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Why Josh Shapiro’s memoir could complicate a presidential run

JL;DR SUMMARY Josh Shapiro's memoir, "Where We Keep the Light," defies the typical narrative crafted for political ambition by highlighting parts of his record that might complicate a 2028 presidential bid. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish IdentityMemoirDemocratic PartyBarack ObamaTree Of Life MassacreJosh ShapiroVice Presidential VettingPassover Arson Attack

Places mentioned

Pennsylvania, United States
"When politicians publish memoirs, the goal is usually clear: introduce themselves to voters beyond their home state, often ahead of an expected national run, and present the version of their story that makes them most appealing to the broadest base. Thats what makes Josh Shapiros new memoir potentially counterintuitive. In Where We Keep the Light, set to be published on Tuesday and obtained by the Forward, Pennsylvanias Jewish governor does not sidestep the parts of his biography and political record...."
Illinois, United States
"Shapiro, who has been mentioned as a potential first Jewish president since his gubernatorial campaign in 2022, was one of six finalists who conducted interviews with the campaign of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, a group that included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is also Jewish."
Minnesota, United States
"In his interview with Harris before she ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Shapiro writes that he was urged to apologize for some of his comments about the protests to avoid alienating younger, more progressive voters and the Muslim electorate in Michigan."
Michigan, United States
"In his interview with Harris before she ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Shapiro writes that he was urged to apologize for some of his comments about the protests to avoid alienating younger, more progressive voters and the Muslim electorate in Michigan."
New York City, New York, United States
"Embracing a position that could complicate a campaign rather than smoothing away rough edges is not without precedent. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani sustained criticism during his campaign for his refusal to soften his stance on Israel, which alienated Jewish voters, long considered one of the most influential blocs in citywide races."
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
"Shapiro devotes a chapter to the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh that killed 11 people, describing his role as attorney general at the time and the emotional toll of repeatedly standing with a community shattered by the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history...."
Jerusalem, Israel
"Shapiro spent four months living in a dorm, taking classes and touring the country. Jerusalem, he writes, felt entirely different from home, where his faith had largely been contained within the walls of his synagogue on Saturday mornings or at the family table on Friday nights. Shapiro and his family are practicing Conservative Jews who keep kosher and gather for Shabbat dinners, joined by Shapiros parents and in-laws."
Yemin Moshe, Jerusalem, Israel
"Shapiro proposed to his wife in 1997 under the 19th-century Montefiore Windmill in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem, during one of more than a dozen trips to Israel."

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Retrieved 2026-01-24 05:30:40 UTC
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