Obama throws support behind Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reelection bid as former president enters midterm fray

October 9, 2026 / 4:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Former President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro's reelection campaign, releasing a video endorsement Friday as the former president steps up his involvement in key Senate and gubernatorial races in the final stretch before the midterm elections.

"Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro has your back — and in this election, I'm asking you to have his," Obama says in the video first obtained by CBS News.

Obama praised Shapiro's leadership and record in office and emphasized the importance of electing leaders who demonstrate "decency and integrity" while standing up against what he describes as the "chaos, cruelty and corruption" in Washington.

The endorsement is part of a wider effort by Obama to help Democrats ahead of the November elections. The former president has cut approximately two dozen video endorsements for Democratic Senate and gubernatorial candidates across the country.

Several were released Thursday, including videos supporting Democrats in key battleground states: Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, Georgia gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley. Obama is also expected to campaign in Michigan later this month for Democratic…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/