PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After more than a week of speculation, Vice President Kamala Harris did not choose Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to be her running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
She tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday. “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team,” she posted on X.
Sources said Harris had narrowed her search down to a handful of contenders, including Walz, Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
In a statement following Harris’ announcement, Shapiro said the vice president had asked him to undergo the vetting process nearly two weeks ago. He said it was a “deeply personal decision.”
“The running mate decision was a deeply personal decision for the Vice President — and it was also a deeply personal decision for me,” he wrote. “Pennsylvanians elected me to a four-year term as their Governor, and my work here is far from finished — there is a lot more stuff I want to get done for the good people of this Commonwealth.
“Serving as the 48th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the highest honor of my life — showing up in your communities, listening to and learning from you, and then working across the aisle to get stuff done and deliver results for you. In just 19 months, we’ve made a meaningful, positive impact in people’s lives, and I’m proud of how Americans all across the country have taken notice of what we’re accomplishing here in Pennsylvania. I’m excited to continue working to protect and advance real freedom, deliver good schools, safe communities, and economic opportunity.”
Shapiro also commended Walz, calling him an “exceptionally strong addition to the ticket.” And, he said Harris has his “enthusiastic support.”
Harris and Walz are expected to make their first public appearance together Tuesday evening at Temple University in Philadelphia, the first stop of their seven-state campaign blitz.
The location of the rally raised speculation last week that Harris would pick Shapiro. While he was not tapped, he is still expected to attend Tuesday’s campaign event.