Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro
Maryland GovPics · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Josh Shapiro
Office	Governor of Pennsylvania
Term start	January 17, 2023
Predecessor	Tom Wolf
Birth date	June 20, 1973
Birth place	Kansas City, Missouri
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Lori Shapiro
Alma mater	University of Rochester; University of Pennsylvania Law School

Josh Shapiro is an American politician and attorney serving as the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. His career has focused on criminal justice, public corruption, and regulatory enforcement at the state level.

Early life and education

Shapiro was born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Mount Airy, Philadelphia with family roots tied to Jewish immigrants. He attended Akiba Hebrew Academy before graduating from the University of Rochester, where he studied political science and history alongside notable alumni from institutions such as Harvard University and Yale University. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, joining networks connected to Pennsylvania politics, Philadelphia Bar Association, and national figures from Columbia Law School and Stanford Law School.

Legal and early political career

After law school, Shapiro clerked and worked in litigation and public service with ties to offices such as the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and nonprofit legal clinics similar to those affiliated with American Civil Liberties Union chapters. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a suburban Philadelphia district, aligning with caucuses alongside members from New Jersey Legislature and activists linked to Common Cause and League of Women Voters. In the state legislature he collaborated with leaders from the National Conference of State Legislatures and pursued initiatives overlapping with policies in Delaware General Assembly and Maryland General Assembly.

Attorney General of Pennsylvania

Elected Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 2016, Shapiro led investigations and prosecutions that engaged offices such as the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, and state attorneys general from New York Attorney General and Massachusetts Attorney General offices. His tenure featured multistate actions with attorneys general from states like California, Illinois, and New Jersey on issues involving pharmaceutical companies including litigation comparable to cases against Purdue Pharma and settlements similar to those with Opioid manufacturers. He issued opinions and enforcement actions referencing statutes and precedents from jurisdictions including Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and engaged in litigation in federal venues such as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

2022 gubernatorial campaign

Shapiro won the Democratic Party (United States) nomination for governor in 2022, defeating primary opponents with campaign coordination involving figures from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and endorsements from leaders associated with President of the United States and members of United States Senate. His campaign emphasized partnerships with unions like the Pennsylvania AFL–CIO and education organizations akin to Pennsylvania State Education Association, while competing against the Republican Party (United States) nominee, who campaigned with endorsements from national figures such as Donald Trump and support from groups like the National Rifle Association. The general election focused on themes resonant with policy debates in other states such as Michigan gubernatorial election, 2022 and Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2022.

Governorship

Sworn in as governor at a ceremony attended by regional leaders from New Jersey, Delaware, and representatives of the United States Department of Homeland Security, he succeeded Tom Wolf. His administration has issued executive actions and worked with the Pennsylvania General Assembly on legislation touching areas overseen by state agencies analogous to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Shapiro has interacted with corporate executives from firms headquartered in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and coordinated with federal officials from the United States Department of Education and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on statewide initiatives.

Political positions and policies

Shapiro's policy priorities have included criminal justice reform initiatives reminiscent of proposals debated in the U.S. Congress and statehouses like the New York State Assembly, measures to expand access to healthcare comparable to actions pursued in California and Massachusetts, and efforts on election administration paralleling reforms in Georgia (U.S. state) and Arizona. On environmental and energy policy he has taken positions interacting with regulatory frameworks similar to the Environmental Protection Agency and regional compacts like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. On labor and economic development he has engaged with unions such as the United Auto Workers and employers represented by organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and coordinated workforce programs in partnership with institutions akin to the Community College of Allegheny County.

Personal life and honors

Shapiro is married to Lori Shapiro; they live in the Governor's Residence (Pennsylvania). He and his family participate in civic and community organizations including local chapters of Jewish Community Centers and philanthropy groups comparable to United Way. Honors and recognition for public service have come from state bar associations and civic organizations similar to awards given by the Anti-Defamation League and regional business groups such as the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Category:Governors of Pennsylvania Category:Pennsylvania Attorneys General Category:University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni