(WHTM) – In front of a national audience, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro outlined why he thinks people across the country see him as a potential presidential candidate in 2028 as Democrats look for the future leader of their party.

Shapiro was a guest on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday evening and was repeatedly pressed on his potential prospects as the Democratic nominee in 2028.

Maher’s opening question to Shapiro – “Why do so many people see you as this guy who might be ‘the guy?'”

“I won when Hillary Clinton lost (in 2016), I outperformed Joe Biden (in 2020), got more votes than anybody ever running for governor in Pennsylvania,” said Shapiro, who added he’s won three statewide races and won the 2022 gubernatorial race with a record 3 million votes.

He continued to highlight his status as the only governor with a split legislature and legislative achievements such as funding education and law enforcement.

When asked about Democrats voting with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown, Shapiro appeared to define himself as an “outsider” candidate, though he made it clear he wasn’t announcing any kind of campaign on Maher’s show.

“I’m not an expert in the DC stuff,” said Shapiro. “I try and stay as far away from that as I can. I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets.”

Shapiro added he would’ve liked to see Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) negotiate with Republicans and get legislative wins out of the process to fund the government.

“I would have liked to see when Chuck Schumer had leverage here, to say ‘we need a, b, c and d for the Democratic Party,’ and force the Republicans to meet him halfway on those issues and deliver something for the folks who are worried now.”

Shapiro also hit President Donald Trump’s tariffs, saying the price of Pennsylvania dairy farmers’ exports to their biggest customer, Mexico, will be increased by 25%.

The governor also gave a shoutout to York after visiting a hydropower plant earlier this week.

The 2028 campaign cycle will be the first time both Democrats and Republicans will not have a current or former president on the ballot since 2016. Maher suggested during his interview with Shapiro that the governor could run in a primary with California Governor Gavin Newsome, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Before Shapiro potentially runs for president in 2028, he faces a re-election campaign in 2026. Republican Congressman Dan Meuser, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and State Senator Doug Mastriano (who lost to Shapiro in 2022) have each discussed potential Republican primary campaigns.

Shapiro has yet to formally announce a re-election bid.