Lee Zeldin suggests Pa. Gov. Shapiro's Jewish background kept him off the Democratic ticket

Former Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said Tuesday that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was not chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee due to his being Jewish. 

"It’s amazing that despite America’s right, left, and center agreeing that Josh Shapiro was Harris’ best pick for VP, at the end of the day, Shapiro being Jewish disqualified him," Lee wrote on the social media platform, X. 

Prior to Harris naming Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., as her running mate on Tuesday, speculation abounded that Shapiro would fill the slot. He currently serves as the Democratic governor of the swing state Pennsylvania.

According to PBS, Shapiro received backlash for past remarks about his support for Israel.

He told reporters last week that he supports a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, asserting that he supported that position prior to Oct. 7 when Hamas conducted a surprise attack on Israel.

"It says so much about the state of today’s Democratic Party," Zeldin wrote on social media.