After Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that she had selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he still has his “enthusiastic support” as her campaign moves forward over the next 90 days.
“Since I first ran for state representative 20 years ago, I have been called to serve because I want to leave our community, our Commonwealth, and our country in a better state for our children — and because my faith teaches me that no one is obligated to do this, but we cannot refrain from doing so either,” Shapiro said in a statement Tuesday.
He said Harris asked him two weeks ago to take part in the vetting process for her vice presidential candidacy and that he spoke with her on Sunday about “her vision for the role and her upcoming campaign.”
From Mankato Classroom to White House: Harris Names Walz as Vice Presidential Running Mate
Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race last month and endorsed her. Late Monday night, the Democratic National Committee announced that Harris had secured the support of 99% of delegates to formally become the party’s presidential nominee, following the conclusion of five days of virtual voting. She is expected to accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention later this month.
Shapiro has been mentioned along with several other Democratic governors as a possible vice presidential candidate, who could assist the campaign win key Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes.
Shapiro has repeatedly declined to answer questions about the vetting process over the past two weeks, calling it a “personal decision” for Harris, but has stepped up his criticism of former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, during statewide appearances and at Harris campaign rallies.
On Tuesday, he said he was “excited to continue working to protect and advance true freedom, good schools, safe communities and economic opportunity” in Pennsylvania.
“I know that Gov. Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the slate of candidates who will help Kamala move our country forward,” Shapiro said, adding that he and his wife, Lori, considered Walz and his wife, Gwen, good friends. “Over the next 92 days, I look forward to traveling across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians around Kamala Harris’ campaign to defeat Donald Trump, become the 47th president of the United States and build a brighter future for our country.”
