Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township is tied for fourth place in an Emerson College National Poll survey released late last week regarding the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.

Shapiro is tied at 7% support with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is in the lead with 16%, followed by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 13%, and California Governor Gavin Newsom at 12%.

In November 2024, an Emerson poll on the 2028 primary allowed voters to write in their preferred candidate. Harris received 37% support, Newsom 7%, Buttigieg 4%, Shapiro 3%, and Whitmer 3%. 

In July 2024, Shapiro was one of several people under consideration to be the running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris. In August, Harris opted for Governor Tim Walz.

Vice President JD Vance received 46% support in a hypothetical 2028 ballot test.

In related news, Shapiro has yet to sign off on a new state spending plan. He said Monday that budget talks between lawmakers went through the weekend and that he anticipates negotiators will agree on a plan “very soon,” the Associated Press reported.

Shapiro proposed a $51.5 billion plan for the 2025-2026 fiscal year beginning July 1 with a 9% (about $3.8 billion) spending increase for state operations.

The article notes that this is Shapiro’s third straight budget that failed to pass by the legal deadline of July 1.

Also on Monday, Shapiro held a press briefing on tax cuts for seniors and the property tax and rent rebates which will begin to be issued today. His comments from Monday are below:

Photo: pacast.com | Graphics: Emerson College