|
By Erik Telford
The 2024 election may be over, but it is safe to bet that Gov. Josh Shapiro — whose national ambitions are well known — already has his eyes set on 2028. As Pennsylvania enters the final legislative session of his term, Shapiro should avoid putting the presidential cart before his gubernatorial horse.
Shapiro entered office two years ago promising bipartisan leadership and committed to work with Republicans in the state Capitol. He campaigned telling voters he would take on the big fights and pledged to deliver on policies with broad bipartisan support, including tax cuts and Lifeline Scholarships for kids in failing schools.
Despite the hype about Shapiro’s talent as a politician, he’s proven unskilled and ineffective at governing. His first two years in office tell a story of a stunning lack of accomplishment, abdication of leadership, and betrayal of trust with the legislature.
Why It Matters. Despite his lack of productivity and leadership, Shapiro still garners national attention. The national media has devoted a significant amount of attention to Shapiro, whom some pundits have praised as a “Democratic rising star,” “Superman,” and “the Dem’s next darling.”
In 2024, this national notoriety catapulted Shapiro as one of the leading candidates to serve as an eleventh-hour running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris.
But the public is wising up to Shapiro’s abysmal record. In recent polling, when asked if the governor has delivered any significant accomplishments during his time as governor, 54 percent of Pennsylvania voters said either “no” or “unsure.” Those who answered “yes” struggled to identify any specific Shapiro milestones other than the quick repair of I-95 in July 2023—a rebuilding effort that had less to do with the governor and more with the federal government backing it (which didn’t stop Shapiro from taking credit for in the Washington Post).
Continue Reading
|
