HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has intensified his engagement with pop culture figures, drawing attention to his re-election campaign and fueling speculation about a 2028 presidential bid. His recent efforts include a cameo in rapper Meek Mill's music video and a public pitch to NBA star LeBron James.
Shapiro appeared in Meek Mill's video for "Nightmares to Dreams" this week. State officials said the clip came from a meeting before the One Philly: Unity Concert for America on July 4. The two have built a friendship over the past decade, according to a Democratic strategist who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Weeks before the video's release, Shapiro publicly lobbied for LeBron James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, to join the Philadelphia 76ers. James has since signed with the team. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. was asked whether Shapiro would claim credit for the signing. "He'll certainly try," Fetterman said.
Shapiro's courtship of popular culture extends beyond those events. In 2024, he attended a Bruce Springsteen concert with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, then-New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke. During a June breakfast with social media influencers, Shapiro said comedian Jerry Seinfeld once "laughed at my joke." A 2024 social media video he recorded featured Beyoncé's "Texas Hold 'Em" while advocating abortion rights.
Some Democratic strategists question the direct political benefit of celebrity outreach. Christopher Hahn, a Democratic strategist, said celebrity is not transferable, citing Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris as examples where endorsements did not ensure victory.
Stefan Hankin, another Democratic strategist, said the approach requires authenticity to resonate with voters. Hankin added that such moves rarely cause harm unless a politician "really screw[s] it up." A popular podcast appearance does not win an election, he said, but it can help without hurting—"unless you bomb."
Pennsylvania-based Republican strategist Christopher Nicholas conceded that Shapiro "has been a huge basketball fan since forever," crediting the governor with genuine interest behind some of the outreach.
Charlie Gerow, another Pennsylvania Republican strategist, offered a sharper critique. Gerow said Shapiro, who captained his high school basketball team, acted as if he "was James at one point." Gerow said Shapiro "worked hard to channel Barack Obama for a long while" and advised him to "try being himself and a much better governor instead of constantly worrying about whether or not he's 'cool.'"
Matthew Beynon, spokesman for Shapiro's Republican gubernatorial opponent Stacey Garrity, said the governor was more focused on celebrities than on Pennsylvania residents. Beynon described it as a "Napoleon Complex" and said Shapiro "is more focused on sitting at the cool kids table so he can run for president than fixing the problems facing hardworking Pennsylvania families."
Beynon cited a U.S. News & World Report Best States study that ranked Pennsylvania's economy 47th last month. CNBC's Top States for Business ranked the commonwealth's economy 13th during the same period, using different measures.
Fetterman, who does not have a close relationship with Shapiro, offered a second quip when asked about the governor claiming credit for James joining the 76ers. Fetterman called Shapiro's tendency to claim credit one of his "superpowers."
The anonymous Democratic strategist said Shapiro's celebrity engagement is a long-standing strategy, not a new one, pointing to his decade-long relationship with Meek Mill and his lifelong fandom of the Sixers. Shapiro's spokesman declined to comment.
