Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, is reportedly cautioning Vice President Kamala Harris against selecting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate. According to Politico, Fetterman’s aides have expressed concerns to Harris’ campaign, citing Shapiro’s focus on his own ambitions as a potential issue.
The conflict between Fetterman and Shapiro stems from their time serving together on Pennsylvania’s Board of Pardons, particularly regarding second chances and the commutation process for convicts. Despite Shapiro being a leading candidate for Harris’ running mate following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race, Fetterman’s team has raised red flags about Shapiro’s priorities.
Shapiro’s staff has defended the governor’s record on criminal justice reform, highlighting his approval of more pardons and commutations than his predecessors over the last 25 years combined. However, Fetterman’s advisers have reportedly provided an “unvarnished assessment” of Shapiro that goes beyond policy differences.
In addition to internal concerns, Shapiro has also faced scrutiny over his stance on Israel after an old college paper resurfaced. In a 1993 article for the University of Rochester’s student newspaper, Shapiro expressed doubts about Palestinians’ ability to coexist peacefully and establish a successful homeland.
As the competition for Harris’ running mate intensifies, Shapiro, Fetterman, and the Harris campaign have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. Fox News Digital’s Peter Aitken contributed to this report.
