The Democrats’ drift to embrace California-style leftism should worry Pennsylvanians not just for what it has done to the party nationally, but for what it might do right here to our own governor. 

You don’t need a pencil to connect the dots. When Josh Shapiro caves to his party’s expanding catalog of litmus tests, it will mean a disastrous liberal shift in Pennsylvania politics.

Shapiro was passed over for vice president after attacks by his party’s hard left, in part, over his support of school choice and his unapologetic stand on behalf of Israel. Their clear message: get in line or we’ll scratch you from the varsity roster.

Special interests with a stake in status-quo education policy attacked without mercy. Even his religion made him a target of people who can’t bring themselves to support the Middle East’s only democracy.

It was unrelenting. Shapiro was attacked by his own party’s candidate for state treasurer, by the campaign chair of the Democratic nominee for attorney general, and by one of Pennsylvania’s sitting Democratic U.S. Senators.

This is a dangerous message to send to a man with Josh Shapiro’s ambitions for national office. 

Standing firm could stop his ascent. Abandoning the stands that make him unique would leave us with a governor suddenly out to prove his bona fides with the most destructive elements of his own party. 

We have already seen Shapiro cave on one of his few bipartisan initiatives. Last year, the Governor came to a budget agreement with Republicans centered on scholarships for kids in failing public schools. Only for him to later give in to liberal politicians and special interests who cried foul at this attempt to reach across the aisle. The result was a months-long budget impasse and a torpedo to legislative relations.

All of his pandering was of course for naught. As he was being considered for vice president, Shapiro’s initial support for school choice still brought opposition from liberals across the country and even the United Auto Workers. 

And then, suddenly, the man who stood by Israel against Hamas and ordered antisemitic squatters removed from college greens, has been told that he must make some sort of accommodation with Israel-haters.

Whether it’s standing against anti-semitic terrorism or supporting school choice, candidates should be for something more than “elect me.” That is the challenge now facing Josh Shapiro.

The consequences of Governor Shapiro’s potential policy shifts are not minor. Harrisburg liberals have been pushing a disastrous agenda his entire term. Will Shapiro give into calls from the left to destroy Pennsylvania’s energy industry and double-down on economic policies that worsen inflation? Will the Governor give up on his campaign promises like cutting taxes for small businesses, implementing voter ID, and providing help to kids in failing schools?

The temptation is clear. The governor’s resolve has already proven shaky.

The vice-presidential sweepstakes told Josh Shapiro which way the winds are blowing in his party. Pennsylvanians can only pray he doesn’t trim his sails to accommodate them. 

Tim O’Neal is the House Republican Whip in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Washington County.