“I could see a group of kind of progressive candidates or candidates fighting for that group, splitting votes, and someone like Josh Shapiro being able to really kind of do what Biden did in 2020 and coalesce a moderate lane.”
America, Actually with Astead Herndon · Policy · August 2026
Context
Astead Herndon on his podcast America, Actually, explaining why he picked Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in a fantasy draft of 2028 Democratic contenders.
Transcript
All this talk about electability. We need white guys, straight people, all out the window. We're going limbs in 2028. Okay, it is my turn, and I am torn between a couple. I like Raphael Warnock. I'm going to go against the grain and say Josh Shapiro. I
was just going to pick
Josh. That was my next pick. Because while I agree about the kind of tide turning, particularly against Israel among the Democratic base, I could see a group of kind of progressive candidates or candidates fighting for that group, splitting votes, and someone like Josh Shapiro being able to really kind of do what Biden did in 2020 and coalesce a moderate lane. So obviously, moderate lane means black voters means I think some people we haven't necessarily seen him win with just yet, but I do think there is an opportunity, particularly if we see a split electorate among the AOCs and Kamala Harris's and everyone else. So I am going to go with Josh Shapiro and the moderate wing striking back.
If he were the nominee, I'd vote for him yesterday. And
we are down to our
final rounds, y'all. So this is the time for the spicy or maybe out-the-box picks. Think about where your team might need some new voices or maybe someone who can gobble up a lane you don't have.
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