What to know about Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor and potential Harris VP
Vice President Kamala Harris wasted little time kicking off her presidential campaign after Joe Biden announced he would exit the race Sunday.
Within 48 hours of Biden’s announcement, Harris had collected key endorsements, more than $100 million in donations and support from delegates. The question quickly shifted from “Who will lead the ticket?” to “Who will join Harris on the ticket?” By Tuesday, Harris’ campaign had requested vetting materials from seven Democrats under consideration to be her vice presidential running mate.
On the list is Democrat and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who made a name for himself as the commonwealth’s attorney general.
More: Election live updates: Harris to make first campaign stop in battleground state
Who is Josh Shapiro?
Shapiro, 51, was elected governor in Pennsylvania, a “must-win” in the 2024 presidential race, in 2022. His current term is set to end in 2027. Shapiro recently emerged into the national spotlight following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which took place at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Shapiro previously served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011 and a Montgomery County commissioner from 2011 to 2017. He then served as the commonwealth’s attorney general from 2017 to 2023 and built a reputation as a legal opponent of Trump in that role.
As attorney general, he filed challenges to the former president’s policies and battled efforts to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 presidential election results. In 2017, He denounced the Trump administration’s proposed ban on travelers entering the United States from several Muslim-majority countries.
Shapiro is a staunch supporter of Israel, a position Biden has received backlash over from left factions of the Democratic party. If elected, Shapiro would become the country’s first Jewish vice president.
Will Kamala Harris pick Josh Shapiro as her VP?
When the president announced he was ending his reelection bid, Shapiro was quick to praise Biden in a social media post, calling him a “patriot” and “one of the most consequential presidents in modern history.” A few hours later, he released a statement endorsing Harris.
“I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States,” Shapiro said.
In addition to Shapiro, the Harris campaign has requested vetting materials from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Cedric Richmond, a former congressman from Louisiana who served as a top aide in the Biden White House and on his campaign.
The Harris campaign said on Wednesday that any reporting on developments or updates in Vice President Harris’ running mate search is “premature and speculative.”
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris considering Josh Shapiro for VP spot
