Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Monday that he is endorsing 20 Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives in the upcoming election.
Democrats currently hold a one-vote majority in the state House after taking control of the chamber in 2022. Shapiro wants to maintain or expand that majority.
“Maintaining a Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania State House is critical to advancing my priorities as Governor of Pennsylvania—good schools, unthreatening communities, economic opportunity, and protecting true freedom,” Shapiro said in a press release. “That’s why I fully support defending our majority and electing more Democrats to the State House in November.”
A press release from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic Campaign Committee said 20 candidates are running in some of the most competitive races in the state.
Shapiro’s endorsement could carry some weight. He won the 2022 gubernatorial election over former President Donald Trump-backed Republican Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin). His national recognition has also grown since Vice President Kamala Harris weighed him as a vice presidential candidate last month.
Although Harris ultimately chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to share her presidential ticket with her, next poll said Shapiro still enjoys powerful support in Pennsylvania — more than Harris and Trump.
“The governor will be on the road campaigning for these and other candidates — as he has done in the past — and will be organizing events and supporting them financially,” said Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Shapiro.
The election in which Shapiro endorsed candidates was statewide. Seven of the candidates Shapiro endorsed are incumbents who potentially face powerful challengers.
Rep. Brian Munroe (D-Bucks) won the 144th House Congressional District in 2022 by just over 500 votes after years of Republican representation.
Munroe said he learned of Shapiro’s endorsement in a text message Monday from another representative after the announcement. But he wasn’t surprised Shapiro wanted to offer assist.
“I think this district will always be competitive,” Munroe said. “It’s probably the key ‘safe’ district in the state.”
Munroe also believes Shapiro’s endorsement will make a difference to his voters and that members of his district across the aisle support him.
“Republicans, Democrats and Independents didn’t want him to be the vice presidential candidate, and the reason is they didn’t want to lose him as governor,” Munroe said. “Those people support Gov. Josh Shapiro.”
Four Democrats endorsed by Shapiro are running in races where there is no incumbent senator on the ticket, including in two districts currently represented by Democrats.
One of those candidates, Sean Dougherty, is running for the seat held by (*20*) Democratic congressman Kevin Boyle.
Dougherty soundly defeated Boyle in the April primary, after Boyle failed to show up for numerous sessions in Harrisburg and his family announced he was suffering from a mental health crisis.
Boyle’s status as a representative briefly became a sticking point for Republicans, who sought to overturn his vote earlier this year during budget negotiations, which would have meant a party tie in the chamber. The failed attempt came after a warrant was issued for Boyle’s arrest for allegedly violating a protective order. That order was later withdrawn, however, and (*20*) District Attorney Larry Krasner said the protective order was not in effect at the time in question.
Boyle won the district in 2022 with 57% of the vote.
Nine of the candidates being endorsed are challenging Republican incumbents that Democrats see as vulnerable in November. Most of the incumbents are rank-and-file GOP members, though they include Republican Caucus Administrator Rep. Sheryl M. Delozier (R-Cumberland) and House Finance Committee Republican Chairman Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Northampton).
Elizabeth Moro is running as a Democrat in the 160th District. She is facing incumbent Rep. Craig Williams, the last Republican to represent part of Delaware County in the state House.
Williams won the district by nearly five percentage points in 2022, though President Joe Biden won the county by double-digits in 2020 and Shapiro received more than twice as many votes as his Republican opponent in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
The district also includes parts of Chester County, where voters in 2020 and 2022 also preferred Biden and Shapiro.
Like Munroe, Moro said she was not expecting the endorsement when it was announced, although Shapiro had previously told her he wanted to assist in the race.
“It was a wonderful surprise on a Monday morning,” Moro said.
Asked why she thought Shapiro endorsed her, Moro said, “I worked very hard to raise money and reach out to voters. And I think it’s just a combination of us working very hard to turn this district around, and it’s possible to do that, too.”
