Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Rejects Democratic Socialists

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a prominent Democratic figure often discussed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, used a nationally televised interview to publicly distance himself from the party’s ascendant socialist wing and call for an internal ideological reckoning. His comments, made during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” that aired on Sunday, July 5, 2026, centered on the recent primary victory of democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York.

Shapiro was asked about Chevalier, who defeated incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat in a Democratic primary last month. Chevalier, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has advocated for policies including abolishing prisons and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Her district voted for her, but I have profound differences from that particular candidate,” Shapiro said. He added that she is “not someone who seemingly I would agree with on many things or that we share similar values.”

When pressed on what her victory signifies for the Democratic Party, Shapiro predicted a coming internal struggle. “I think what our party has to go through… is to have a battle over what we...