Vice-President Kamala Harris, the nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States, has made efforts in recent weeks to court the progressive wing of the Democratic party by “pivoting” on the issue of the current conflict in Gaza. From not attending Bibi Netanyahu’s lie-filled, murderous speech in congress to calling for a ceasefire, Harris has attempted to win over the many voters, especially in Michigan, staunchly opposed to the Biden administration’s disastrous handling of the Israel-Hamas war.
Regardless of her current rhetoric, Harris has been with the Biden administration every step of the way throughout the conflict thus far. Pro-peace and pro-Palestine activists know this and are, unsurprisingly, still very skeptical of the Vice-President. Nevertheless, Harris knows that she must win over progressives if she wants to win in 2024. Her boss, Joe Biden, knew this very well when he reached an agreement with Senator Bernie Sanders to endorse a variety of progressive policies in exchange for an endorsement in his 2020 campaign. Harris must make an offer to progressives throughout the nation and it appears that Gaza is part of the deal. Moreover, young voters are one of the most important parts of the Democratic voting base. They are also the most pro-Palestinian demographic in the American electorate. Their support will again be necessary for the Democrats to win in 2024 and beat Donald Trump a second time.
Enter Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, a name that has become the “betting favorite” for Harris’s running-mate in 2024. On paper, Shapiro would make a great running-mate for Kamala Harris. Shapiro is a popular Democratic Governor in a swing state with a solid track record in public service in the eyes of establishment Democrats. However, picking Shapiro for VP would probably be one of the worst decisions the Harris campaign could possibly make if they wish to defeat Donald Trump in 2024. Such a pick would, in one foul swoop, alienate every pro-peace and pro-Palestine Democrat and severely harm any attempt at appealing to progressives.
Shapiro could not be more clear in his undying support for Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Early into the war, he said that the United States must facilitate “…our key ally’s right to defend herself in the face of this barbarism”. For these comments, Shapiro was condemned by pro-Palestinian groups for “… not even once publicly [recognizing] the inhumane treatment of civilians, systematic occupation and apartheid, and dehumanization by Israel against civilian[s]… you chose to intentionally ignore the civilian loss of life in Gaza”.
Shapiro has continued to support the Israeli government even after the slaughter of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. He has directly supported Israel’s actions in Gaza by defending the restaurant, Goldie, which has donated its profits to an organization which supplied gear to the Israel Defense Forces. He has targeted colleges by supporting a law that would punish colleges and universities for boycotting or divesting from Israel. Additionally, he has compared peaceful, pro-Palestinian protestors on college campuses to the Klu Klux Klan and has denounced them as an “anti-Semetic”. He has also eroded the free speech rights of Pennsylvanians by requiring that state employees avoid participation in any “scandalous or disgraceful” actions, including anti-Semitism. While anti-Semitism is undeniably vile and abhorrent, Governor Shapiro has not adequately differentiated “anti-Semitism” from legitimate critique of Israel. This could lead to the silencing of dissenting voices.
No matter what Josh Shapiro says in public about “supporting a two-state solution”, his words will never hide his horrific track record on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Furthermore, no amount of money or flowery press coverage can prevent the world from knowing of sexual harassment allegations made against him by a campaign aide with Democrats from his state and women’s groups urging Harris to not pick him as her running mate. By picking Shapiro as her running mate, Harris would not only erode support from progressives concerned with Palestine but also those concerned with the state of women’s rights in America.
Instead of selecting a base-shattering candidate like Shapiro, Harris should choose a running mate who could actually unite the entire party around her. People like Governor J. B. Pritzker of Illinois, Rep. Jamie Raskin, or even Senator Bernie Sanders, all of whom have a pro-peace track record, could unify the party’s establishment and its progressive factions behind Harris. These candidates would give Kamala Harris the boost in support she desperately needs to secure the White House, and would give Americans across the country a voice on the national stage.
If Harris does pick Shapiro, progressive voters may abandon the Democratic Party altogether for authentic, pro-peace candidates like Jill Stein or Cornel West. As it turns out, this may be the better strategy for progressives in the long run. Withholding votes from the Democratic Party may be the only way to force the elites in the party to listen to the people. By not “voting blue no matter who”, the Democrats will have to either genuinely embrace popular policies or genuinely embrace losing to the Republicans year after year.
Unfortunately, all signs point to Josh Shapiro being chosen as the Vice-Presidential nominee. Harris has announced that she will hold her first rally with her running mate in Philadelphia and Josh Shapiro has cleared his calendar. Still, nothing is set in stone, and there is hope that Kamala Harris will make the right choice for the 2024 election. In the end, the unity and success of the Democratic Party may hinge on this crucial decision.
J.D. Hester is an American writer born and raised in Arizona. He has previously written for antiwar.com. You can find him on his Substack, Hester Unfiltered. You can send him an email at [email protected]. Follow him on X.
