Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says Democrats’ expanding electoral map won’t dislodge his state from its place at the center of presidential politics, even as the party makes gains in traditionally Republican territory.

“You’re never going to get me to come off of Pennsylvania being the ultimate swing state,” Shapiro told POLITICO after Democrats’ midterm victories. He acknowledged that Texas, where two Democrats won major races, would have “a lot to say” about the country’s future leadership.

Shapiro’s claim comes after a reelection victory of more than 20 percentage points. Democrats flipped four congressional seats in Pennsylvania and secured control of the governorship and both legislative chambers for the first time in three decades.

The governor put more than $10 million into state Democratic campaign organizations, helped recruit candidates and appeared in advertisements for congressional and state Senate contenders. His campaign said he also won 11 counties that backed President Donald Trump in 2024, demonstrating what it called “unique strength” with voters skeptical of the Democratic Party.

The results could strengthen Shapiro’s standing as a potential 2028 presidential contender. He called Rep. Jim Clyburn, the influential South Carolina Democrat, after the election but declined to discuss their conversation. Asked when he would decide whether to run for president, Shapiro said he was focused on Pennsylvania’s legislative agenda.

His immediate priority, he said, is raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. He also said he was open to the National Popular Vote Compact, while noting that he and legislative leaders had agreed to announce their initial agenda together.

Shapiro described the cost of living as a central issue in the election, alongside anxiety about the country’s direction. He argued that Pennsylvania’s “common-sense approach” to governing and candidate recruitment could offer a model for Democrats nationally.

At the same time, he said the party’s opportunities now extend beyond its traditional Blue Wall. Pointing to Amy Acton’s victory in Ohio and Democratic wins in southern states, Shapiro said the election showed that “the map got a whole lot bigger for Democrats.”