Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro isn't holding back. In a series of recent interviews coinciding with the release of his memoir, he’s leveled a pointed critique at the Biden-Harris administration, suggesting a disconnect between promises made and tangible results delivered to everyday Americans.
Shapiro, a rising star in the Democratic party and a potential contender for the 2028 presidential nomination, argues the administration fell short in providing visible improvements in people’s lives. He’s not simply offering vague dissatisfaction; he’s pinpointing specific failures, even as he runs for re-election in a pivotal battleground state.
The governor highlighted the critical issue of rural broadband access as a prime example. Despite the passage of a landmark infrastructure bill intended to connect all Pennsylvanians to high-speed internet, Shapiro states that, to date, zero people in his state have benefited from the funding. The money, he claims, simply hasn’t reached the ground.
This isn’t about policy disagreements, Shapiro insists, but about execution. He contrasts his own approach – focused on “concrete, get s--- done” results – with what he perceives as a tendency towards talk over action. He wants to *show* his work, not just discuss it.
The criticism has drawn reaction from within the Democratic establishment. A veteran of the 2024 Biden-Harris campaign described Shapiro’s comments as “weird and bizarre,” pointing to the governor’s previous consistent praise of both Biden and the legislation he now questions.
Delays in broadband funding aren’t solely the administration’s fault. Federal rule changes, bureaucratic hurdles, and evolving technological priorities have all contributed to the slowdown. However, Shapiro’s message resonates with a growing frustration over the pace of progress.
Shapiro’s memoir reveals he even briefly considered a challenge to Kamala Harris for the 2024 nomination after Biden’s performance in a debate raised serious concerns. Ultimately, he and his wife decided it wasn’t the right moment to pursue the presidency.
The relationship between Shapiro and Harris has been fraught with tension. Harris’s memoir alleges Shapiro demanded to be involved in every decision had he been selected as her running mate. Shapiro vehemently denied these claims, dismissing them as “blatant lies.”
Further fueling the friction, Shapiro’s book details an unusual question posed to him during the vetting process: whether he had ever acted as an agent of the state of Israel. This detail adds another layer to a complex and increasingly public dynamic between two ambitious political figures.
Shapiro’s willingness to publicly critique a former president of his own party, even while promoting his own political career, signals a potential shift in the Democratic landscape. It suggests a growing appetite for a more direct, results-oriented approach to governing.
