Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro urged fellow officials on Sunday to lead by example as inflammatory campaign rhetoric continues to intensify ahead of Election Day. During an appearance on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Shapiro emphasized that public figures must prioritize kindness and decency to counter the cruelty prevalent in modern political discourse. But I don’t think engaging in cruelty is the answer,” Shapiro added. “I think it makes everyone less safe.
Addressing his own experiences with hostility, the governor noted that threats against him and his family have persisted since an arson attack on the governor’s residence occurred in 2025 following a Passover Seder. He highlighted the arson attack on the governor’s residence in 2025 after he and his family celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder in the residence, saying, “It weighs on me, but it doesn’t control me. According to he, He has “profound differences from the person I’m running against, from the president and others. According to shapiro, Since the attack on the governor’s mansion, “even more people have threatened me and my wife, our family — threatened us based on how I worship.”While he said “it weighs on you, certainly, to know that.
While acknowledging that these threats are weighing on him, Shapiro stated that such intimidation does not control his actions.
He described the ongoing hostility, including threats based on his religious identity, as a primary motivation to persevere in his work rather than yielding to bad actors.
Shapiro, who was first elected in 2022 and is currently seeking reelection, shared that he consulted his family before deciding to remain in office. They collectively reached a consensus that they could not allow individuals seeking to incite hatred or harm to emerge victorious. He stressed that while he holds profound policy disagreements with his political opponents, engaging in cruel behavior only serves to diminish the safety of all citizens.
Regarding the broader political climate, the governor characterized the current rhetoric on the campaign trail as both hateful and dangerous. He called on leaders across the country to stand up against such toxicity to help restore civil conduct in national politics. We’ve got to keep going forward,” he said. “You got to stand up against the hate. Where a key Senate race is playing out, Shapiro said, “It’s dangerous, asked about the rhetoric on the campaign trail in places like Michigan.
Program Appearances and Referenced Segments
- Interview Subject: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Nov. 1, 2026
- Interview Subject: Representative Mike Lawler, Nov. 1, 2026
- Interview Subject: David Becker, Nov. 1, 2026
- Segment Title: This Week in Jew-Hate: The New Old Passover Story
