Democrat Lawmaker Denounces Antisemitic Attacks on Josh Shapiro

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., has criticized the "overly online left" for their antisemitic attacks on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a top contender for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. Auchincloss, who is Jewish, said the attacks are "unacceptable" and reflect a "strong undercurrent of antisemitism."

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., has strongly condemned the antisemitic attacks on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a top contender for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. In an appearance on CNN, Auchincloss criticized the "overly online left" for targeting Shapiro's Jewish faith and support for Israel.

Shapiro has come under fire for an op-ed he wrote as a 20-year-old college student, in which he expressed skepticism about the possibility of Palestinian statehood. These views have drawn criticism from some on the far-left flank of the Democratic Party, who have launched the "No Genocide Josh" campaign and pressured Harris to choose another running mate.

Democrat Lawmaker Denounces Antisemitic Attacks on Josh Shapiro

Auchincloss argued that the attacks on Shapiro are based on a double standard, as they hold him to a different level of scrutiny than non-Jewish vice presidential contenders. He stressed that "there is a strong undercurrent of antisemitism" to these attacks, adding that "it's unacceptable."

"Every contender's positions on all policy issues, their track records in elected office, all of that is fair game," Auchincloss said. "But holding him to a different standard because of his religion just simply isn't who we are in the Democratic Party."

Democrat Lawmaker Denounces Antisemitic Attacks on Josh Shapiro

Auchincloss's criticism is not the first time Jewish congressional Democrats have spoken out against the unfair treatment of Shapiro. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, told Axios that some critics assume that Jewish politicians cannot be objective on Israel, which he called "not true or fair."

Shapiro's spokesman, Manuel Bonder, has defended the governor's views, stating that he has since built relationships with Muslim-American, Arab-American, and Palestinian Christian community leaders, and that his views on the Middle East have "evolved" over time.

Democrat Lawmaker Denounces Antisemitic Attacks on Josh Shapiro

Meanwhile, Shapiro has taken a strong stance against antisemitism. He condemned the October 7 massacre that sparked campus protests nationwide and admonished protesters who targeted Israeli-owned businesses in December for "blatant antisemitism." He has also supported Israel's right to defend itself while acknowledging the rising death toll in Gaza.

Harris is expected to announce her vice presidential pick at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Shapiro remains a top contender for the position, despite the ongoing attacks on his pro-Israel stance.

Democrat Lawmaker Denounces Antisemitic Attacks on Josh Shapiro