Governors Celebrate America 250: Great American History from State of State Speeches, Part 1

Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

You likely have heard he may run for president.

But did you also hear him talk about America's 250th birthday?

I recall as a young State Representative looking up at this mural and seeing the likes of Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Thaddeus Stevens. These are our elders and their example should guide and inspire us. Men like Franklin and Paine and others gathered in Philadelphia 250 years ago to begin this grand experiment in the greatest system of governance the world has ever seen.

That was Governor Shapiro's annual address to the Pennsylvania legislature. February 3rd, 2026.

And it turns out, many other governors — some also potentially running for president — also used their state of the state address to talk about America 250.

Which governors mentioned America 250 in their state of the state address?

What was their big message about the country's big birthday?

What did the governors say about their own state's role in the birth of America?

And what new fun facts about American history did governors teach us?

Find out in latest, special two-part episode of C-SPAN's podcast "Extreme Mortman."

Find "Extreme Mortman" wherever you get podcasts ....

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