Top Democrats are encouraging former Pennsylvania state Rep. Josh Shapiro (D) to run for Senate as an alternative to former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), who has already announced his candidacy.
The Associated Press reported on Friday citing “two people familiar the discussions” that top Democratic leaders in the senate including Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) have already spoken with Shapiro.
If Shapiro (pictured) did decide to run for Senate, it would set up a potentially bloody primary battle for the Democratic nomination to face Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) in the general election.
In 2010 Sestak defied President Barack Obama and a number of other top Democratic leaders when he ran against —and defeated— then-Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the Democratic primary. Sestak would go on to lose to Toomey in the general election.
