Inside Josh Shapiro’s Vice Presidential Nomination Campaign

The branding on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s political emails changed last week, from “Shapiro for Governor” to “Governor Shapiro,” with an image of an American flag.

It was a subtle but telling change. Shapiro was no longer running for governor.

Shapiro, the leading candidate for vice president opposite Vice President Kamala Harris, has been peaceful but strategic over the past two weeks as he makes a low-profile but very public bid for the second spot on the Democratic ticket in November.

While other potential vice presidential candidates became regular guests on news shows, Shapiro stayed away from cable television and continued the often monotonous daily travel that was part and parcel of being governor, under much stronger pressure from public opinion.

He also hit the campaign trail, attending three rallies in four days for Harris and speaking to the heartthrobs of reporters who showed up at events at his governor’s office. He answered all questions but avoided direct discussion of the vice presidential picks, simply praising Harris and reiterating that he didn’t want to put undue pressure on her “extremely personal decision.”

As the announcement neared, Shapiro’s final week in the spotlight illustrated his cautious but deliberate style of messaging, a preview of how he could traverse the country if elected, and a glimpse of the fans he already has and the progressive critics who might challenge him.

“He handled it brilliantly,” Philadelphia said. Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady, who is openly campaigning for Shapiro to take over. “The way she’s behaving now is the way the vice president should be behaving because there’s a little bit of a catch he can use to outshine her, he’s been behaving perfectly to show that this isn’t about him.”

Shapiro met with the Harris campaign on Wednesday as part of the vetting process, according to two sources familiar with the process. And there was speculation that he might be her choice, first when the Harris campaign announced she would debut as her running mate in Philadelphia, and then when Shapiro canceled scheduled weekend events.

But Harris’ campaign has not provided any information about that decision, and others — including Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear — have also reportedly been vetted.

“I want a future where I can look the 47th president of the United States in the eye and say, ‘Good morning, Madam President,’” Shapiro told a raucous crowd in his home county at a Harris campaign event earlier this week. He also took a few jabs at former President Donald Trump.

How Shapiro Became a Vice Presidential Candidate

Shapiro’s name had already emerged in conversations about possible vice presidential candidates — and had previously been an unlikely successor at the top of the ticket — in the weeks before it became clear that President Joe Biden would drop out of the race. Biden’s decision has kicked the Shapiro conversation into high gear.

Hours after Biden’s announcement, Brady began publicly pushing for Shapiro to be Harris’ vice presidential running mate. There was a flood of endorsements from House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, labor leaders and others. Shapiro could have said at any time that he didn’t want to be considered or asked his longtime friends to stop publicly promoting him. But he didn’t.

“He said, ‘You don’t have to do this,’” Brady said of all the promotional work. “But when I do it, he doesn’t kick me.”

But critics have also begun to speak out. A group of pro-Palestinian voters wrote an open letter opposing Shapiro as vice presidential candidate because of his ardent defense of Israel. Some of Shapiro’s supporters have rushed to his defense, arguing that he is being unfairly attacked because he is Jewish.

Defending criticism

As further criticism mounted — this time over Shapiro’s past support for vouchers — his staff began taking damage control measures.

In a July 24 letter sent by more than two dozen education advocacy groups from across the country, Harris urged them not to select Shapiro because of his openness to vouchers.

“We respectfully ask that you do not elect Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has supported education policies that reflect Project 2025,” the letter reads, referring to conservative policy proposals for a second term under Trump spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation.

It is no coincidence that the next day another letter defending Shapiro was published, signed by over 50 union activists, including two Pennsylvania teachers unions. Representatives from two unions that signed the letter and another that was asked but declined to sign said Shapiro’s top aides asked them to join the letter.

“Governor Shapiro stands with us every day to fight for this vision, and despite the confusion, we remain united by our shared interest in protecting working people and investing in workers, families, and communities,” the letter reads.

On his social media account, Shapiro has boasted about his accomplishments in education, including increasing funding for public schools and expanding free school breakfasts, mental health services and special education programs.

“For two years in a row, we have worked across party lines to provide historic funding for our K-12 public schools,” he wrote.

The upcoming decision

With the announcement expected to go out any day now — Tuesday at the latest, when Harris plans to take the stage with her vice presidential candidate for the first time in Philadelphia — Shapiro’s supporters and opponents alike are waiting to see if he steps into the national spotlight and joins the field of candidates.

“Electing him now would make the Republican Party very happy, and more importantly, it would send a terrible signal to young, progressive and working-class voters that Vice President Harris is going to have to win this election,” said Claire Gawinowicz, a Montgomery County Democratic Party official who doesn’t want Shapiro elected.

As he absorbed an avalanche of national attention, Shapiro appeared undaunted. His supporters say that’s in part because he entered the vice presidential race with a well-defined stance, with little ability to influence the decision. He has already shown his campaign skills in numerous moments on the national stage and as a top Biden campaign surrogate. In recent days, he has gained even more attention by canvassing Harris in a “real conversation” style (including profanity) that some pundits have compared to Barack Obama’s delivery.

“If you think of it as a portfolio, when you’re applying for a job, Josh has a portfolio,” said Gianni Hill, a DNC delegate and Democratic Party adviser in Philadelphia. “A lot of other candidates have gone out of their way to build their portfolio.”

Larry Ceisler, a public affairs consultant who has known Shapiro for a long time, said the benefits Shapiro brings to candidates are widely known and unlikely to change as interest in the field grows.

“The thing is, Josh doesn’t have to campaign for this,” Ceisler said. “A Democrat can’t win the White House without winning Pennsylvania, and that’s what he brings to the table.”

On Tuesday night, one of the biggest moments of the presidential campaign will unfold on Shapiro’s home turf. It could be a historic, career-defining moment or a humiliating return to the stage after the past two weeks.

“Josh will be on stage Tuesday,” Ceisler said. “The only question is: Will he be the introductory guest or the introductory guest?”