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Last Friday evening, as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro lit the Shabbat candles, he seemed like the frontrunner to be chosen as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential candidate. However, that was not to be the case. As of Tuesday, it appears his Jewish identity may have played a role in this decision.
Indeed, the vice-presidential nomination bypassed Shapiro, opting instead for Midwest Protestant Tim Walz—an uncontroversial choice less likely to provoke backlash from those critical of Israel or Jews.
Leading up to Shapiro’s omission, many voices within the party—both Jewish and non-Jewish—warned that the choice of Walz could reflect a troubling undercurrent of antisemitism.
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John King and other CNN anchors raised concerns that Shapiro’s pro-Israel stance was unfairly scrutinized, despite it being comparable to that of other potential candidates. Nevertheless, his identity as a practicing Jew may have disqualified him in the eyes of some progressive voters.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been selected by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris as her vice-presidential running mate. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
These worries were voiced on social media by various Jewish celebrities and activists, including the very liberal actor Josh Malina, who noted, “Shapiro’s views on Israel align with other VP candidates. However, Shapiro is…well, Jewish. This feels like unforced antisemitism, Cynthia,” in reference to far-left actor Cynthia Nixon on X.
Even some current Democratic officeholders shared similar sentiments.
“Anti-Israel activists who have falsely accused the Biden-Harris Administration of funding ‘genocide’ are suddenly okay with Vice President Harris, as long as she decides against choosing Governor Shapiro as a running mate,” remarked New York Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres on X, also stating, “These hypocrites are full of it and their antisemitic dog whistling should hold no sway over the choice of a presidential running mate.”
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By the way, where is his fellow New Yorker and the highest-ranking Jew in Washington, Senator Chuck Schumer, amid all this? Honestly, since the horrific Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7th, it’s as if the Senate minority leader has vanished.
Unquestionably, now that Shapiro’s aspirations for the vice-presidency have dimmed like the last flicker of a Hanukkah candle, most on the left will move on, much like many have forgotten their outrage over debating Joe Biden’s candidacy.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was a possible candidate for vice president alongside Kamala Harris. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Ultimately, these matters tend to fade away unnoticed. At least, that’s what they hope, but there is a noteworthy issue: Republicans have taken note of this antisemitism as well.
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Just hours before the announcement on Tuesday, GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance remarked in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, “They will not have selected Shapiro due to antisemitism in their own caucus and party…The far-left is uncomfortable with the fact that he is a Jewish-American.”
The senator from Ohio has reasonable grounds for this assertion, as observed during the spring when numerous Democrats, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow progressives, showed support for antisemitic student protestors who harassed Jewish peers.
This bigotry was also evident when Minnesota Democrat Representative Ilhan Omar openly advocated for Walz against Shapiro and remarked that all Jewish people care about are the “Benjamins.”
Were there alternative reasons for Harris choosing to exclude Shapiro? Undoubtedly. He may possess more gravitas than she does. Walz enjoys popularity without outshining. He resembles a sitcom father more than anything else, but timing is crucial.
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It’s striking that concerns about Shapiro’s Jewish identity emerged only when he appeared likely to be Harris’ choice for running mate, whereas his record on Israel was spotlighted even though it mirrored other candidates’ and Kamala Harris’ stances as well.
It is nearly unfathomable that Shapiro, a widely-supported governor from one of the key battleground states, would have experienced this setback if his surname were Smith or, perhaps, Harris.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania narrowly missed the opportunity to become VP Kamala Harris’ running mate, losing out to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
Historically, there was a divide in the early 20th Century between assimilated Jews and newer immigrants from Eastern Europe with their distinct customs and religious practices.
I recall my great-grandmother, part of the more refined group, occasionally expressing disdain towards the newcomers, muttering, “too Jewish.”
The Democratic Party now faces a similar dilemma. It’s acceptable to be a Jew in their ranks if you enjoy cultural references like Woody Allen films and Christmas Chinese takeout, but when it comes to actual observance? Keep those practices out of public view.
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This year, the Democratic Party effectively placed a sign on the vice presidency that reads, “Jews Need Not Apply”—at least not those who openly embrace and celebrate their faith.
This is a grim and unsettling truth, and it’s one that demands attention. When antisemitism flourishes, it rapidly becomes a harmful weed that thrives in the shadows, expanding when individuals choose to ignore it.
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