You can learn a lot about the Government of Josh Shapiro from his social media accounts. At least you can see what the potential president and his employees want you to know.
From low clips in which he advertises support for raising the minimum wage and preservation of abortion rights to films in which he reacts to the news of residents, The scope of social media operations Governor Pennsylvania has expanded significantly since Shapiro, the first democrat, took office in 2023.
The Shapiro social machine is driven by staff, which has almost doubled since his predecessor, Governor Tom Wolf, left the office. Counting employees of communication, press, network and social media, 21 employees deal with promoting the image of Shapiro, advertising his achievements and passing his views as a governor. For comparison, the Reeection campaign team in 2026 Shapiro currently has only one full -time employee, in accordance with the campaign financing reports. But Shapiro relied on other ways to promote his message before next year’s re -election campaign: his government communication team and official government social media accounts.
The teams financed by the state pumped over 120 films on Instagram from June 1. Recent posts show Shapiro in the US Open with affecting social media, spending time with chocolate characters in Hersheypark and meeting newlyweds, taking wedding photos outside the state capital. Another film shows Shapiro with a disappearing smile. The signature is: “POV: You just ate your last unfair”, referring to the popular PB & J snack, which was the subject of many latest films on Shapiro accounts.
Communication staff include Shapiro communication director, press secretary, press staff and digital strategies who work on their social media accounts. There are many items dedicated to assistance for influential social media.
Shapiro also created a up-to-date “New generation involvement“The commission, consisting mainly of poviat commissioners, was to meet the needs of younger Pennsylvania through a review of state programs that influence juvenile people and issuing recommendations to the governor. It is also one of the director’s duties to facilitate communication, which Shapiro administration does to facilitate younger generation.
Social media has become an increasingly popular option for politicians who want to get a name in a public conversation. Officials chosen in Philadelphia have recently spent $ 2 million on billboards, television advertising and e -mails. The Democratic Mayor of CHELELLE L. Parker recently finalized an agreement worth USD 120,000 with Public Relations based in Erie, and members of the city council issued almost USD 200,000 on email to the promotion of their work.
National data speculated that they were considering running for the White House in 2028, such as California Gavin Gavin News, they used the Internet to get their names throughout the country. The Official Press Office of News is conducted by an X account, which criticizes political opponents and promotes political views to news.
The apply of Shapiro social media, as well as its costs, attracted criticism of republican legislators and supervisory authorities who claimed that it is not that taxpayers’ dollars should be spent. In total, the communication, press and social media staff cost taxpayers of almost $ 3 million a year. Twelve of these employees earn over $ 100,000 a year, and some earn up to $ 190,000.
Eric Epstein, the founder of the government group Watchdog Rock The Capital, criticized that expenses in a statement for Inquirer, saying that Shapiro is the apply of social media as more a way to promote himself, not to communicate with the public, among his growing national profile.
“The governor should not use tax dollars to promote his image and presidential candidacy,” he said. “The governor should spend more time on earth, communicating with the legislator and get a budget in time.”
Shapiro press secretary, Manuel Bonder, said in a statement for Inquirer that a solid media team is part of better communication with society and facilitating government access. He added that Shapiro organized over 300 information conferences to “communicate directly with Pennsylwanians” since the office was taken.
“The governor believes that there should be no improper door to access the state government, and the highest priority of the state should be the serving of Pennsylvanian and meeting people where they are – online, through effective services and in their communities,” said Bonder.
Shapiro set the “digital experience” office separately, entitled PA codein order to improve the presence of the network online and facilitate access to the government. At the beginning of this year, Shapiro proposed a journey after financing the office in his budget proposal.
The budget for the Governor’s office as a whole increased by 69% in the first 2 and a half years Shapiro, from just below $ 7 million last year to Wolf to $ 11.6 million in the latest state budget. Shapiro in February proposed a further raise to $ 12 million for 2026.
Commonwealth Media Services, a state agency that provides video, audio and photography for state agencies, including the governor’s office, has also increased from leaving the Wolf office, from 24 to 32 employees.
The data delivered to the Senate of the Committee for Funds and made available with Inquester, show that out of 1,180 applications of state agencies for Commonwealth Media Services over 1000 came from the Executive Department of State, from 422 demands came directly from the governor’s office.
Because legislators and Shapiro are still negotiating the annual expenses of the state this month, the Republicans controlling the State Senate clearly stated that they want to see expenses’ cuts to deal with a budget deficit in the amount of many billion dollars. And they look at the Shapiro communication office as one place to find dollars.
Senator of State Kristin Phillips-Hill (R., York) questioned the role of Shapiro communication staff and their apply of social media during the budget hearing of the Commission for Funds in the Senate in March. She referred to the films of the Shapiro band, in which the governor dances with podcasters and others, which presents Shapiro as a multiple Video games characters. She criticized its apply on social media as “frivolous”, arguing that he provides “low value” to taxpayers.
The secretary of Uri Monson budget defended the apply of Shapiro social media during the interrogation, saying that the governor “is trying to get information for as many people as possible in different ways.” But Phillips-Hill said that she considers it a perfect example of excessive government expenditure.
In an interview with Inquirer Phillips-Hill, he criticized the amount of running Shapiro communication teams, calling it “inappropriate”.
“Is it the right use of taxpayers’ dollars? Because it now employs Showtime staff when we really need a substance,” she said.
She also questioned the apply of Shapiro Tiktok, citing concerns about cyber security due to Chinese ownership of the application. Phillips-Hill is the main sponsor of the bill, which was adopted by the Senate last month, which would prohibit state employees Installing Tiktok on State Devices, some state agencies have already taken.
Vincent Difisho is an intern with Association of Legislative Correspondents in Pennsylvania. You can contact him diffnzo.vincent@gmail.com.
