Kamala Harris should choose Gov. Josh Shapiro as her VP

Now that President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, it seems increasingly likely that Harris will be the party’s choice to run against former President Donald Trump in November. 

After all, a wave of endorsements immediately flooded in. The Clintons, John Kerry, 32 senators and 181 House Democrats quickly voiced their support. Given these endorsements and Harris’ ability to swiftly incorporate Biden’s campaign infrastructure, she’s the clear front-runner for the nomination at the August convention.

As Harris solidifies her position, attention turns to her potential running mate. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stands out as a compelling choice, bringing political acumen, intelligence and relevant skills to the ticket. 

Despite his relatively short tenure as governor, Shapiro has already made significant strides. He demonstrated interstate cooperation by partnering with New Jersey to form a task force strengthening labor law enforcement and worker protections. This showcases his ability to collaborate across state lines to achieve progressive goals. 

As attorney general of Pennsylvania, Shapiro rooted out sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Combine his background in fighting for survivors of sexual abuse with Harris’ background as a prosecutor protecting victims of sex crimes, and the choice between the Democratic ticket and one headlined by Trump, a sexual predator, is a stark one for voters.

Shapiro’s initiatives in Pennsylvania have not only bolstered his popularity but also solidified his standing as a leader capable of bridging partisan divides. His approach to governance emphasizes practical solutions and effective communication, qualities that are increasingly valued in today’s polarized political landscape. Shapiro’s success in navigating complex policy issues — such as labor law enforcement and infrastructure projects — underscores his ability to deliver tangible results while maintaining broad public support. 

Shapiro also has a skill the White House desperately needs right now: showcasing government achievements. 

As we saw when Shapiro handled the I-95 bridge reconstruction this year, Shapiro knows how to show off the great work the government does. From the moment of destruction to completion, Shapiro documented the rebuild, effectively demonstrating how the government works for its people. This skill is crucial, considering recent polls indicate many voters are unaware of major legislative achievements of the Biden-Harris administration, like the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act. 

Harris needs a political ally who is not only skilled in governance but also adept at communicating these achievements to the public.

Politically, Shapiro brings advantages that could prove vital in securing the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. 

While Biden’s 2020 win was great, his margins in key states like Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were narrow. Shapiro’s popularity in Pennsylvania could help secure this crucial swing state. A Quinnipiac University poll in January found Shapiro with a 59% approval rating, well ahead of the 40% approval rating Biden had in the same poll. 

When he ran for governor in 2022, Shapiro won in Erie County by 15 percentage points, a key battleground for Democrats who won it twice in 2008 and 2012 with Obama. Erie County is a crucial battleground for the state, where turnout can be a make-or-break factor; just ask Hillary Clinton. If Democrats do not win these key Pennsylvania communities, they will struggle to win the state and consequently the White House. Shapiro’s successes in Pennsylvania can also be extrapolated to other swing states, like Michigan and Wisconsin. 

Moreover, Shapiro has experience running against the radical MAGA movement; when he ran for governor, the Republican nominee, Doug Mastriano, was a right-wing fringe candidate who espoused wild conspiracy theories about chemtrails and vaccines. Shapiro was quick to defeat this MAGA-aligned candidate by focusing on kitchen table issues and uniting Pennsylvanians, leveraging his success in the attorney general’s office.

A Harris-Shapiro ticket presents the best way for Democrats to win. It combines Harris’ federal experience and prosecutorial background with Shapiro’s proven track record in state governance and his ability to communicate government achievements effectively. This pairing has the potential to secure crucial swing states like Pennsylvania while also appealing to a broad spectrum of voters in Rust Belt states with similar political landscapes. The Harris campaign, by bringing in Shapiro, can effectively demonstrate how the government positively affects the lives of people in rural communities like Pennsylvania, thereby broadening the pro-working family message of the Biden-Harris administration. 

As the Democratic Party looks to retain control of the White House, a Harris-Shapiro ticket would offer a blend of experience, youth and political savvy ready to pull off a historic victory that protects our democracy and ends the era of MAGA madness once and for all.