Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro showed up at the Democratic midterm convention in New Hampshire on Saturday, acting a lot like a potential future presidential candidate and in that role he said doesn’t chase. The governor was the keynote speaker at the event, held at Bedford High School in Bedford, N.H., near Manchester, the state’s largest city.
Shapiro touted his accomplishments after less than a year in office, and these headlines are familiar to Pennsylvanians: How the state worked to repair and reopen a damaged portion of I-95 in Philadelphia in 12 days; how the state now provides free breakfast for all students and its recent executive order to implement automatic voter registration at Pennsylvania driver license centers.
He also offered his view of the political landscape as the country prepares for 2024. “Today, the greatest threat to our democracy comes from within,” Shapiro said. “Dangerous extremists are actively working behind the scenes and on our screens to undermine our democracy. They are fighting to limit access to the ballot box, literally right now.” Without naming either, the governor referred to former President Donald Trump and the Republican whom Shapiro defeated to win the Pennsylvania governor’s race last year, state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin).
“We know how dangerous the former president is,” Shapiro said. “I know him and I know people like him. Last year I competed against one of them. I defeated him and won with the most votes in Pennsylvania history. Shapiro received over 3 million votes in the gubernatorial elections over any previous candidate.
Shapiro called his administration a “GSD mindset,” compact for “do what you can.” Rebuilding I-95 “showed that here in America we can do great things again. And look, I think that’s who we are as Democrats. We must bring this approach every day across the country. We do everything for the good people of this country.
In the poem “We can do great things”, A’s statement was repeated acquaintance hold yourself back from President Joe Biden, who also made this remark about him State of the Union Address to Congress in February.
Shapiro’s opening speech Saturday was interrupted by protesters who spent the first few minutes shouting “No more gas, no more oil.” He continued speaking, and protesters were reportedly removed from the gathering. It was not immediately clear Saturday whether the protesters represented a specific group.
However, an organization calling itself the Better Path Coalition, which includes over twenty pro-ecological and social groups, placed an ad in the local newspaper, the Bedford Bulletin criticizing Shapiro for failing to take “swift and decisive climate action” against the fossil fuel industry.
Governor’s Appearance in New Hampshire fueled speculation that he is preparing for a possible candidacy for president. New Hampshire has traditionally been a key state for presidential candidates with the nation’s first primary, but recent rules from the Democratic National Committee put South Carolina in first place 2024 primary season nominating state.
Shapiro appeared in New Hampshire the same day Pennsylvania Democrats were preparing to gather for the fourth annual Independence Dinner at Valley Forge. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (R-Ga.) will be the keynote speaker, and former Governor Ed Rendell will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
It also came days after the sudden resignation of Mike Vereb, Shapiro’s top adviser and longtime collaborator. According to SpotlightPA, Vereb has been charged Earlier this year, there was sexual harassment by an administrative employee who reported that he made inappropriate comments towards the person and then took retaliatory action.
