Pennsylvania politicians reacted Tuesday to Shapiro being passed over as Harris’ vice president
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer applauds as Pennsylvania Gov.Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024 in Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA — The veepstakes for Democrats came to a close Tuesday with Vice President Kamala Harris naming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate. Harris chose Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a contender for the role who was also vetted by Harris and her campaign. The new running mates will campaign together for the first time in a rally in Philadelphia Tuesday evening.
Even though many Pennsylvania Democrats publicly backed Shapiro for the role, most had positive words for Walz on Tuesday.
Shapiro called Walz an “exceptionally strong addition to the ticket,” and pledged to support the Democratic candidates across Pennsylvania in the weeks ahead.
Former Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy, a U.S. Army veteran, served with Walz in Congress and the two shared an apartment in Washington D.C. when they were first elected. Walz was a member of the U.S. House from 2007 to 2019 before he was elected governor. He is also a former social studies teacher and an Army National Guard veteran.
“I spoke to Tim Walz last week and texted him today – my former roommate is a flat-out Great American, former high school football coach, deployed overseas after 9/11, and is the next generation type of leader our nation needs,” Murphy told the Capital-Star. He said that he will attend the rally on Tuesday evening.
Other Democrats who had backed Shapiro as a potential vice president had words of support for Walz on Tuesday. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), who is running for state auditor general, posted a photo to social media of Walz holding a piglet, adding he looked forward to seeing Walz “at every Pennsylvania state fair his schedule will allow.”
Kenyatta, a vocal Shapiro supporter, said in a social media post that Harris had only good choices for her running made thanks to Democrats’ deep bench of candidates. “But more importantly Harris-Walz is a ticket that is ready to win,” he said.
Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), another Shapiro supporter, said in a social media post Tuesday that he would “run through a wall to get this ticket elected,” adding that “on a selfish level” he was glad Shapiro was staying in Pennsylvania “to serve the people of PA.”
But not everyone in Pennsylvania politics was supportive of Shapiro’s vice presidential aspirations. Erin McClelland, the Democrats’ nominee for state Treasurer, had made some pointed comments recently on social media expressing support for North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who withdrew from VP consideration early in the process. She did not explicitly reference Shapiro, but posted on July 23 that she wanted a VP “who won’t undermine the President to maneuver his own election & doesn’t sweep sexual harassment under the rug.”
On Tuesday, McClelland told the Capital-Star “I think that Kamala Harris is a very smart, politically astute woman, and I think she made the best choice for her presidency,” adding she supports the ticket and respects it. “I think we can actually win this thing moving forward with this team.”
Asked about her past comments that seemed to be critical of Shapiro, McClelland said she had a track record of criticizing sexual harassment in the workplace, which she planned to continue.
As he was being considered for Harris’ running mate, concerns about how Shapiro handled sexual harassment accusations against top aide Mike Vereb last year began to resurface, with the National Women’s Defense League saying last week that Shapiro’s administration “should have done a better job preventing sexual harassment happening in his own office,” and asking Harris to consider the matter when making her decision.
“This problem has been going on in government work long before Josh Shapiro was governor, and if we don’t resolve it, it will go on long after,” McClelland said.
McClelland’s Republican opponent, Treasurer Stacy Garrity said in a statement Tuesday that while she disagreed with Shapiro on policy matters, “no Pennsylvanian can fail to take offense at the shabby and unwarranted attacks directed at him by some members of his own party, even a member of his party’s statewide ticket,” a clear reference to McClelland.
“His support of democracy in the Middle East and educational choice for families trapped in failing public schools are mainstream positions,” Garrity added. “It is regrettable that, in a state known for moderation and common decency, the governor’s worst enemies turned out to be members of his own party.”
State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) said she believes Walz is a “fantastic choice” who will help the Harris campaign balance the divide between urban and rural voters, which she said is sometimes lacking in Democratic campaigns.
Shapiro has the shortest record as a governor and “made some serious missteps” in his handling of the allegations against Vereb, Kinkead said. Notwithstanding her criticism of Shapiro, Kinkead said she hopes that Shapiro can accomplish more as governor.
“I’d love to see universal school meals and a lot of the other things that Gov. Walz and Gov. [Gretchen] Whitmer have done so we can actually bring Pennsylvania in line with those other states,” Kinkead said. “I think there’s a lot to be learned in how Vice President Harris actually chose her running mate. I think there’s a message about the track that we should be on if you want to run for higher office.”
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick participated in a Jewish community roundtable discussion on Tuesday morning and said that it’s “hard to imagine that Josh’s strong stand on Israel, his Jewish background didn’t somehow factor into the decision.”
Casey, who had publicly supported Shapiro for VP, on Tuesday praised Walz as a “committed and capable public servant.” He added that the “path to the Senate majority and the White House runs through Pennsylvania,” noting the race he’s locked in with McCormick. “Governor Shapiro is an exemplary leader for our party and our Commonwealth and I’m grateful our entire ticket will have his strong support to make sure we win here in 2024,” Casey said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-7th District) praised Walz’s understanding on issues important to Democrats.
“As a veteran, educator, and parent by the miracle of IVF, Tim Walz understands the stakes of this election,” Wild said. “He is more than ready to serve as Vice President, work hard to safeguard our democracy, protect reproductive rights, and ensure access to affordable healthcare. I look forward to supporting the entire Democratic ticket.”
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-6th District) said she had done research on Walz after Harris’ announcement and was excited to learn that she had a lot in common with the Minnesota governor as a veteran and an educator. Houlahan is a U.S. Air Force veteran and taught science in Philadelphia schools.
Walz brings the experience of a lengthy legislative career with a strong bipartisan voting record to the Democratic ticket, she said, and has a “depth of experience and a depth of character that stands in clear contrast” to GOP vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.
“I think that would resonate with a purple place like Pennsylvania,” Houlahan said. “People here are very pragmatic and not necessarily aligned with one party or the other.”
Houlahan added that the fact Democrats quickly lined up to support Harris “bodes well for the next 90 or so days and a Harris administration.”
Ian Karbal of the Capital-Star staff contributed
Update: This story was updated at 4:40 p.m. August 6, 2024 with additional comments.