A Democrat running for a statewide office has sharply criticized a leading contender for Kamala Harris, delivering pointed remarks as his political profile rises.
According to reports, Erin McClelland, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania Treasurer, accused Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro of sexism and covering up sexual harassment in a post on X Tuesday night. She also implied that Shapiro’s ego was too large to be Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential partner.
She went on to endorse another Democrat, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
“I want a VP pick that’s secure enough to be second under a woman, is content to be VP & won’t undermine the President to maneuver his own election & doesn’t sweep sexual harassment under the rug,” McClelland wrote.
“I want someone that can speak to rural voters. That is @RoyCooperNC,” she added.
Although McClelland did not provide details in her tweet about how Shapiro allegedly covered up sexual harassment, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that she was referring to a troubling incident in Shapiro’s office from last year.
The scandal centered around a woman who accused Mike Vereb, Shapiro’s legislative liaison, of sexual harassment. Shapiro’s office attempted to resolve the issue by negotiating a $295,000 settlement with her.
However, Vereb, a close confidant of Shapiro for decades, did not resign from his Cabinet-level position until several months after an internal complaint was filed, according to the Inquirer.
McClelland elaborated to the Post on Friday regarding her concerns of Shapiro potentially being Harris’s running mate.
“If I were in her (Harris’s) situation, I would think very strongly about the difficulties that some women experience being in a top-level position and having men around them that have to be satisfied with being second, third, or answering to a woman,” she stated.
The Post observes that McClelland’s harsh criticism contrasts sharply with other Pennsylvania Democrats, who have enthusiastically supported Shapiro for VP, leading to tensions with state Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street.
“Look, everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Street said at a press event in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
“But I’ll tell you, I’m offended by the post,” he added. “I’m personally offended, and I’ll have conversations with our nominee for treasurer separately.”
Despite her concerns about Shapiro, McClelland told the Post she would continue to support Harris regardless of her vice-presidential pick. This raises questions about her commitment to standing on principle and advocating for women’s rights.
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