Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro is a top contender for vice president. What would he bring to the ticket?

Biden Steps Down: What You Need To Know

This article was first published on WITF's website.

As talk intensified last week about the possibility of Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race, Gov. Josh Shapiro's name continued to come up as a probable choice for Kamala Harris' running mate.

Biden announced on Sunday that he will not run for re-election. With Biden's endorsement, Harris is now the Democratic nominee. The attention will now shift to Shapiro and other potential vice presidential candidates.

Just after 6 p.m., Shapiro gave his support to Harris.

In a statement, he suggested that the Democratic Party should come together and support Vice President Harris as they aim to win the presidency.

He ended by stating, "I am committed to supporting Kamala Harris in her quest to become the 47th President of the United States."

Delegates from the Democratic Party will choose their nominee at the upcoming convention in Chicago.

On Saturday, The Washington Post said that Shapiro is being considered as a possible Vice President candidate. The selection process is being funded by important Democratic supporters. Also being considered are Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.

Shapiro’s biggest strength might be his ability to secure the important electoral votes of Pennsylvania.

The 51-year-old man who graduated from Georgetown Law School was chosen as governor in 2022 with a lead of almost 15 percentage points over state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a prominent supporter of Donald Trump. Prior to becoming governor, he served as the attorney general and a state representative from Montgomery County, located just north of Philadelphia.

He became well-known across the country after the overpass collapsed on I-95 in June 2023. The overpass was repaired and back in operation approximately fourteen days afterward.

Following the failed attempt to kill Trump in Butler County on July 13, Shapiro once again received attention, receiving recognition for his strong leadership from Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Dave McCormick.

Chris Borick, head of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, expressed confidently in an interview that Shapiro was the perfect choice for the Democrats before Biden dropped out of the race.

"He hails from Pennsylvania, a highly sought-after swing state," he remarked. "He is well-liked in this area, boasting impressive approval ratings during his time as governor and is viewed as a promising figure in the Democratic party."

Borick mentioned that Shapiro's connections in Pennsylvania give him an advantage over Democratic governors like Beshear and Cooper.

"Kentucky is not really up for grabs in elections, North Carolina is somewhat competitive, although it might be a stretch for Democrats," he mentioned. "Pennsylvania is currently the most sought-after state in electoral politics. Having a well-liked governor from that state on your team would be highly desired."

Even though Shapiro's time as governor has been relatively short, Borick believes this may not be as much of a disadvantage as it is for GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance, who has only been a U.S. senator for a brief period.

"He has a strong foundation as attorney general which demonstrates his experience in many of these issues for more than just under two years," he stated.

When Shapiro became attorney general, he took over a probe into sexual misconduct in the Roman Catholic Church. His department issued a document claiming over 1,000 kids had been abused by over 300 priests starting from the 1940s.

Vance has limited experience in politics. Before becoming a member of the U.S. Senate in 2022, he wrote "Hillbilly Elegy" and spent four years in the Marine Corps. Additionally, he graduated from Yale Law School and worked as a lawyer and in venture capitalism.

Samuel Chen, a political strategist from the Liddell Group, mentioned recently that Shapiro's brief experience in politics could potentially pose an issue, although not as significant as Vance's.

"He mentioned that Shapiro's background is advantageous in some ways but also poses challenges for the electoral aspect of the matter."

Chen, who previously worked for Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, mentioned that although Shapiro has had some attention on a national level, he is not widely known to the public. In contrast, Vance became a well-known figure after his book "Hillbilly Elegy" became popular and many conservatives resonated with its themes, leading to extensive media coverage.

Voters who are disappointed by typical politicians may be attracted to Vance's lack of previous experience in elective office, according to Chen.

Borick suggested that having a shorter resume could be beneficial for politicians, as the longer they serve, the more potential issues may come to light.

When Shapiro was elected as governor, he received gifts from donors that have raised questions. Chen pointed to courtside tickets to a Philadelphia 76ers game as one example.

Shapiro's team referred to it as a "political gathering."

If Shapiro were to team up with Harris and emerge victorious, it wouldn't be the initial occasion a Pennsylvania governor stepped down to take on a role in the national administration.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Governor Tom Ridge became the inaugural Secretary of Homeland Security in President George W. Bush's administration.

If chosen, Shapiro would be the most prominent Jewish politician in American history.

Chen mentioned that this could potentially attract the support of numerous Jewish voters who were disillusioned with the Democratic party due to their stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

If Shapiro were to step down before the end of his term, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis would assume control.

Based on Pennsylvania's succession rules, if the current lieutenant governor were to leave office, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Republican from Westmoreland County, would step in as the new lieutenant governor. This would mark the first time in over a decade that the state's second-in-command would come from a different political party than the governor, as seen with Joe Scarnati back in 2008.

Shortly after Biden announced he would not run for re-election as the Democratic Party's candidate, Shapiro posted a tribute to the president on Twitter.

The tweet praises President Biden's dedication and service to the country, noting his impressive accomplishments in the Senate, as Vice President, and now as President. The tweet also highlights President Biden's efforts to progress the country, safeguard democracy, and uphold true freedom. The author expresses pride in working alongside President Biden and appreciation for his leadership and determination to benefit Pennsylvania, where he was raised.

Shapiro didn't say anything about what will happen to him next.

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