Democrat Josh Shapiro picks up Republican endorsements in race for governor

Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign has earned a slew of endorsements from prominent Republicans.

Shapiro, a Democrat from Montgomery County, said his campaign has received nine GOP endorsements from across Pennsylvania. In a swing state like Pennsylvania, having crossover appeal can be paramount to success in statewide races.

Republicans endorsing Shapiro include:

• Former U.S. Reps. Charlie Dent of Lehigh County and Jim Greenwood of Bucks County.
• Lawrence County Commissioner Morgan Boyd.
• Former Montgomery County GOP Chair Ken Davis.
• Sandra Schultz Newman, the first female Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
• Former Lt. Gov. Robert Jubelirer of Blair County.
• Former state Reps. Denny O’Brien of Philadelphia, Dave Steil of Bucks County and Lita Cohen of Montgomery County.

Shapiro said his campaign is attracting a growing coalition of support from across the political spectrum because of its focus on lowering taxes and bringing down costs for families.

“In order to meet this moment and address the challenges facing Pennsylvania, Republicans, Independents and Democrats must come together – and I am grateful to receive the endorsement of so many Republican leaders who recognize the stakes of this governor’s race,” said Shapiro.

Dent, one of the first Republican lawmakers to openly break with former President Donald Trump, said he has previously always supported Republicans for governor, but is backing Shapiro this cycle. Dent warned that Shapiro’s Republican opponent, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, is an extremist who is a threat to the “rule of law and the constitutional order.”

“We may not always agree on every policy position, but that is to be expected,” Dent said. “(Shapiro’s) focus on improving our economy, strengthening our schools and keeping our communities safe is what Pennsylvania needs now.”

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Mastriano had been a leading figure in some Republicans’ attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and was present on the Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shapiro appears to be taking a note out of President Joe Biden’s successful 2020 campaign. Both Dent and Greenwood endorsed Biden in that election.

Greenwood, who served as a congressman from 1993 to 2005, said he is backing Shapiro after previously supporting Republican gubernatorial candidates throughout his lifetime. He said he can’t support someone as “extreme and dangerous” as Mastriano.

He said Pennsylvania deserves someone better for the state’s next governor and he called Shapiro a “man of integrity.”

A USA Today/Suffolk University poll from June has Shapiro leading Mastriano 44% to 40%, but within the poll’s margin of error.