Nearly 50 progressive Democrats signed a letter urging Vice President Kamala Harris not to select Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to complete her presidential ticket, claiming he will be an “unnecessary obstacle” in her effort to hold the White House against former President Donald Trump in November.
Led by the chair and former chair of the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, the letter includes a total of 47 names from progressive groups affiliated with the Democrats across the country.
After affirming their endorsement of Harris’ presidential ticket in the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to call off his bid for reelection, the progressives wrote that Shapiro “has made too many controversial policy decisions” despite being “a valued member of the Democratic coalition.”
The Shapiro administration’s nearly-$300,000 payment to settle sexual harassment allegations made against a senior staff member is the first issue raised in the letter, but the progressive Democrats also pointed to negative press about the first-term governor’s commitment to the environment and climate change.
Shapiro’s support for school choice through vouchers that would allow parents to redirect dollars from public schools to the educational institution of their choice was also raised by the Democrats, despite Shapiro previously pulling his school choice proposal due to opposition from teacher unions.
Despite their previous opposition to the governor’s plans for school choice, both the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the American Federation of Teachers want Shapiro to become Harris’ running mate. The PSEA was recently accused of illegally funneling nearly $1.5 million to Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign.
“Shapiro has become, more than anything else, known for his shortcomings as a national candidate,” the progressives wrote. They argued, “His support for school vouchers is in direct conflict with our teachers unions allies and the Democratic Party Platform, threatening to undermine labor support.”
Instead of Shapiro, the progressives offered Minnesota Governor Tim Walz or Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as preferable alternatives.
After again pledging to campaign for Harris, they wrote, “We know Walz and Beshear will make that job easier while Shapiro will be an unnecessary obstacle to grassroots organizing, fundraising, and excitement.”
The progressives said, “Your campaign simply cannot afford to make a mistake in this crucial decision.”
The warning from progressives comes after Shapiro already faced opposition due to his past support for Israel, with a Michigan-based group representing Democrats upset with the White House’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza declaring the governor an unacceptable choice after it was reported he made the Harris campaign’s shortlist.
Harris’ campaign announced earlier this week that the candidate will begin a tour of battleground states with a Philadelphia speech on Tuesday, where she will be joined by her running mate.
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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 “Josh Shapiro” by Josh Shapiro.
