CHICAGO — Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) hailed Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), as the ticket of “real freedom” during a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention.
“Today, we find ourselves writing the next chapter,” he said to the crowd. “Will we be a nation defined by chaos and extremism? Or will we choose a path of decency, honor, and continued progress?”
Shapiro, the top Democrat in a battleground state that will determine the election, bashed former President Donald Trump as “a man with no guardrails” who wants to “take away our rights and freedoms.”
“While he cloaks himself in the blanket of freedom, what he’s offering isn’t freedom at all,” he said, attempting to reclaim the theme from the Republican Party, which campaigns on its defense of the Bill of Rights.
Shapiro attacked the GOP for attempts to ban certain controversial books in public schools, for championing the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and for Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
“You know what Democrats? We, we are the party of real freedom,” Shapiro said, citing party investments in law enforcement, support of unions, and their embrace of abortion access. “Real freedom that comes when she can join a union, marry who she loves, start a family on her own terms, breathe clean air and drink pure water, worship how she wants, and live a life of purpose where she’s respected for who she is.”
“Kamala’s and Tim’s names may be on the ballot, but it’s our rights and our freedoms on the line,” Shapiro warned as Democrats happily cheered him on.
The freedom message ties into the theme of the convention’s third day, “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” and as Harris has repeatedly used Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” in campaign ads.
At the DNC, the Pennsylvania governor spoke at several delegation breakfasts, where he was mobbed by party officials who wanted pictures with Shapiro or an autograph.
Shapiro was one of the final candidates considered to join the Harris campaign as her running mate but after being passed over, he has said he would help Harris win the Keystone State for the Democratic Party.
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The first rally Harris hosted with Walz, her new vice presidential candidate, took place in Philadelphia and featured an introduction speech from Shapiro.
“I am going to continue to pour my heart and soul into serving you every single day as your governor,” said Shapiro at the Philadelphia rally. “And I’m going to be working my tail off to make sure we make Kamala Harris and Tim Walz the next leaders of the United States of America.”