WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro refused to commit to serving out a full term if he wins reelection, following in the footsteps of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as 2028 rumors fly.
Instead, Shapiro trained fire on his GOP rival, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, for seeking the governor’s mansion instead of finishing out a full term in office.
“The only thing I am focused on is running for reelection as governor. And I’m focused on these midterms,” Shapiro said during his gubernatorial debate Wednesday when asked. “There are two candidates on this stage. Only one of us has broken a pledge to serve out their full term.”
“The treasurer made a commitment [that] she would serve her full term as treasurer. She’s obviously broken that, and I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that she’s able to serve all four years as treasurer.”
Shapiro sparked buzz during the Democratic veepstakes in 2024 and is currently polling in seventh place among the top speculated 2028 hopefuls, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.
The Democratic governor has taken some heat from anti-Israel elements of the party over his support for the Jewish state. Shapiro is Jewish.
“I’ve been very, very consistent in my position — in my love of Israel and also my disagreements with the Netanyahu government,” he explained during the debate, when asked about Democratic infighting on that issue.
Shapiro is widely seen as the frontrunner in his race for reelection. Pennsylvania is one of the seven top battleground states in recent presidential cycles.
His popularity there has fueled speculation that he would be formidable in a presidential contest.
In Maryland, Moore has similarly drawn buzz that he could vie for the presidency. During Moore’s debate against Republican rival Dan Cox on Tuesday, the Maryland governor similarly refused to commit to serving out a full term.
“Being the governor of Maryland has been the honor of a lifetime,” he replied when asked. “And I would not be running for reelection if I was not committed to the people of Maryland.”
After a moderator pressed him for a direct answer, Moore demurred.
“I gave the answer. I am committed to the people of Maryland. That’s why I am running for reelection.”
Moore previously repeatedly ruled out a presidential run.
“I’m not running for president,” he told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” twice during an interview last year.
But last month, when asked about 2028, Moore said that he is “going to be part of a bigger conversation going forward, because I think the state of Maryland, and what we’ve done, has justified that.”
