Shapiro uses Swarthmore visit to outline how he sees gubernatorial race
SWARTHMORE » At the opening of the Pennsylvania Democratic campaign Swarthmore office, Pennsylvania Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro laid out what’s at stake in this race.
“Our democracy is at stake — a democracy that was born just a few miles from here — and as Pennsylvanians, we have a unique responsibility — to defend that democracy,” Shapiro said to the Fairview Road office standing next to lieutenant governor candidate Austin Davis, U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore, state Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26 of Swarthmore, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-165 of Springfield and state representative candidates Cathy Spahr and Lisa Borowski.
Lieutenant Governor candidate and state Rep. Austin Davis, D-35 of Allegheny County, agreed.
“We cannot afford this year not to elect Josh Shapiro as our next governor,” he said. “In order to do that, we have to field the strongest team possible — a gubernatorial ticket that looks like Pennsylvania, a gubernatorial ticket where everybody sees themselves represented.”
The Swarthmore office will serve as the Delaware and Chester counties’ headquarters for the “All In” Pennsylvania Democratic campaigns this election cycle.
Shapiro’s press secretary, Manuel Bonder, explained why this location was chosen.
“It’s a critical community … to get out the message of Josh’s campaign focused on bringing people together and his vision for a better Pennsylvania,” he said.
In his remarks, Shapiro promised millions of dollars for schools in need, a mental health counselor in every school, the end of standardized testing in Pennsylvania with more arts, humanities, music and civics in the classrooms and a highlight on vocational technical education.
He touched on violence and promised to invest in more policing while also bringing police together with the community.
“We’ll bring the police and the community closer together to deal with the gun violence and deal with the drug trafficking and ensure that everyone has a safe community to live in,” Shapiro said.
He also spoke of thousands of jobs that will be created through green energy initiatives and his support of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Shapiro also laid out how he viewed the race in comparison to his Republican opponents.
“They vision a Pennsylvania that works against you, that divides us cynically. They image a Pennsylvania where the union way of life is destroyed … They fundamentally believe that they know better, that they know better than the women of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
In fact, the largest applause of the event — injected with hoots and hollers — erupted during his words on abortion.
“They believe that the choice should rest with the politicians in Harrisburg,” Shapiro said of his eight GOP challengers, of whom Delaware County’s own Dave White is one. “I trust the women of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to make decisions over their own bodies. The next governor is going to have on his desk a bill that bans abortion. They will sign that bill into law. I believe that abortion is health care. I will veto that bill.”
He spoke of how former President Donald Trump and his team went to court 43 times to change election law in Pennsylvania and lost each time.
“They believe that certain people shouldn’t count in our democracy,” Shapiro said. “They’re not trying to make it harder for people that look like me to vote. They’re trying to make it
harder for Black and brown Pennsylvanians to vote. They’re trying to make it harder for disabled Pennsylvanians to vote.”
As polls showed state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33 of Adams County, in the lead on the GOP side of the governor’s race, Shapiro shared his interpretation.
“He marched to the Cap
itol and when law enforcement said, ‘Stop,’ he kept marching,” Shapiro said of the state senator. “He breached those police lines. He is now poised to be my opponent … that’s what we’re up against here.”
Trump endorsed Mastriano on Saturday.
Shapiro reminded his supporters that the Democratic Party is the party of freedom, choice and opportunity.
“Now, the other side, they talk a good game,” he said. “They cloak themselves in the blanket of freedom. Let’s speak about freedom. It’s not freedom when they get to tell the women of this commonwealth what they can do with their bodies. It’s not freedom when they tell you how and when and under what terms you can start a family.
“It sure as hell isn’t freedom when we have kids getting shot up on the street and they do whatever the gun lobby says,” Shapiro continued. “It’s not freedom when they let you go vote but they choose the winner.
“We are the party of freedom,” he said. “We are the party of choice. We are the party of opportunity.”
Saying he was hopeful for a future of opportunity for all, Shapiro told the packed office their work mattered and they had a vital role in this election.
“Delaware County, you gotta lot riding on you here,” he said. I’m counting on you but I know you can do it … At the end of the day, Austin Davis’ and Josh Shapiro’s names may be on the ballot, but the truth is, your rights and your future is on the line … The power is in your hands.”