Shapiro thanks Harris for VP consideration, praises Walz

After Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday she had selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said she continued to have his “enthusiastic support” as her campaign pushes ahead over the next 90-plus days.

“Since I first ran for State Representative 20 years ago, I’ve been called to serve because I want to leave our community, our Commonwealth, and our country better off for our children – and because my faith teaches me that no one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it,” Shapiro said in a statement Tuesday.

He said Harris had asked him two weeks ago to participate in the vetting process to be considered for her running mate, and that he spoke to her on Sunday about “her vision for the role and the campaign ahead.”

Harris became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month and endorsed her. Late Monday, the Democratic National Committee announced Harris had secured the support of 99% of delegates to formally become the party’s presidential nominee, following the conclusion of a five-day virtual vote. She is expected to accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention later this month.

Shapiro had been mentioned along with several other Democratic governors as a possible vice presidential pick, who could help the campaign win battleground Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes.

Shapiro had repeatedly declined to answer questions about the vetting process over the past two weeks, calling it a “personal decision” for Harris to make, but he ramped up his criticism of former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee for president, during official appearances across the state and at campaign rallies for Harris.

He said Tuesday he was “excited to continue working to protect and advance real freedom, deliver good schools, safe communities, and economic opportunity” in Pennsylvania.

“I know that Governor Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward,” Shapiro said, adding he and his wife Lori considered Walz and his wife Gwen to be good friends. “Over the next 92 days, I look forward to traveling all across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians behind Kamala Harris’ campaign to defeat Donald Trump, become the 47th President of the United States, and build a better future for our country.”