According to the New York Post, John Fetterman’s camp has expressed concerns to Vice President Kamala Harris about including Governor Josh Shapiro as a potential vice-presidential pick due to their longstanding differences.
In the thick of this pre-election season, Vice President Harris, the confirmed Democratic frontrunner, evaluates her options for the second-command post. Among the contenders is Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has found himself at odds with fellow Democrat and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman over the state’s criminal justice policies.
Senator Fetterman has not been vocal in his opposition; however, his advisors have been proactive in sharing their concerns with Harris' team. Criticism revolves significantly around their conflicting views during their tenures on Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons. This includes a notable clash over the Horton brothers' clemency case in 2019, wherein Governor Shapiro expressed reservations initially, citing missing court documentation.
Progressive Democrats have also critiqued Shapiro, particularly for his stance during the recent Hamas conflict. They suggest his views may detrimentally impact electoral prospects in vital states such as Michigan, thereby intensifying the scrutiny around his potential vice-presidential candidacy.
Representative Jared Moskowitz from Florida has sided with Shapiro, fearing the dissent has roots in antisemitism rather than political disagreement.
These progressives don’t want a Jew. Let’s say it out loud. Imagine if moderate Dems said they didn’t want a certain minority. The condemnations would be deafening. Yet now we hear much silence.
Despite previous disagreements, Governor Shapiro showed his capacity for reassessment by backing the clemency of the Horton brothers on their second appeal by December 2020.
His spokesperson, Will Simons, underscores his extensive record on criminal justice reforms:
The governor evaluates every pardon case individually and on its merits and during his time as attorney general, he approved more pardons and commutations than all of his predecessors over the last 25 years, combined.
Governor Shapiro and other VP considerations have temporarily paused their campaign activities, awaiting Vice President Harris's decision. This pause highlights the importance Harris's selection holds, potentially shaping the Democratic Party's strategy and cohesion in the upcoming election.
Fetterman's critique focuses more on personal assessments and the political implications of their policies rather than purely ideological differences. His political future, as indicated in a past remark to the Philadelphia Inquirer, is closely tied to the outcomes of such judicial decisions. “The trajectory of my career in public service will be determined by their freedom or lack thereof," mentioned Fetterman, connecting his political fate with the repercussions of justice reforms.
As the Democrats rally around their nominee, the choice of Vice President stands not merely as a strategic decision but as a reflection of the party’s values and future direction.
Reflecting upon the ongoing selection process and the apparent rifts it exposes, the Democratic Party faces a pivotal moment. The selections made and the alliances formed or forsaken could very well dictate their standing in the forthcoming national elections.
Ultimately, as Vice President Harris gears up to unveil her running mate, the discourse surrounding Governor Shapiro's potential candidacy casts light on deeper inter-party dynamics and the broader implications for party unity and electoral strategy in crucial states.
