Josh Shapiro throws support behind Harris after Biden drops out

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) formally threw his support behind Vice President Harris to lead the Democratic Party’s presidential ticket in November following news President Biden will drop out of the race. 

“The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency,” Shapiro said in a statement on Sunday. “The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania – where this collective work began. I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States.”

Shapiro, who like Harris served as the attorney general of his home state, touted his working relationship with Harris and noted their similarities in the same statement.

“I’ve known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades – we’ve both been prosecutors, we’ve both stood up for the rule of law, we’ve both fought for the people and delivered results,” the governor said. 

Shapiro is among a number of Democratic governors who have been floated to serve as Harris’s running mate or Biden’s replacement at the top of the ticket. The other governors include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D). 

The governor stepped into the national spotlight in 2022 when he defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial contest. 

Shapiro received praise last week for his unifying tone in the wake of the assassination attempt against former President Trump in Butler, Pa. The governor has also made headlines for his response to the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, which impacted Pennsylvania, last year.