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Austin Davis could be the next Pa. governor: 'I recognize that I didn't get here alone'

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis at PBS39 on Aug. 5, 2024
Jim Deegan
/
LehighValleyNews.com
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis waits to be interviewed at the Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lt. Gov. Austin Davis says regardless of what happens with his boss, he’s prepared to lead Pennsylvania forward.

Davis was in the Lehigh Valley on Monday as Allentown was awarded a $20 million federal grant aimed at breaking barriers to employment and boosting economic development.

“I think my record and the things that I've done in my career speak for themselves,” the 34-year-old Democrat told LehighValleyNews.com.

“I would encourage people and ask them to recognize that age doesn’t equal inexperience.”

Davis, of McKeesport in western Pennsylvania, has been Gov. Josh Shapiro’s lieutenant governor since they won election in 2022 and took office in 2023.

Shapiro is in the running to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in her bid to take on former President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, in the upcoming presidential election.

An announcement on her vice-presidential pick is expected Monday night or Tuesday.

“I would encourage people and ask them to recognize that age doesn’t equal inexperience.”
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis

Davis said he prefers to keep conversations he’s had with Shapiro private.

But if Shapiro were to be selected as Harris’ vice-presidential running mate, and if the Democrats were to win in November, Davis would serve the remainder of Shapiro’s governor term.

That would make him Pennsylvania’s youngest governor ever and the state’s first Black governor.

“If you look at my resume and the things that I've been able to accomplish, we're ready for that job — if, if, it arises — and you don't become lieutenant governor without recognizing the fact that one day you might be called upon to serve as governor,” Davis said.

Austin Davis
Jenny Roberts
/
LehighValleyNews.com
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis spoke at at Friday news conference at the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown.

Davis worked as a senior adviser in Allegheny County government before he was elected to the state Legislature.

In 2018, he was elected to fill the vacant 35th District House seat and was re-elected to two terms before running for lieutenant governor in 2022.

He points to public safety and preventing gun violence as among the work of which he's most proud.

He also mentioned Pennsylvania's new BOOST program developed by state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh — an $11.5 million investment in after-school programs that Davis touted in a separate visit to the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown 10 days ago.

Here’s an edited transcript of Davis’s interview with LehighValleyNews.com conducted Monday at the Univest Public Media Center, after Davis had done an uplink interview that aired live on CNN.

What do you want Pennsylvanians to know about you?

"I'm the proud son of a union bus driver and a hairdresser and grew up in an aging steel town in southwestern Pennsylvania called McKeesport, and first ran for the state Legislature over five years ago now. I wanted to go there to fight for working-class families like mine.

"And so I came to Harrisburg to fight for workers' rights to fight, to make sure we protect reproductive freedom. I've had the pleasure to continue to do that as Josh Shapiro's lieutenant governor and now I'm a father of my own now. I just became a dad about almost a year ago now.

"And so I'm fighting to make sure that everyone has layers of opportunities to succeed here in Pennsylvania.'

What are you proudest of in your time in Harrisburg, either during your term as lieutenant governor or before?

"I'm very proud of the work that we've done around public safety to help make sure we're creating safer communities here in Pennsylvania to take on the epidemic of gun violence. In this last budget, we secured $45 million for violence intervention programs to help take on gun violence in our communities.

"For the first time in the commonwealth's history, we invested $11.5 million for after school programs to help make sure that young people have safe places to go. And we're going to be standing up the first office of Gun Violence Prevention here in Pennsylvania to help make sure we're coordinating our efforts — using our resources the most effective to make sure we're building safer communities."

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing Pennsylvania?

'It's amazing that no matter where I travel in Pennsylvania, the things that people are worried about are the same. They're worried about having an economy that works for everyone that's creating family-sustaining jobs so people can live the American dream here in Pennsylvania.

"Two, they're worried about their children's education future, making sure that we're properly funding our public school systems to make sure every young person, regardless of their zip code, has an opportunity to succeed.

"And third, people are concerned about making sure that our communities are safe to make sure that law enforcement has the resources that they need to do their job and also making sure that we're working to stamp out gun violence in our communities.

If Josh Shapiro were to become vice-president, you would become Pennsylvania's youngest governor and the first Black governor. What does that mean to you, your family, and the people who are closest to you?

"It's a humbling opportunity to serve here as lieutenant governor. And, you know, I recognize that I didn't get here alone. I stand on the shoulders of giants — people like K. Leroy Irvis (the first Black Speaker of the Pennsylvania House) and Robert N.C. Nix Jr., who was the first Black chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. And countless other folks who work to make sure that someone like an Austin Davis could exist.

"And so every day that I get to do this job, I'm mindful of the fact that I didn't get here alone. I'm mindful that I have to be a voice for communities that have often felt left behind or unseen. I go to work every day with that mentality.

"Regardless of what position I'm in, I recognize that I have a responsibility to help move Pennsylvania forward regardless of what happens."

How do you answer when people say or ask you what makes you ready to be the governor?

"I started my career in county government as a senior adviser in Allegheny County to the county executive. I spent five years in the Legislature. I was elected by my colleagues as chairman of the Allegheny County House Democratic delegation — the second-largest delegation of Democratic legislators in the commonwealth. And I've been lieutenant governor for two years.

"I think my record and the things that I've done in my career speak for themselves and I would encourage people and ask them to recognize that age doesn't equal inexperience.

"If you look at my resume and the things that I've been able to accomplish, we're ready for that job — if, if, it arises — and you don't become lieutenant governor without recognizing the fact that one day you might be called upon to serve as governor.

"And if that day comes, we'll be ready to serve and to move Pennsylvania forward."

If Shapiro is the VP pick, how does that change your job or your approach to your job?

"Well, you know, if he's the pick, Governor Shapiro is still the governor. I have a job to do as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor to make sure that I'm being an active governing partner in the commonwealth to help move Pennsylvania forward. I'm going to continue to do that.

"But I think one thing, folks should be clear, regardless of whether he's picked or not, Josh Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania.”