Josh Shapiro, Potential Harris V.P. Pick, Cancels Weekend Fund-Raisers

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, one of the front-runners to be Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, has abruptly canceled a three-event fund-raising swing through the Hamptons just days before Ms. Harris is expected to make her selection.

Mr. Shapiro had been expected to headline three different events throughout the wealthy New York island towns, according to invitations seen by the Times. But gradually, throughout Wednesday, hosts were informed that Mr. Shapiro would no longer take part, according to two people briefed on the matter. The Shapiro team had hoped the cancellation would not be made public until later in the week, but the news began to get out on Thursday, the two people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the change publicly.

“The governor’s trip was planned several weeks ago and included several fund-raisers for his own campaign committee,” said Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Gov. Shapiro. “His schedule has changed, and he is no longer traveling to the Hamptons this weekend.”

It is unclear why precisely the trip was canceled. Michael Kempner, who was supposed to host one of the events for Mr. Shapiro’s campaign committee, said he had been told that Mr. Shapiro needed to be with his family in Pennsylvania. Another event was a “summer soiree” expected to be held for a liberal youth-advocacy organization called The Next 50, where Mr. Shapiro was marketed as a “special guest.”

Whatever the reason, the quieter schedule will prevent Mr. Shapiro from drawing additional media speculation over the weekend about his chances of being Ms. Harris’s pick.