Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, is a number one contender to be named Kamala Harris‘s working mate within the upcoming US presidential election, with a choice anticipated within the subsequent few days.
A former congressional aide who turned a state consultant and state legal professional basic, the 51-year-old father of 4 was elected governor in 2022.
Almost two years later, he maintains traditionally excessive approval rankings, together with notable assist from Republicans.His approval rankings surpass these of each Harris and the GOP ticket of Donald Trump and JD Vance.
In 2020, Pennsylvania’s declaration of victory confirmed Joe Biden’s election win over Donald Trump. In 2024, the state stays a essential presidential battleground.
Kamala Harris will maintain her first occasion together with her vice-presidential decide in Philadelphia, the state’s largest metropolis on Tuesday. This transfer has completed little to quell hypothesis that Shapiro may be the chosen candidate.
Shapiro’s formative years
Shapiro was born in Missouri however raised in Philadelphia. His father was a pediatrician and his mom an educator.
He earned his undergraduate diploma in political science from the College of Rochester and later pursued a legislation diploma at Georgetown College.
Political journey
Shapiro started his political profession as a state consultant for Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County from 2005 to 2011. He then served because the chair of the Board of Commissioners in Montgomery County from 2011 to 2017.
He has additionally served because the Lawyer Common of Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2023, earlier than changing into the state’s governor. In 2022, he received the gubernatorial race towards Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate backed by former President Donald Trump.
‘A valued member of Democratic coalition’
Some progressives are expressing concern. In an open letter this week, round 50 leaders of nationwide progressive teams warned that the crucial to “defeat the Trump-Vance-MAGA menace” means Democrats “merely can’t afford any setbacks” main as much as November. They argued that deciding on Shapiro would represent such a setback.
Whereas they acknowledged Shapiro as “a valued member of the Democratic coalition,” they criticised him for having “made too many controversial coverage choices on points reminiscent of faculty selection and the surroundings” to function the consensus voice wanted at this essential second.
Criticism of Netanyahu with assist for Israel’s defence
Shapiro has embraced his Jewish id and change into a outstanding defender of Israel inside the Democratic Party amid its divisions over the Israel-Hamas battle within the Gaza Strip.
Because the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7 final yr, Shapiro has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the assaults on Gaza and different Palestinian territories, calling Netanyahu “one of many worst leaders of all time,” whereas nonetheless affirming Israel’s proper to self-defense.
On the home entrance, Shapiro has condemned alleged antisemitism amongst anti-Israel protesters and applied measures that progressives argue are aimed toward limiting pro-Palestinian voices, significantly on school campuses.
A former congressional aide who turned a state consultant and state legal professional basic, the 51-year-old father of 4 was elected governor in 2022.
Almost two years later, he maintains traditionally excessive approval rankings, together with notable assist from Republicans.His approval rankings surpass these of each Harris and the GOP ticket of Donald Trump and JD Vance.
In 2020, Pennsylvania’s declaration of victory confirmed Joe Biden’s election win over Donald Trump. In 2024, the state stays a essential presidential battleground.
Kamala Harris will maintain her first occasion together with her vice-presidential decide in Philadelphia, the state’s largest metropolis on Tuesday. This transfer has completed little to quell hypothesis that Shapiro may be the chosen candidate.
Shapiro’s formative years
Shapiro was born in Missouri however raised in Philadelphia. His father was a pediatrician and his mom an educator.
He earned his undergraduate diploma in political science from the College of Rochester and later pursued a legislation diploma at Georgetown College.
Political journey
Shapiro started his political profession as a state consultant for Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County from 2005 to 2011. He then served because the chair of the Board of Commissioners in Montgomery County from 2011 to 2017.
He has additionally served because the Lawyer Common of Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2023, earlier than changing into the state’s governor. In 2022, he received the gubernatorial race towards Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate backed by former President Donald Trump.
‘A valued member of Democratic coalition’
Some progressives are expressing concern. In an open letter this week, round 50 leaders of nationwide progressive teams warned that the crucial to “defeat the Trump-Vance-MAGA menace” means Democrats “merely can’t afford any setbacks” main as much as November. They argued that deciding on Shapiro would represent such a setback.
Whereas they acknowledged Shapiro as “a valued member of the Democratic coalition,” they criticised him for having “made too many controversial coverage choices on points reminiscent of faculty selection and the surroundings” to function the consensus voice wanted at this essential second.
Criticism of Netanyahu with assist for Israel’s defence
Shapiro has embraced his Jewish id and change into a outstanding defender of Israel inside the Democratic Party amid its divisions over the Israel-Hamas battle within the Gaza Strip.
Because the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7 final yr, Shapiro has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the assaults on Gaza and different Palestinian territories, calling Netanyahu “one of many worst leaders of all time,” whereas nonetheless affirming Israel’s proper to self-defense.
On the home entrance, Shapiro has condemned alleged antisemitism amongst anti-Israel protesters and applied measures that progressives argue are aimed toward limiting pro-Palestinian voices, significantly on school campuses.
