post.
Among those backing Harris are U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, who said, “… I am proud to join the President and many of my colleagues in supporting Kamala Harris to be our next President. She is an accomplished and exceptional public servant, and I look forward to working with her.”
In making his statement, Shapiro disavowed any talk of him being named to the top of the ticket at next month’s Democratic National Convention.
Charlie Dent, a Republican who once served as the U.S. representative in the Lehigh Valley, mentioned Shapiro on MSNBC on Sunday as someone who could win Pennsylvania if he were at the top of the ticket.
Commentators on Sunday also discussed Shapiro as a possible running candidate for Harris, should she secure the nomination — with the idea being that he or other governors from swing states could turn the tide in polls.
Shapiro did not address that scenario. In addition to backing Harris, he praised Biden as “a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as Vice President, and as one of the most consequential presidents in modern history.”
Talk of Shapiro comes as he enjoys high approval ratings in Pennsylvania with 52% saying he was doing an excellent or good job, according to an April poll by the Franklin & Marshall's Center for Opinion Reseach.
Muhlenberg College’s December 2023 Pennsylvania Presidential Election Survey showed Shapiro holding an 11-point lead (48% to 37%) over former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican nominee, in a hypothetical matchup.
A July 17-18 poll by the Democratic PAC Clean and Prosperous showed Shapiro four points ahead of Trump, 47% to 43%, according to the website FiveThirtyEight.
Biden was five points behind Trump in the same poll (44% to 49%).
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans weighed in on Biden’s decision.
Wild, a Democrat who is seeking reelection in the 7th Congressional District, recognized Biden’s “extraordinary career in public service.”
“I am proud to have worked alongside him and my colleagues in Congress to pass the biggest infrastructure package in modern history, lower health care costs for seniors and working families, and defend democracy both at home and abroad,” she said in a statement. “Joe Biden has been one of the most effective presidents of our time, and his patriotism and selflessness are an example for us all.”
She also thanked constituents for reaching out to her about Biden’s ability to serve a second term. “I continue to keep their concerns at the forefront of every decision I make,” she said.
Wild had shared their worries during a July 7 call with leaders of the House of Representatives. After CNN said sources said Wild wanted Biden out, she said the report wrong and that she was not taking a stand on the issue.
Ryan Macenzie, her Republican opponent in the 7th District race, said in a Sunday post on X, formerly Twitter, that Democratic donors and “DC elites like Wild” forced Biden out, “overruling the votes of 14 million Democratic Primary voters.”
“Donald Trump and Republicans highlighted the failures of Democratis like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Susan Wild this week at the RNC Convention, and Kamala Harris or whoever Democratic insiders install as their nominee will continue to have to run away from their failed record that is hurting every day Americans.”
Meanwhile, the seven Democratic delegates to the Democratic National Convention who are from the 7th Congressional District praised Biden and said they would support the new nominee.
“Joe Biden is an American patriot. As a Senator, Vice President, and now as one of the most accomplished and consequential presidents in history, he has served our country with dignity,” the statement said.
“As delegates, we do not take our responsibility lightly. That is why we are excited to cast our ballots in Chicago this August and will be fully united in support of the Democratic nominee.”
Delegate Aidan Levinson said Sunday was “a tough day for a lot of us.”
He said many things are still up in the air, including whether to have a virtual roll call ahead of the convention, which will be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago,
Levinson said he is behind Harris getting the nomination and feels the other delegates – 4,672 delegates in all – will do the same.
“[Bident’s] endorsed the vice president and I expect 95% of the delegates would support her,” he said.
The other delegates from the 7th Congressional District are: Leslie M. Altieri, Carmen Bell, Julian Alexander Guridy, Lori McFarland, Baron Vanderburg and Anne Wakabayashi.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include U.S. Rep. Susan Wild’s support of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. Wild voiced her support in a statement released Sunday that also included comment on President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection.