She refused Shapiro due to his heritage.
House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested on Tuesday that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would have been a more suitable choice for Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate but implied that Shapiro’s “Jewish heritage” might have influenced Harris’s decision. Johnson speculated that Harris was hesitant to select Shapiro due to concerns about divisions within the Democratic Party, particularly between its pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel factions.
Johnson expressed his belief that Shapiro’s background was a significant factor in the decision, although he stopped short of labeling the choice as antisemitic. He conveyed disappointment, saying that Harris’s selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz instead of Shapiro, who had been a prominent candidate for the vice-presidential slot, was a regrettable political move.
Shapiro had been a strong contender for the vice-presidential nomination but was ultimately passed over in favor of Walz. On Tuesday, Harris and Walz held their first campaign rally in Philadelphia, where Shapiro introduced them. Shapiro’s position on the Gaza conflict and his critical comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contributed to his less favorable ratings, particularly among Gen Z voters, according to a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll.
Representative Ritchie Torres criticized what he perceived as hypocrisy among anti-Israel activists who opposed the Biden administration’s policies but supported Harris’s decision as long as Shapiro was not chosen. Torres argued that Shapiro’s pro-Israel stance was similar to Harris’s and criticized the notion that his views should disqualify him from consideration as a running mate.
Requests for comments from Johnson’s office, Shapiro’s office, and the Harris campaign have not yet been answered.
