In race rife with antisemitism, Josh Shapiro becomes Pennsylvanias next governor, , a social media platform for far-right extremists and an echo chamber for antisemitic tropes. Shapiro was one of 20 electors selected by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to vote in the Electoral College for Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris in 2020 United States presidential election. On the issue of vocational training, Shapiro has proposed increasing career and technical training in high schools, tripling state funding for apprenticeships and union skills programs, and creating a Pennsylvania office of workforce development. 5 in Pittsburgh. "Chris' father, Chief Joel Fitzgerald, served Philadelphia as a police officer and now as a police chief across the country. [14], 2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election, 2020 Pennsylvania Attorney General election, "Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro biography", "PA governor race: Mastriano attacks Shapiro for going to Jewish day school", "Josh Shapiro Makes His Closing Argument", "Josh Shapiro wants to be the next governor of PA. How his Abington and Montco roots shaped his political career", "Josh Shapiro traces bid for Pennsylvania governor to his childhood work for Soviet Jews", "Josh Shapiro ready for next phase of career", "Josh Shapiro early on showed knack for networking and regimented messaging in politics", "Meet Josh Shapiro, the Man Behind the Bombshell Investigation of Clergy Sexual Abuse", "Short Bios of New House & Senate Members", "About Josh Shapiro | Josh Shapiro, Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Montgomery County, PA", "For Josh Shapiro, the only Dem candidate for Pa. governor, it's all going according to plan", "Pennsylvania's new attorney general hopes to restore confidence in the office", "Shapiro Takes Attorney General Election", "Is Josh Shapiro the Guy to Clean Up Kathleen Kane's Scandal-Ravaged Office? Taking the time to understand them and making them truly accessible. Published: Oct. 12, 2022, 5:05 a.m. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro's wife Lori (shown here behind him) plays a behind-the-scenes role in his campaign while keeping a stable. Following the 2006 elections, Democrats controlled the Pennsylvania State House by one seat, but the party was unable to unite behind a candidate for Speaker of the House. [73] Other union support included the Philadelphia Carpenters Union and Sheet Metal workers, the Western Pennsylvania Laborers' PAC, and the Electricians Union Local No. He represented the 153rd district from 2005 to 2012. [2], Shapiro wanted to pursue a career in government, but opted to become a full-time mother to allow her husband, Josh, to pursue his political career. [3] At a young age, Shapiro started a worldwide letter-writing program, known as Children for Avi, on behalf of Russian Jewish refuseniks. Shapiro has been expected to run for governor of Pennsylvania for a long time, and on October 13October 13, 2021, he announced his candidacy for the 2022 election.. [40][41] Dennis's family subsequently sued the officer and city of Philadelphia for the incident.[42]. Shapiro was born on June 20, 1973, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a father serving in the Navy, and was raised in Dresher, a part of Upper Dublin Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Along the winding road that has led to this moment, I have been grounded in my family and in my faith, were the first words he said after taking the oath. In 2008, he told the Philadelphia Jewish Voice that when you boil down all the teachings and all the rituals, fundamentally, Judaism is teaching that none of us is required to complete the task, but neither is any of us free to refrain from it. Shapiro was paraphrasing a famous rabbinic adage. In 2004, Shapiro ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 153rd district. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. Wife: Lori Shapiro: Children: Jonah Shapiro, Max Shapiro, Reuben Shapiro, Sophia Shapiro . In his inaugural address, Shapiro noted that serving in his role as a proud American of Jewish faith who took the oath of office on a Bible that survived the deadliest act of antisemitism in the nations history is evidence that Pennsylvanians can indeed find life in the midst of darkness and drown out the voices of hate and bigotry.. Married to my high school sweetheart. [2] She was later promoted to serve as the liaison to the Presidents Information Technology Advisory Committee. Milton Jerrold Shapp, who served from 1971 to 1979, changed his surname because he was worried about facing antisemitism. In August 2018, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner referred the case of the fatal shooting of Jeffrey Dennis by a Philadelphia police officer to Shapiro, because Krasner had previously served as Denniss criminal defense attorney. Shapiro beat Mastriano in November by 15%, the largest margin for a non-incumbent since 1946 and the most votes in a Pennsylvania gubernatorial election. [23], Shapiro announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General in January 2016. [3], While Shapiro was working at the White House, she reconnected with Josh Shapiro, who was working on Capitol Hill. Josh Shapiro. "He had so much more to give, to do, to share with us. [36], Before Shapiro took office in 2016, the Pennsylvania Attorney's General office launched an investigation of allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the Catholic Church. He keenly understood to make our streets safer meant believing in those who lived in these neighborhoods. . Before Shapiro took office in 2016, the Pennsylvania Attorneys General office launched an investigation of allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the Catholic Church. [47], In August 2021, Shapiro settled the largest prevailing wage criminal case in U.S. history. Krasner refers Jeffrey Dennis police shooting probe to Pa. attorney general", "Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Tacony police shooting", "No Charges for Philadelphia Officer Involved in Deadly Police Shooting in Tacony", "Relatives of Philly man killed by police sue for wrongful death", "Josh Shapiro's campaign, in first ad of $16.9 million buy, declares Doug Mastriano's anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ beliefs 'too risky for Pa.', "Pennsylvania's presidential electors make it official, formally certify vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris", "Josh Shapiro is the clear choice for Pennsylvania governor", "Pa. Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, charged with stealing more than $500,000 from her own charity, will resign", "Pa. state lawmaker from Delaware County charged with theft after years-long investigation", "Pa. construction firm to repay nearly $21 million to workers in prevailing wage case", "Democrat Shapiro Sets Campaign Cash Record in Race for Pa. He also supports eliminating four-year degree requirements for state government jobs. He was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2011, marking the first time Republicans lost control of Montgomery County. