Upcoming Political Engagements
This Sunday, a prominent Democratic figure in the upcoming 2028 elections will be supporting Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is making headlines for positioning himself to the right of certain extreme left Democratic representatives, particularly those within the New York Assembly. Zoran Mamdani will join Spanberger during events in the crucial Hampton Roads region.
The former congressman from Virginia has several rallies planned in the Tidewater area as Election Day approaches, including an event with former President Barack Obama in Norfolk.
Shapiro’s campaign spokesperson, Manuel Bonder, shared, “Governor Shapiro will head to New Jersey and Virginia this weekend to support Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger. These two Democratic governors are focused on day-to-day effectiveness, ensuring results for hard-working families, and safeguarding the freedoms within their states.”
Political Landscape and Challenges
Interestingly, Governor Shapiro will also be campaigning for U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, aiming to keep the governor’s office in Democratic control. He has already announced plans to seek reelection in Harrisburg in 2026, although he hasn’t explicitly stated his intentions for the presidential race. He remains a frequent name in discussions alongside other Democratic governors like J.B. Pritzker from Illinois, Wes Moore from Maryland, Gavin Newsom from California, and Andrew Beshear from Kentucky.
Shapiro reportedly finished as the runner-up to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the vice presidential nomination under Kamala Harris for 2024.
Following the recent Hamas attacks on Israel, Shapiro condemned anti-Semitic behavior at the University of Pennsylvania and clarified Mamdani’s stance on Israel. He emphasized the importance of moral clarity, saying, “You can’t afford to sit back and watch when your supporters say things that are blatantly anti-Semitic.”
Critiques and Support
Despite facing backlash from Republicans for endorsing former Governor Tom Wolf’s handling of the pandemic and ongoing budget discussions, Shapiro remains a unique case—a Democrat who has received commendations from some within the Republican Party. Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican challenger in New Jersey, remarked positively about Shapiro, leading Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, then running for governor, to suggest Shapiro consider running in Pennsylvania instead.
Ciattarelli pointed out that Pennsylvania doesn’t experience the same property tax or energy crises as New Jersey does, which highlights the differences between their political climates.
Nonetheless, the Pennsylvania Republican Party contests some of these claims, with state Rep. Russ Diamond and Sen. David Argall recently proposing a bill intended to completely abolish property taxes. Additionally, Doug Mastriano, the 2022 challenger to Shapiro, criticized the governor’s budget as unrealistic and warned that “funding from ‘We the People’ will eventually dry up.”
Shapiro has also publicly addressed election laws, criticizing the former president for a social media post that hinted at an attempt to end mail-in voting. He stated, “Donald Trump can sign any executive order he wants, but executive orders can’t change the Constitution, and the Constitution grants states the authority to determine election rules.”
