Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro<\/a> and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, stopped by a Bella Vista diner on Friday morning to pump up Democratic volunteers to turn out voters, with less than six weeks until the high-stakes midterm elections in both of their swing states.<\/p>\n On the menu: Electing Democratic candidates to Pennsylvania\u2019s four nationally-watched U.S. House seats that could determine control of Congress, and flipping the state Senate to Democratic control for the first time in more than 30 years. <\/p>\n Shapiro is also seeking a second term as Pennsylvania\u2019s Democratic governor this November, and maintains a sizable polling<\/a> and fundraising<\/a> advantage over his Republican opponent, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI know we\u2019re in a moment of tumult right now, where chaos and cruelty and corruption is just enveloping our lives. The good news is in 39 days, you\u2019ve got the power to change that,\u201d Shapiro told the group of a couple dozen volunteers from voter protection groups. Servers at Sam\u2019s Morning Glory Diner, wearing T-shirts with messages condemning President Donald Trump<\/a> and supporting former Vice President Kamala Harris<\/a>, whisked by with plates of omelettes and pancake stacks. <\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: 1 in 4 Pa. GOP voters doesn\u2019t know who Stacy Garrity is as Josh Shapiro widens lead in governor\u2019s race<\/a><\/p>\n Shapiro also assured voters that elections in Pennsylvania will be conducted fairly and accurately, following a CNN report<\/a> that Trump\u2019s Department of Justice is sending a surge of election monitors to oversee polling locations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re prepared again in court, and we\u2019re also prepared should they try and bring personnel into certain communities, particularly minority communities, to try and intimidate people, make it harder for people to vote, or make them worried about showing up to vote,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n State election officials are coordinating with the Pennsylvania National Guard, the Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement to protect voting access, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will do everything in our power to stop Donald Trump from interfering with this election and ensure, whether you vote by mail or you vote in person, you will have access to the ballot box, and it will be protected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Whitmer is nearing the end of her second term as Michigan\u2019s governor, and like Shapiro, has been floated as a contender in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.<\/p>\n The two have been coy about any future pursuits. Shapiro has demurred on his ambitions for higher office, saying he\u2019s focused on his reelection, though he\u2019s also said he will \u201cbe a part of that conversation<\/a>\u201d about who Democrats<\/a> should nominate for president. Whitmer previously said she had no plans to run in the Democratic presidential primary in 2028 but later walked it back<\/a>, saying \u201cnever say never.\u201d <\/p>\n But on Friday in South Philadelphia<\/a>, there were no signs of rivalry. Whitmer said she was in town to help support Shapiro\u2019s reelection effort. Shapiro praised Whitmer, saying she has been a guiding light for the kind of governor he wanted to emulate.<\/p>\n Whitmer, Shapiro said, is \u201dsomeone I have looked up to, someone who knows how to get stuff done in her state, and someone who I think leads with integrity, with purpose, with drive and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n