Jewish Democrat Josh Shapiro defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in the Pennsylvania governor’s race Tuesday night.
Shapiro, the state’s attorney general, an Abington resident and a member of the Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park, held a double-digit lead with almost 80% of the vote counted.
Media outlets started calling the race for Shapiro in the 10 o’clock hour on social media. But at Shapiro’s election night party at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Montgomery County, hundreds of supporters waited before an empty stage for the announcement.
Then it came down from CNN on the big screen to the left of the stage. The crowd, which had been sipping beers, eating ice cream and smiling all night, let out a roar and held up Shapiro signs.
“I am proud to be a Pennsylvanian!” said the Democrat during his victory speech.
Later, the Jewish politician who sits for Shabbat dinner with his family paraphrased his favorite line from the Talmud. The same one that he quoted in his campaign kickoff speech at Penn State Abington in October 2021.
“No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it,” Shapiro said.
After his speech ended just before midnight, Shapiro’s supporters danced to the party playlist still blaring from the Expo Center speakers.
