A Pennsylvania Democrat running for statewide office appeared to accuse Governor Josh Shapiro — a fellow Democrat and leading candidate for vice president — of covering up sexual harassment allegations.
Pennsylvania treasurer nominee Erin McClelland made the shocking allegations in an X post earlier this week.
“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,” she wrote. “I want someone that can speak to rural voters,” the Pennsylvania Democrat continued, adding that her choice for vice president would be North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
In a statement to the New York Post, McClelland noted that she did not mention Shapiro’s name directly, though she did add that her concerns about the governor’s presidential ambitions should be heard.
“If I were in [Harris’] 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 said.
While McClelland did not offer details on her accusation, The Philadelphia Inquirer said she “was likely referring to a sexual harassment scandal in Shapiro’s office last year.”
The scandal involved a woman who accused her superior, Shapiro legislative liaison Mike Vereb, of sexual harassment. The governor’s office quietly settled the case out of court after agreeing to a $295,000 settlement with the accuser.
McClelland’s statement has created friction among Pennsylvania Democrats, many of whom have been urging Vice President Harris to put Shapiro on the general election ticket. “Look, everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street said at a Wednesday campaign event for Harris.
“But I’ll tell you, I’m offended by the post,” he continued. “I’m personally offended, and I’ll have conversations with our nominee for treasurer separately.”
While speaking with the New York Post, McClelland said she has not spoken with Street since making the accusation. “Someone is offended by a woman with a strong opinion. Color me thunderstruck,” she said.
Regardless of Harris’ decision on a running mate, McClelland told The Post that she will be supporting the Democratic ticket no matter what.
Cooper “seems very comfortable in his own skin and does not seem to have very strong ambitions to be president,” McClelland said.
“I don’t think that he would undercut” Harris, she added. “He’s good on public education, which is an issue that’s important to me.”
Shapiro is among a handful of candidates who has reportedly received vetting paperwork from the Harris Campaign. Other candidates include Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Cooper.
