ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A host of Democratic Lehigh Valley lawmakers brimmed with optimism Tuesday after Vice President Kamala Harris revealed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in her presidential bid.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said he “was struck by [Walz’] thoughtful approach to addressing challenges.”
“LFG!” Tuerk tweeted. “Governor Walz is a kind and compassionate leader who is going to show up for Allentown and other cities, right alongside our next president [Kamala Harris].”
Allentown-area state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, told LehighValleyNews.com “it’s obvious” why Harris selected Walz to fill out the Democratic presidential ticket.
“He's an incredibly skilled communicator who's managed to bring progressive values to a pretty purple state,” Schlossberg said. “He's got a string of legislative achievements, and he can talk to anybody.”
“Harris has my enthusiastic support — and I know that Governor Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward."Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
Walz is “more than ready” to be the country’s next vice president, said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley.
"As a veteran, educator and parent by the miracle of IVF, Tim Walz understands the stakes of this election,” Wild said.
Walz will “work hard to safeguard our democracy, protect reproductive rights, and ensure access to affordable health care,” she said.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., called Walz a “committed and capable public servant” who will help Democrats win control of the Senate and White House in November,
“The path to the Senate majority and the White House runs through Pennsylvania,” Casey said.
Shapiro staying in PA
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, the other finalist in the sweepstakes to be Harris’ vice-presidential pick, gave Harris’ choice his full backing.
“Harris has my enthusiastic support — and I know that Governor Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward,” Shapiro said Tuesday in a statement.
“Certainly, I'm sad that Gov. Shapiro wasn't selected — he would have made an outstanding addition to any national ticket."Allentown-area state Rep. Mike Schlossberg
Shapiro said he will spend the next three months “traveling all across” Pennsylvania to stump for the Harris-Walz ticket.
He touted his own “positive impact” since January 2023, when he took over as governor, which he called “the highest honor of my life.”
“My work here is far from finished," he said. "There is a lot more stuff I want to get done for the good people of this Commonwealth.”
Schlossberg said he was happy “on a personal and selfish level” that Shapiro will remain as Pennsylvania’s governor after being passed over for Harris’ running mate.
“Certainly, I'm sad that Gov. Shapiro wasn't selected — he would have made an outstanding addition to any national ticket,” Schlossberg said.
“[Shapiro] being here unquestionably means that he's not only going to continue to fight for his [agenda], he can politically fight for the Harris-Walz ticket throughout the state.”
Door to higher office not closed
But Schlossberg said the door isn’t necessarily closed on Shaprio’s flirtations with higher office.
“The man would make an outstanding U.S. Attorney General,” Schlossberg said.
Shapiro served as Pennsylvania's attorney general for six years before becoming governor in 2023.
“Now, what would he rather be — U.S. attorney general or governor?" Schlossberg said. "I can’t even pretend to be able to answer that.
"But there's no doubt that he'd make an outstanding contribution no matter where he serves.”
Casey, who is seeking re-election, paid tribute to Shapiro as “an exemplary leader for our party and our Commonwealth” after Tuesday’s announcement.
“I'm grateful our entire ticket will have his strong support to make sure we win here in 2024,” Casey said.
