Vice President Kamala Harris appears poised to announce Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate in just a few days, according to sources close to the vetting process.
Early reports indicate that Shapiro’s vetting has progressed to discussions about U.S. Secret Service protection for his family, a strong signal that he may be Harris’ choice for the Democratic ticket.
The Harris campaign has announced they will unveil the vice presidential nominee by Tuesday, with a rally planned in Philadelphia.
This choice of location has further fueled speculation about Shapiro’s selection, given his roots in the Philadelphia suburbs and his recent high-profile campaigning for Harris across Pennsylvania.
A campaign spokesman cautioned against reading too much into the choice of Philadelphia, and would not confirm Shapiro as the pick.
“Any reporting on developments or updates in Vice President Harris’ running mate search are premature and speculative,” the Harris campaign said in a statement.
Shapiro has been actively stumping for Harris throughout Pennsylvania in recent days. He headlined a Harris rally with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, participated in an event with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and spoke at a Harris endorsement event with building trades unions.
When asked about his interest in joining the ticket, Shapiro deflected.
“The vice president has a very deeply personal decision to make right now: who she wants to run with, who she wants to govern with, and who can be by her side when she has to make the toughest decisions for the American people,” he told Politico.
The urgency of the Harris campaign’s fundraising efforts has also pointed towards a Democratic governor as the likely pick. The campaign has been pressing Wall Street donors to contribute quickly, citing SEC rules that limit contributions when a sitting governor is on the ticket.
If selected, Shapiro would bring crucial swing state credentials to the ticket. Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, is considered a must-win state for both parties in the upcoming election.
Harris and her running mate are set to embark on a four-day tour of seven swing states immediately following the announcement.
The campaign believes that the electoral map has expanded since President Joe Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the race 10 days ago.
While other potential candidates such as Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg remain in contention, early signs increasingly point to Shapiro as Harris’ likely choice.
As the political world awaits Harris’ decision, President Donald Trump’s campaign has reportedly already started making plans for his White House cabinet.
While Trump continues to dominate polls in the race for the White House, Harris has reportedly gained ground that was previously lost by the Biden campaign.