Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is now the likely favorite to become Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, according to Axios.
Shapiro being the likely pick surfaced yesterday after CNN reported that the governor was cancelling fundraisers this weekend in the Hamptons. Also, according to Axios, "for several days, Wall Street has been convinced Harris will pick a governor, in part because big-dollar donors were told to mail in their checks this week to avoid triggering a pay-to-play financial rule."
Shapiro is seen as a favorite because he could put Pennsylvania in Harris' column. Pennsylvania has more electoral votes than any of the other swing states in this cycle, at 19. Harris is polling behind Donald Trump by four points, according to a recent poll.
A 2024 poll found that Shapiro had support from a third of Trump voters in his state. When running for attorney general, Shapiro cleaned house, accruing more votes in Pennsylvania than Hillary Clinton or President Joe Biden.
“If you want to win Pennsylvania, there is no other candidate,” better positioned, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker recently said of Shapiro.
A Trump "insider told Axios that many top Republicans also assume the pick will be Shapiro: 'Pennsylvania's the whole ballgame.'"
Also in contention: Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. Kelly could help Harris on immigration concerns, as he has a record of working on issues surrounding the border. There are worries, however, that picking Kelly could imperil the Democrats' chances of keeping the Senate, as he's a Democratic senator in a purple state.
However, Shapiro does carry baggage with progressives.
"An observant Jew who would make history if he’s elected vice president, Shapiro has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and has criticized some protests against the country’s conduct in Gaza," Bloomberg noted today. "His stance, which also includes sharp criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mirrors many mainstream Democrats but puts him at odds with progressives and some younger voters."
Bloomberg adds that "the liberal New Republic recently called him the one pick 'who could ruin Democratic unity,' and a group of activists recently launched a website called 'No Genocide Josh.'"
Shapiro was elected governor in 2022 by wide margins. Prior to becoming governor, the 51-year-old Democrat served as the attorney general of Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2021. As attorney general, he was known for his investigations into clergy sex abuse and his efforts to protect voting rights. Shapiro has also worked to combat the opioid crisis and human trafficking in Pennsylvania.
