{"id":2601395,"date":"2026-05-11T17:50:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/josh-shapiro-and-aoc-are-waging-war-over-a-midterm-congressional-race-with-2028-implications-report\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T17:53:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T21:53:36","slug":"josh-shapiro-and-aoc-are-waging-war-over-a-midterm-congressional-race-with-2028-implications-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/josh-shapiro-and-aoc-are-waging-war-over-a-midterm-congressional-race-with-2028-implications-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Josh Shapiro and AOC Are Waging War Over a Midterm Congressional Race with 2028 Implications: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjosh-shapiro-and-aoc-are-waging-war-over-a-midterm-congressional-race-with-2028-implications-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2601395&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrats,the article argues,may face a long-running challenge from the party\u2019s internal anti-Israel sentiment into the 2028 election cycle. It claims Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro-seen as a centrist and possible presidential contender-has been trying to stay out of direct conflict with the party\u2019s left while quietly working behind the scenes to prevent a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/populism-is-on-the-ballot-in-europes-multinational-election-blitz\/\" title=\"Populism is on the ballot in Europe&#039;s multinational election blitz\">progressive candidate backed<\/a> by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) from gaining an advantage in a May 19 Democratic primary in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, the piece says Shapiro disapproves of AOC-endorsed candidate Chris Rabb and has encouraged local allies to avoid actions that could inadvertently help Rabb, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including urging building trades unions<\/a> not to run negative ads against another candidate (Ala Stanford) for fear it would benefit Rabb. The article also notes Rabb has criticized Shapiro publicly in the past,which it says would create difficulties for Shapiro if Rabb wins.<\/p>\n<p>it portrays the core tension as a political divide over Israel: Shapiro is described as supportive of Israel, while rabb is described as having previously blamed \u201czionists\u201d in a disavowed social media post. the article concludes that Shapiro will likely have to deal with this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wsj-editors-respond-to-trumps-claim-theyre-pushing-globalist-agenda-and-fading-into-irrelevance\/\" title=\"WSJ Editors Respond to Trump\u2019s Claim They\u2019re Pushing Globalist Agenda and Fading Into Irrelevance\">intra-party tension<\/a> for the next campaign cycle, irrespective of how he manages it publicly.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Democrats face a problem that will likely plague them well into the 2028 election cycle.<\/p>\n<p>Until then, it appears that one prominent Democrat will try to sidestep the problem for as long as possible.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/05\/10\/aoc-josh-shapiro-midterms-presidential-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Axios<\/a>, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, widely considered a centrist and a possible 2028 presidential contender, has worked behind the scenes to undermine a progressive congressional candidate supported by Democratic Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-smears-charlie-kirk-supporters-house-floor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> of New York \u2014 another potential 2028 aspirant.<\/p>\n<p>The candidate, Chris Rabb of Philadelphia, has earned AOC\u2019s endorsement in a tight three-way Democratic primary scheduled for May 19.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, three sources close to discussions told Axios that Shapiro not only disapproves of Rabb but has quietly taken steps to ensure that the AOC-approved progressive candidate gains no advantage at the expense of the other two candidates, Sharif Street or Ala Stanford, both regarded as more centrist Democrats like Shapiro.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, Philadelphia\u2019s building trades unions support Street. But Shapiro has urged those unions to refrain from running negative ads against Stanford for fear of inadvertently helping Rabb.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the governor must appear neutral if he hopes to avoid alienating his party\u2019s left wing.<\/p>\n<p>To that end, Shapiro spokesman Manuel Bonder said that \u201cthe governor has not endorsed or opposed anyone in this primary \u2014 and he looks forward to working directly with whoever wins to win in November. Gov. Shapiro is focused on flipping Republican seats and winning up and down the ballot in November.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rabb, however, has a history of vocal criticism toward the governor. In January, the upstart progressive even spoke at a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which organizers staged outside the first stop on Shapiro\u2019s book tour.<\/p>\n<p>In short, a Rabb victory would saddle Shapiro with a prominent critic inside his own state\u2019s U.S. House delegation.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, of course, the governor will have to take on his party\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ex-democrat-strategist-says-aoc-not-ready-primetime-world-stage-fumble\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AOC<\/a>-led left wing. But he appears determined to dictate when and how he will meet that challenge publicly.<\/p>\n<p>At the heart of that impending clash lies the strong anti-Israel sentiment inside the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro, who is Jewish, supports Israel, whereas Rabb, in a since-disavowed December social media post, blamed \u201cZionists\u201d for carrying out an alleged false-flag attack on Australia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-chilling-report-bondi-beach-witness-says-aussie-police-watched-slaughter-20-minutes-without-opening-fire-murderer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bondi Beach<\/a>, where a Dec. 14 Islamic terror attack claimed the lives of 15 people.<\/p>\n<p>On the face of it, Shapiro has qualities that victory-starved Democrats should crave.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, for instance, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/election\/2022\/results\/pennsylvania\/governor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">won the governorship<\/a> of a trending-red swing state by nearly 15 points. Two years later, in the 2024 election, President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/2024-election\/results\/pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">won Pennsylvania<\/a> by nearly two points.<\/p>\n<p>But the 2024 election also highlights Shapiro\u2019s problem.<\/p>\n<p>Then-Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats\u2019 default presidential nominee, reportedly considered Shapiro as her running mate, only to settle on Democratic Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tim-walz-shamed-trying-take-credit-federal-raids-somali-owned-minnesota-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tim Walz<\/a> of Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p>In her 2025 book, \u201c107 Days,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dem-governor-josh-shapiro-snaps-finds-kamala-harris-said-complete-utter-bulls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harris<\/a> took shots at Shapiro, characterizing him as presumptuous.<\/p>\n<p>For his part, in his 2026 memoir, \u201cWhere We Keep the Light,\u201d the governor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/josh-shapiro-gives-clearest-indication-yet-kamala-snubbed-jewish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recalled<\/a> that during the vetting process, Harris\u2019 team asked if he had worked as \u201ca double agent for Israel\u201d or if he had \u201cever communicated with an undercover agent of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other words, contrary to Harris\u2019 account, which cited a clash of personalities as the reason she opted against Shapiro as her running mate, the governor\u2019s version of events put the Democratic Party\u2019s anti-Israel sentiment front and center.<\/p>\n<p>In light of Axios\u2019 report, Shapiro will have to deal with that sentiment through 2026 and possibly into 2028.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Josh Shapiro quietly blocked AOC-backed Democrat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2601396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Untitled-design-22.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[79494,8334,37061,34250],"class_list":["post-2601395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2028-implications","tag-aoc","tag-josh-shapiro","tag-midterm-elections"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Untitled-design-22.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601395"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601399,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601395\/revisions\/2601399"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2601396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}