Governor Josh Shapiro responded yesterday to the results of the 2024 General Election with the following:
Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American democracy, and our Commonwealth once again held a free, fair, safe and secure election. As I have always said, the will of the people must be respected – and the people of Pennsylvania have spoken, electing Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States along with other Republicans and Democrats for state and federal offices on the same ballot.
I know the pundits will analyze every aspect of this election, but for my part, I’m going to continue to listen to the good people of Pennsylvania, show respect for their choices, and find ways to bring people back together and move the ball down the field to put points on the board for all of us.
While votes are still being counted in some races, I congratulate all the candidates – from both parties, up and down the ballot, all across the Commonwealth – who have won their races and been given the opportunity to serve in public office. Serving Pennsylvania carries with it a profound responsibility to put the people first, and now that this election is over, it is time to govern – to work together, to compromise, and to get stuff done.
The people of Pennsylvania know, as their Governor, I go to work every single day focused on how to make life better for Pennsylvanians and deliver results for our communities – rural, urban, and suburban. From creating jobs and economic opportunity to investing in education and public safety, I believe there’s more that unites us than divides us – and we must work together to continue to get stuff done for Pennsylvania.
Let me also make clear: I will never back down from standing up for the freedoms I was elected to protect. I will continue to defend our democracy, defend our fundamental rights, and ensure we continue the legacy of William Penn by building a Commonwealth that is warm and welcoming for all – and where all Pennsylvanians have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.
Following Tuesday’s loss, Democrats will now look to rising stars for the 2028 presidential election cycle, among them Governor Shapiro, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported today.
“He has cemented his image as a moderate willing to work across the aisle, and Democrats nationally in down-ballot races have tapped him to visit their states to stump for them,” the article said. “He’s raised $9 million so far this year, even in a year when he’s not vying for his own reelection, and — literally and figuratively — stepped onto the national stage this summer during prime time at the Democratic National Convention.
Shapiro, 51, of Abington, will need to run for reelection as governor in the 2026 midterms before announcing an intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination and “has the potential to be the nation’s first Jewish president.”
Stephen Medvic, a government professor at Franklin and Marshall College, said his reelection campaign will likely determine whether a presidential run is feasible.
“There’s a lot of people that are going to put him as a front-runner,” said Samuel Chen, a GOP consultant in Pennsylvania. “Obviously, it’s his decision if he wants to run. There’s been a bit of a taste of what it might look like having gone through the veepstakes.”
“Gov. Shapiro has the name recognition and is the most popular politician in a Trump state,” Chen added. “For that reason, he’s going to be seen as a front-runner.” But that doesn’t always work in a candidate’s favor, Chen said, allowing more time for bad press or gaffes to prematurely end a campaign.
Shapiro’s office declined to comment on the speculation.
In October, he was named Philadelphia’s second most influential person by Philadelphia Magazine. In September, Shapiro was polled more popular than Harris, President Trump, and Taylor Swift.
His administration repaired the most poor-condition bridges of any state last year and was named an America’s Transportation Awards finalist for its response to the I-95 collapse.
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