U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) on Saturday reportedly warned the presidential campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris that Governor Josh Shapiro holds “excessive” political ambitions.
Fetterman contacted the Harris campaign to provide information about Shapiro as the vice president interviewed the short list of contestants to become complete the Democratic presidential ticket ahead, which reportedly includes the first-term governor, according to German-owned Politico, which reported, “the senator believes that Shapiro (pictured here) is excessively focused on his own personal ambitions.”
The outlet reported that Fetterman’s quiet feud with Shapiro stem from their time on the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, when the men publicly disagreed over the decision to commute the sentence of two brothers who were charged with robbery and second degree murder after they were caught driving the murderer.
Found guilty of second degree murder and given life sentences, Fetterman sided with the men, who maintained their innocence and claimed they were unwittingly driving the murderer at the time of their arrest, while Shapiro sought more evidence and blocked the vote to free them.
After Fetterman suggested he would run against Shapiro during his gubernatorial bid, Politico noted that Shapiro subsequently voted with his colleague to free the brothers when their case was reconsidered.
The outlet claimed it interviewed three sources “familiar with the conversations” between Fetterman’s advisers’ and the Harris campaign.
Fetterman’s advocacy against Shapiro comes after he previously established himself as an ally of President Joe Biden when Democratic Party donors and politicians began calling for him to end his candidacy in favor of another candidate.
The senator initially argued Biden had time to recover from his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump, citing his own debate performance against Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022, and later claimed the media was “smearing” the 81-year-old president.
Fetterman’s warning to the Harris campaign follows a letter from nearly 50 progressive Democrats, who labeled Shapiro an “unnecessary obstacle” for the Harris campaign due to his prior support for school choice and $300,000 payment to settle sexual harassment allegations.
Last week, the Harris campaign announced a tour of battleground states with both Harris and her vice presidential nominee will begin with a speech in Philadelphia, fueling additional speculation Shaprio will be picked, pitting him as the Democrats’ alternative to Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH).
Harris is also considering U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), though unions have reportedly expressed concerns about his alleged lack of commitment to their legislative agenda.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, another potential pick who was presented as an alternative by the coalition of progressive Democrats last week, canceled plans to travel to New Hampshire with no explanation.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “John Fetterman” by John Fetterman.
