Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called on lawmakers Sunday, Nov. 1, to set a better example in their public conduct, describing campaign rhetoric as dangerous and warning that cruelty makes people less safe. The governor, who is seeking reelection, said his response is to promote kindness and decency while continuing to confront hate.
Shapiro linked that appeal to his criticism of the president, saying he was trying to restore kindness in the face of what he described as cruelty from the president. He acknowledged having substantial disagreements with his election opponent, the president and others, but said those differences did not make cruelty an appropriate response.
Asked about language being used on the campaign trail in places such as Michigan, where a key Senate contest is underway, Shapiro offered a blunt assessment: "It's dangerous. It's hateful." His remarks connected his concerns about political rhetoric with the threats that he and his family have experienced.
Shapiro discussed the 2025 attack on the governor's mansion, which occurred after he and his family had celebrated Passover with a Seder at the residence. He said the experience continues to affect him, while emphasizing that it has not determined how he approaches his responsibilities. "It weighs on me, but it doesn't control me," he said.
According to Shapiro, threats against him, his wife and their family have increased since the mansion attack. He said people had threatened them because of how he worships. Knowing that others want to cause harm carries an emotional burden, he said, but it also gives him a reason to keep doing his work.
That determination was part of the family's discussion before Shapiro decided to run again. First elected governor in 2022, he said he met with his family before choosing to seek reelection this year. Everyone agreed that they could not allow those threatening them to prevail, he said.
Shapiro presented continued public service and opposition to hateful behavior as his response to those threats. He said officials should demonstrate the conduct they want to encourage, rather than engage in cruelty themselves. "You got to stand up against the hate," he said, calling for leadership by example and an effort to restore decency in the country.
