Vice President Kamala Harris’ Hollywood donors wanted Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to be her vice president, an exclusive published Tuesday by Deadline reveals.
In late July, Hollywood’s elite were lining up to hand money to the Harris campaign for president. Deadline published an exclusive article in the early hours of Tuesday morning, stating most of the entertainment industry’s leaders wanted Shapiro on the Harris ticket.
“Josh Shapiro,” one agency executive told the outlet. “Pennsylvania wins the election.”
Another leaned on the Pennsylvania bandwagon, saying “Whoever wins Pennsylvania, wins the White House, so ask yourself – who do you think Harris is leaning towards?” (RELATED: ‘That’s My Boy’: Vance’s Teary-Eyed Mom Spotted In RNC Crowd)
“They know each other well, get along, and that chemistry is important,” the source added.
“Shapiro is good on TV, good on social, looks straight out of [“West Wing”] casting,” another “big-time” donor joked. It seemed like Hollywood was all in on Shapiro, but not Harris.
AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 29: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024 in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Shapiro and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer campaigned to bring supporters behind Vice President Harris’s campaign to protect Americans’ freedoms, lower costs for families, and slam Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)
AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 29: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024 in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Shapiro and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer campaigned to bring supporters behind Vice President Harris’s campaign to protect Americans’ freedoms, lower costs for families, and slam Trump’s Project 2025 agenda. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (L) speak to the press while making a stop at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (L) speak to the press while making a stop at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images)
“Governor Shapiro knows Capitol Hill, strong on Israel …and has 14% of Trump voters in Pennsylvania approving of him,” a person only described as a “Tinseltown operative” added about Shapiro. “People out here don’t know him well, but what they do know they like, and they sense a winning ticket.”
Instead, Harris chose Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her potential future vice president Tuesday morning. (RELATED: Joe Scarborough Says Tim Walz Brings Lack Of Political Balance To Harris Ticket)
“Harris can do no wrong right now, so whoever she picks people will get behind,” one producer with deep Democratic donor ties told Deadline. (RELATED: JD Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Skyrockets To Top Of Charts Following VP Rollout)
“I’d go for Walz. I want it to be Walz,” one filmmaker claimed, but he was the only one. “Tim Walz is like Tim Kaine,” said another. “He’s a safe choice, good guy, but he doesn’t bring much to the table, and we need all we can get against Trump right now.”
These individuals were the only two to mention Walz in Deadline’s story.
Harris secured the Democratic presidential nomination Aug. 2 based off an internal party vote with virtually no primary voter approval.
CNN’s Van Jones suggested Tuesday that Harris might have possibly caved to the “darker parts” of the Democratic party by picking Walz. Antisemitism has been “marbled” into the party, and Harris’ pick added disquiet that must be resolved soon, Jones said.
