By Matt Underwood It appears that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is making some quiet moves behind the scenes, potentially aiming to disrupt the political ambitions of Chris Rabb, a progressive state lawmaker endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rabb is currently running for a U.S. House seat in a competitive Democratic primary, and sources close to the situation suggest that Shapiro has expressed his disapproval of Rabb and is actively working to impede his progress.
This isn’t the first time Rabb has publicly challenged Shapiro. He’s been a vocal critic, notably calling out Shapiro on social media for state collaboration with ICE. There was even a protest staged outside one of Shapiro’s book tour stops, specifically targeting the governor’s approach to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a level of direct confrontation from a state legislator towards the governor that’s quite uncommon.
What’s particularly interesting is the tactic Shapiro and his team are reportedly employing. They’ve been privately advising Philadelphia’s building trades unions, who are backing another candidate, Sharif Street, to steer clear of directly attacking a third contender, Ala Stanford. The implication is that by avoiding negative ads against Stanford, these unions wouldn’t inadvertently be helping Rabb, the sole progressive in this tight three-way race. Street and Stanford are seen as representing more traditional Democratic viewpoints, suggesting a strategy to consolidate the center-left vote against the more progressive Rabb.
The perspective from some observers is that this maneuvering by Shapiro highlights a broader internal conflict within the Democratic Party. The argument is that a focus on “moderate” or “centrist” positions, as Shapiro seems to represent, is precisely what has allowed the Republican Party to gain traction and enact policies detrimental to the country. This viewpoint suggests that a commitment to the status quo and a reluctance to embrace radical change, as exemplified by Shapiro’s actions, is a recipe for continued political stagnation and the rise of figures like Trump.
Furthermore, there’s a sentiment that “moderate” Democrats are sometimes closer to conservative ideals in their approach to governance and change. The notion is that the party’s establishment, including figures like Shapiro, actively hinders progress while outwardly appearing to support it. This creates a challenging environment for genuine progressive movements, with the argument being that if Democrats would unify behind candidates with clear momentum and progressive platforms, they would stand a much better chance of winning.
Some commentators view Shapiro’s alleged actions as a predictable move from an establishment figure protecting his own political turf, especially given his own perceived presidential aspirations for 2028. The idea that “quietly trying anything in politics is an oxymoron” suggests that such behind-the-scenes efforts are just part of the game. However, others see it as a clear attempt to stifle a challenger, suggesting Shapiro is acting like a “snake” and that his perceived conservatism has been evident for a long time.
There’s also a recurring theme that center-right Democrats often exert more energy fighting against their left-leaning counterparts than against Republicans. This is seen as a threat not only to Republicans but also to the power structures within the Democratic Party and the two-party system itself. The plea is for Democrats to stop “knee-capping each other” and instead focus their resources on candidates with genuine public support and a clear path to victory.
The perception of Shapiro as a politician who has done more to aid Republicans than Democrats is quite strong in some circles. He’s described as a quintessential “underwhelming white male” whose rise is an indictment of a perceived “lame” Democratic Party machine. The effectiveness of Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsements is noted, with the observation that the establishment’s reactions often inadvertently amplify her influence.
The idea that Shapiro is positioning himself for a potential presidential run in 2028 is also a prevalent speculation. Some believe he’s making calculated moves to appeal to a broader, perhaps more moderate, electorate. However, this is contrasted with criticism that he aligns more with figures like Joe Lieberman, suggesting a lack of genuine progressive commitment and perhaps being influenced by certain financial interests.
Ultimately, the narrative emerging is one of Governor Josh Shapiro, a figure perceived by some as a “corpo Dem” and a representative of the Democratic establishment, actively working to undermine a progressive challenger supported by a prominent progressive voice in the party. This internal party dynamic, fueled by differing visions for the Democratic Party’s future and strategies for achieving political power, seems to be playing out in a Pennsylvania congressional primary.