He married his high school sweetheart Lori in 1997, and the couple has four children. He led battles against Trumps efforts to limit entry to the United States of people from a number of Muslim-majority countries, and to keep Trump acolytes from overturning his 2020 loss in the state. Governor of Pennsylvania. Shapiro was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2022 election. In 2016, Josh successfully ran to be Pennsylvanias Attorney General. I knocked on 18,000 doors and listened to my neighbors. The shooting had tested his faith. Lorraine Hansberrys second play had a white Jewish protagonist. On the day before he was set to be sworn in as Pennsylvanias governor, Josh Shapiro had somewhere important to be: the Jewish community center in the state capital of Harrisburg. Josh David Shapiro Popularity . I'll protect seniors and aggressively pursue those who commit fraud and abuse against them. By 2016, Shapiro was running again, this time for attorney general. In addition, you have heard a lot about Josh Shapiro and are intrigued by the rumors surrounding Joshs wealth. I think we all recognize that this was going to be a tough race no matter which one of those 14 or 15 won. He is the son of Steven Shapiro, a pediatrician. Theres too much on the line. Oct. 8A father and son from Florida were arrested this week for committing multiple "distraction-style" burglaries throughout Western Pennsylvania, including in Butler, Indiana and Westmoreland counties, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced. 52.9K followers. From Shapiros speech: Its not freedom to tell women what they are allowed to do with their bodies. Josh put the county back on solid financial footing, took early steps to combat the heroin epidemic, helped the first LGBTQ+ couples in Pennsylvania marry, and fired Wall Street money managers to save taxpayers and retirees millions. All content 1992 - 2021 Vote Smart unless otherwise attributed - Privacy Policy. Their example inspired Josh to enter Olive AME Church in West Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 10, 2022. Mastriano was widely seen at the time as the weakest general-election candidate among Republicans. We showed that we could reform our pension system without hurting hard working government employees. she and her husband loved Israel more than Jews did. In a county with more registered Republicans than any other in Pennsylvania, we showed that Democrats win when we can govern effectively and ethically. But Shapiros faith and, now, Gab are also a part of his stump speech for a reason. Perhaps Shapiros most direct antecedent is Joe Lieberman, the Orthodox former Connecticut senator who was Al Gores vice presidential running mate in 2000. As governor, Shapiro vowed to expand public education and add mental health counselors in schools, hire 2k police officers, and boost green energy jobs. He is a member of the Democratic Party. After marrying his high-school sweetheart Lori and welcoming their first child, Josh returned to his hometown and successfully ran for State Representative. While Shapiro was a staffer at the Capitol in Washington D.C. he graduated from Georgetown Law and was off to Harrisburg. That hasnt happened for Shapiro, who is part of a relatively younger generation including congresspersons Elaine Luria of Virginia and Becca Balint of Vermont who express unabashed Jewish identities when campaigning among the broader public. ", Shapiro responded in a campaign ad that described Mastriano as one of Donald Trumps strongest supporters., It continues: He wants to end vote by mail, and he led the fight to audit the 2020 election. Throughout my life, I've been dedicated to two things: my family and public service. He gets done what he needs to get done, what he wants to get done, said Robin Schatz, the director of government affairs at the Jewish Federations of Greater Philadelphia. We took on the scourge of heroin infecting our communities, working with the head of the Pennsylvania Police Chiefs Association to devise a strategy for stemming the tide of narcotics overdoses and providing the life-saving Naloxone to first-responders throughout the county. Shapiros plans for his inauguration are laced with Jewish significance. Shapiro sees his Judaism as a tool to bond with people, not as something that sets him apart. As governor, Ill stay in the game no matter what.. .) I want you to know that being up here on the pulpit means a lot to me and it is a place where I feel comfortable, says Shapiro. It also stars his four kids and his wife, Lori, whom he refers to as his high school sweetheart., Shapiros ultimate victory was especially sweet to many Jews because he defeated a Republican, Doug Mastriano, who had centered Shapiros Jewishness, but not in a positive way. Devoutly Jewish, Josh Shapiro wants to persuade voters that his opponents Christian nationalism doesnt represent the values of the state. Then, as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners in Montgomery County, Pennsylvanias third-largest, Josh led a fiscal and ethical turnaround. Shapiro, once again, got three million votes as he defeated