Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, has announced he will seek a second term in office. The 52-year-old, who has governed the crucial swing state since January 2023, made the announcement on Thursday with planned events in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
In a campaign video, Shapiro said: “We’ve gotten a whole lot done on issues that have been stuck for decades. But there’s always more to do – more people to help, more Pennsylvanians to protect, more bridges to build.” His re-election campaign comes at a pivotal moment, with many Democrats viewing it as an audition for a future White House run in 2028.
Shapiro, once considered a frontrunner to be Kamala Harris’s running mate, has earned a reputation as a pragmatic moderate. He has secured increased funding for public schools and protected abortion access. However, his centrism has drawn criticism from progressives, particularly on climate policy and education reform. His vocal support for Israel during the war in Gaza also sparked opposition from some Democratic activists.
Shapiro has proved willing to confront Donald Trump directly, filing numerous lawsuits against the administration over withheld state funding and condemning the president’s tariff policies as “reckless” and “dangerous”. He recently criticised the US seizure of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, calling it “crazy” and part of a “bully’s weakness”.
