VP also-rans line up behind Walz pick

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pledged his “enthusiastic support” for Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — one of several would-be Democratic vice president picks who quickly coalesced behind their party’s newly complete 2024 ticket.

“I know that Governor Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward,” Shapiro wrote in a statement on social media Tuesday morning, calling the Minnesota governor a good friend.

Shapiro — who was vetted by Harris’ team, traveled to Washington on Sunday for a sit-down interview with the vice president and reportedly made it into her final pool of running mate contenders — also broke his silence on the vice presidential process. Shapiro said the choice was a “deeply personal decision” for both Harris and himself, suggesting that he wanted to complete his four-year term.

“Nearly two weeks ago, Vice President Harris asked me to work with her team to complete the vetting process to be considered as her running mate — and following those conversations, on Sunday, I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak with the Vice President directly about her vision for the role and the campaign ahead,” Shapiro wrote.

He added that he would make the case across Pennsylvania for the Harris-Walz ticket, continuing a busy schedule as a key campaign surrogate since Harris launched her presidential bid. Shapiro was viewed as a particularly strong candidate to help Harris win the state’s 19 electoral votes — particularly given his 61 percent favorability rating there — but was opposed by one of Pennsylvania’s own senators , as well as a coalition of left-leaning activists over his views on education and the war in Gaza.

Shapiro was scheduled to speak Tuesday evening at a rally for Harris and Walz in Philadelphia — a city whose leaders were so supportive of Shapiro for vice president that they rallied for him at a Harris campaign event and released an eyebrow-raising endorsement video Friday.

Other contenders for Harris’ vice presidential nominee were also quick to back Walz, playing up his Midwestern bonafides which, in Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s words, gives him a “big heart” and an “unwavering commitment” to helping families. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly said that he and his wife , former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, are “ready to do everything we can to help them win.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear — who adopted a similar veepstakes strategy to Walz by focusing on cable news shows and fundraisers, while previewing attack lines against JD Vance — said it was an “honor to be considered.”

“I'm excited for what his Midwestern voice, military experience, and common-sense values will bring to our winning ticket, and for everything the Harris-Walz administration will deliver for Americans,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, another vice president contender who served in the military, wrote on X .