Seven Heartland governors endorse Harris for president

In wake of President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential election, the Democratic Party has already begun rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris, garnering notable endorsements from seven Democratic governors in the Midwest.

Among these endorsements is Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) of Pennsylvania, who is a potential running mate for Harris in the presidential election.

The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania – where this collective work began.

I will do everything I can to help elect @KamalaHarris as the 47th President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/sqCkiAmCV7

— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) July 21, 2024

Before getting elected governor in 2022, Shapiro served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2005-12 and then as the state’s attorney general from 2017-23.

Given the importance of Pennsylvania as a swing state and its 19 electoral votes, Shapiro will likely receive a lot of attention in the weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. Despite the rumors, Shapiro told CBS News Philadelphia in May that he hopes to be governor of Pennsylvania for a long time and that he has “work to do here, and I’m focused on doing that work.”

Another potential vice-presidential pick is Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), who announced his endorsement for Harris on Morning Joe on MSNBC on Monday morning.

“I am excited to fully endorse Vice President Harris for the next President of the United States,” Beshear said. “The vice president is smart, and strong, which will make her a good president. But she’s also kind and has empathy, which can make her a great president.”

Gov. Andy Beshear endorses Harris and attacks JD Vance on Morning Joe: “Vance calls pregnancy arising from rape ‘inconvenient.’ No, it’s just plain wrong. He suggests that women should stay in abusive relationships. Listen, a domestic abuser isn’t a man, he’s a monster.” pic.twitter.com/rO3ardI65K

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 22, 2024

Like Shapiro, Beshear served as Kentucky’s attorney general from 2016-19, before winning the gubernatorial race at the relatively young age of 42 in 2019. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman are the only Democrats currently serving as statewide elected officials in Kentucky, which is traditionally a conservative state. Despite his state’s strong Republican base, Beshear has supported Democratic policies like same-sex marriage, Medicaid expansion and upholding reproductive rights.

Other governors with possible national political aspirations that have endorsed Harris include Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). Govs. Laura Kelly (D) of Kansas and Tony Evers (D) of Wisconsin also threw in their support for Harris on Monday morning, meaning her official nomination as the Democratic candidate is likely imminent.