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Democrat Josh Shapirotook the oath of office Tuesday to become the 48th governor of Pennsylvania, placing his hand on a stack of three Jewish Bibles at an inaugural. It included testimony by more than 1,000 victims. [17], From 2006 through 2017, Shapiro also practiced corporate law at the firm Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young in Philadelphia. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvanias Democratic and Jewish attorney general, is the man charged with ensuring the legality of the states electoral processes this year. Who Is Josh Shapiro's Wife? In April 2015, Governor Tom Wolf named Shapiro the Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. As attorney general, he released the findings of a statewide grand jury report that revealed the abuse of children by priests and coverup by church leaders; he also helped negotiate $1 billion for Pennsylvania as part of a national opioid settlement. Shapiro has been expected to run for governor in Pennsylvania for solo long and he finally announced his candidacy on October, 13,2021. Erik Hall is a lead digital producer with the USA Today Network. Shapiro was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2011, marking the first time Republicans lost control of Montgomery County. Shapiro grew up in suburban Philadelphia, where he attended a community Jewish day school now called the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. What it does, it motivates me to serve., RelatedJosh Shapiro to be sworn in as Pennsylvania governor on Bible that survived Tree of Life attack. They noted that Shapiros resounding victory in the race for governor against his Republican rival, State Sen. Doug Mastriano a Christian nationalist who has, on the campaign trail was both historic and emotional for Jewish Pennsylvanians. He is also projecting a face of calm when asked about the Trump campaigns various lawsuits aimed at the states vote counting process and a Trump Justice Department directive allowing armed agents at vote counting sites, possibly aimed at intimidating workers. While working on Capitol Hill, he enrolled at the Georgetown University Law Center as an evening student and earned a Juris Doctor in 2002. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican nominee Doug Mastriano in the general election by a 14.8% margin. Shapiro said he was honored when asked to give the eulogy. The 45th two-term governor, Ed Rendell, is also Jewish. We are leaning in on a sense of service and showing that will be what our administration is focused on, serving others, Shapiro said at the event. Joshua 'Josh' D. Shapiro. Her husband is Governor Josh Shapiro. He gained national attention for a report on child abuse in the Catholic Church. [57] In contrast, Mastriano said he would support outlawing abortion in Pennsylvania without any exceptions, including in cases of rape or the mother's life being at risk.[58]. He also received endorsements from former Governor Ed Rendell, State Senator Anthony H. Williams, former Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair Marcel Groen, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Raised in Montgomery County, Shapiro studied political science at the University of Rochester and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University. [30] All the charges in Operation Outfoxed were dismissed after allegations that Shapiro had mishandled the sealing of wiretapped recordings. Jacob Kornbluh is the Forwards senior political reporter. Other union support included the Philadelphia Carpenters Union and Sheet Metal workers, the Western Pennsylvania Laborers PAC, and the Electricians Union Local No. He is one of the richest and most influential politicians in the United States. [75] Seven more former Republican officials, including former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, endorsed Shapiro in August 2022 for the same reason. Shapiro, at age 49, is the state's first Generation X governor, and the youngest person to hold the office since former Gov. Josh Shapiro has been married to Lori since May 25, 1997. He ran for Pennsylvania attorney general in 2016, defeating Republican John Rafferty Jr., and was reelected in 2020. Josh Shapiro just took the oath of office to become the 48th governor of Pennsylvania. In December 2018, Shapiro announced no charges would be filed against the officers, saying, violations of police procedure do not always rise to the level of criminal charges. Josh Shapiro announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General in January 2016. With the election outcome still . He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2004, defeating former Republican U.S. representative Jon D. Fox. The report alleged the sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children at the hands of over 300 priests. Shapiro's campaign claimed $13.4 million in campaign funds, a record for a candidate election year. Lori and Josh Shapiro met in high school and quickly hit it off. In July 2021, Shapiro charged State Representative Margo L. Davidson with theft by deception, solicitation to hinder apprehension, and Election Code violations after stealing from the Commonwealth by filing fraudulent overnight per diem requests and various other expenses through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Comptrollers Office as well as hindering a state prosecution. Protests have erupted in Pennsylvania and nationwide around the vote counting, which is also still occurring in a handful of other battleground states. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Eight former Republican officials, including former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman and former Congressman Charlie Dent, as well as the sitting Republican chairman of the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners, Morgan Boyd, endorsed Shapiro, with several calling Mastriano extreme and divisive. [56], Shapiro has said that as governor he will protect abortion access in Pennsylvania and veto any bill passed the state legislature passes that outlaws abortion. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He was elected by a margin of ten points over Fox. In efforts to mitigate COVID-19, Shapiro has broken with some in the Democratic Party and opposes mask and vaccine mandates. He is the son of Steven Shapiro, a pediatrician. Josh Shapiro supports cutting Pennsylvanias nearly 10% corporate tax rate to 4% by 2025. He received 3,461,472 votes, the most of any candidate in Pennsylvania history, and outran Joe Biden in the concurrent presidential election. ', "Pa. Gov. [63] He has proposed expanding Pennsylvania's clean energy portfolio for utility companies, greater electric car infrastructure and investing in clean energy research and development. Poll workers in Pennsylvania are counting votes in Shapiros own race as well. 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