PITTSBURGH — Several Pennsylvania Democrats expressed support for Gov. Josh Shapiro Sunday and Monday as his upcoming book and rising national profile reportedly rankle some members of his own party.

State Sen. Jay Costa of Allegheny County and other Democratic leaders across the state released statements Sunday evening pushing back against anonymous Democratic complaints about the governor’s personal political ambitions as reported by Axios. Republicans’ endorsed candidate for governor, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, openly claims Shapiro is too focused on a potential 2028 White House run.

“No one works harder for Pennsylvania Democrats than Governor Shapiro,” the party chairman, Eugene DePasquale, said on X. “From local races to winning back Congress he’s all-in, and we're fully united behind him.”

The statements of support come as Shapiro’s book, “Where We Keep the Light,” releases Tuesday after already ruffling some party feathers over his description of being vetted as a potential running mate by then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

Shapiro’s book details how he was offended by the vetting process, particularly a question of whether he was ever an Israeli agent. The governor wrote that he wondered whether he’d been asked because he was “the only Jewish guy in the running.”

Democratic divisions over Israel amid a rise in antisemitism loomed over the 2024 race and are sure to remain a factor in 2028, when Shapiro is one of a few Jewish leaders in the mix of contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“I love this country, and for someone to question that, for someone to question my loyalty — particularly as someone who is as open about his faith as he is — was offensive to me,” he told CBS on Sunday.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ eventual pick, recently told CNN that he was also asked whether he was a foreign agent — for China.

And Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who was also vetted but not among the final group interviewed by Harris, told reporters he didn't find the campaign's questions inappropriate, the Chicago Tribune reported.

“The questions are tough,” he said. “I think you've got to be tough during the process.”

Ron Klain, former President Joe Biden’s chief of staff, told Axios that, “Asking a high-level appointee if they have ever been a foreign agent is a standard vetting question.”

On Sunday, Costa, the Democratic leader in the Republican-controlled state Senate, cited what he described as the governor’s and legislature’s successes on education, child care tax credits and tax breaks for working families, to challenge the notion the governor was only out for himself.

“Governor Shapiro is truly a strong, consistent partner who values our shared ideals and works tirelessly to bring them to fruition,” Costa said. “He is a consensus builder who welcomes our input.”

State Rep. Mike Schlossberg of Lehigh County, the House majority whip, shrugged off criticism of Shapiro in a post on X: “In 2022, the wildly popular governor put his resources and political capital on the line to help us net 11 seats and take the majority. In 2024, he did it again, and we had incumbents and challengers alike clamoring for pictures, endorsements and dollars.”

State Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, argued in a post on X that the governor’s “numerous successes represent core Democratic values and have come through collaboration … this also explains his growing popularity.”

He also called on Democrats to “stick together,” saying, “It's time for folks to concentrate on the real threat, and not the true friend.”

J.J. Balaban, a Democratic strategist and ad maker based in Philadelphia, told the Post-Gazette on Monday that grumbling about Shapiro “will likely evaporate” if he wins reelection and helps his party pick up seats in the U.S. House, state House and state Senate.

“Democrats really, really want a winner now,” he said. “What's a lot more relevant than the grousing of some elected officials is the abundance of polling showing that Democratic voters in Pennsylvania are overwhelmingly favorable toward the governor.”

In October, Quinnipiac University released a survey of more than 1,500 Pennsylvania voters and reported its highest approval rating for Shapiro, at 60%, since it began tracking him in June 2023.

Last week, the Harrisburg strategic communications firm Bravo Group reported that 58% of roughly 700 recently surveyed said they would cast a ballot for Shapiro if the gubernatorial election were held today.