State Watch

Shapiro teases 2028 presidential run: ‘I’ll be a part of that conversation’

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by Sarah Fortinsky - 04/08/26 2:14 PM ET

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by Sarah Fortinsky - 04/08/26 2:14 PM ET

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) hinted Wednesday at a potential 2028 presidential bid, saying he wants to “be a part of that conversation” as Democrats grapple with the party’s direction.

“We have an opportunity to have a real debate within our party about what we stand for, about what our affirmative vision is,” Shapiro said, arguing Democrats can’t focus only on criticizing President Trump but must address “what we are going to do to make people’s lives better.”

Shapiro did not close the door to a White House run when asked about 2028 during a fireside chat with the Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network’s (NAN) annual convention in New York City.

“That is a debate that our party hasn’t had for a good long while,” he continued, “and that debate is not only going to help the Democratic Party, I think it’s going to be healthy for this country.”

“And what I can tell you for sure is that I want to be a part of that debate,” the governor added.

The Pennsylvania Democrat said he’s focused on his own reelection in November and called for midterm races across the country to be “a national referendum on Donald Trump.”

“As to who’s a candidate at the end of the day, that’s for another day,” Shapiro said of 2028. “But right now, what is critically important is that we have this national referendum in the midterms, and then we have an honest conversation as a party and as a country about what direction we want to go.”

“And I’ll be a part of that conversation,” he added.

Shapiro is one of several potential 2028 contenders appearing at NAN’s conference this week, as Democrats look to raise their national profiles ahead of a wide-open primary in two years.

Sharpton pushed him on his answer, noting NAN has hosted Democratic presidential candidates for debates dating back to 2000.

“What I just heard you say — and, you know, maybe I didn’t get it right — is that you think that you want to be possibly part of our National Action Network 2028 Democratic presidential debate,” Sharpton said.

When Shapiro said, “I don’t know that I said that,” Sharpton shot back, “But you didn’t deny it.”

“Here’s what I will say,” the governor added. “I’m not showing up in any room where anybody’s wearing a Knicks jersey … Next time I show up, I’ll be in my Sixers hoodie, and we’ll have a conversation.”

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