Republican Doug Mastriano by 14 percentage points. From his stint as Pennsylvanias attorney general to his gubernatorial campaign ads to his victory speech, Shapiro has long woven his Jewish identity into his politics making him an archetype for a new breed of Jewish politician. Post Office Box 22635 328 following. He used to work on Capitol Hill during the day, enrolled at the Georgetown University Law Center as an evening student, and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2002. Josh Shapiro has two siblings; a brother, Adam, and a sister, Rebecca. Josh Shapiro with his siblings, Adam and Rebecca. And it is always in that framework of Jewish values.. (Mastriano renounced antisemitism, but pointedly, not Torba.) February 24, 2023, 12:01 PM. (. He continued: "We will take on any and all comers, including Doug Mastriano. While we won this race and by the way, we won it pretty convincingly I want you to know, the job is not done, the task is not complete, Shapiro said during his victory speech, prompting 15 seconds of cheers and applause. It was kind of misting rain. Now, Shapiro is in full governor mode, making appearances at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, choosing a bipartisan cabinet, and showing confidence that he can overcome Harrisburgs partisan gridlock that has plagued previous administrations. It was not reality. He would be proved right. Luria and two others just left Congress: , who was defeated in last years primary after redistricting, and Ted Deutch, a Florida Democrat who made, the transition this year to leading the American Jewish Committee. Mastriano renounced antisemitism, but pointedly, not Torba. [1][2][3][4] He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican nominee Doug Mastriano in the general election by a 14.8% margin. And Josh believes in cooperation, I think of him in those days as a team-builder.. Pennsylvania Gov. Working with law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal level, hes arrested thousands of mid- and high-level drug dealers while getting thousands of illegal guns off our streets. I feel comfortable here because this is a place of spirituality, this is a place of purpose., Shapiro, 49, who describes himself as a Conservative Jew from the Philadelphia suburbs, talks about being raised to bring faith out in the community and make a difference. He refers to Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the spiritual icons who forged a friendship during the civil rights movement. None of them wears a kippah on the campaign trail or strictly observes Shabbat, as Lieberman did, but all infuse Jewishness in their public comments and personas. WebJosh grew up in Pennsylvania, watching his parents serve their community his father was a pediatrician, and his mother was an educator. This past November, Montgomery County voters rewarded my efforts to reform the status quo, and I was re-elected with more than 60 percent of the vote. His daughter picked one up for him when she visited Israel this summer. Jew, non-Jew, Black, white. Leading up to the January inauguration of Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis, the Shapiro-Davis Inaugural Committee held a series of four interactive contests that would give community members a chance to be part of the inauguration of Pennsylvanias next governor and lieutenant governor. Transition Leadership Board. As AG, he has restored integrity to an office badly in need of reform and taken on big fights for the people. Speaking to the dozen powerful pastors of nearby AME churches, all of whom could help him turn out critical Black voters in November, Rev. It offers a much-needed respite from the reactive, defense posture that has seized the community.. Josh wanted to know about running a big city. In addition to the Tanakh from the Tree of Life synagogue, his swearing-in will, reportedly take place on a Bible used by a Jewish soldier from Pennsylvania, Police, security agencies advise Jews to be on alert ahead of planned National Day of Hate on Shabbat, American citizen killed in latest West Bank shooting amid escalating violence, This Orthodox Jewish model made history at New York Fashion Week. 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 home Israeli Orthodox Jew raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for victims of settler riot, Wikipedias Supreme Court tackles alleged conspiracy to distort articles on Holocaust, This Purim, a space for queer Jews to celebrate their identities and dance the night away. "When I think about this moment that we are in, I see great opportunity for our commonwealth," Shapiro said at a rally. He was always nice to everybody involved in everything.. His bosses remember a guy in his early 20s who was soon supervising staffers, and his colleagues recall not minding. Shapiros political orientation was apparent early on. 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. ) But he changed it because he was worried about facing antisemitism. From "Bonusgate" to "Kids For Cash" and now to "Porngate" we can't help but feel frustrated with our democracy and its leaders. And it was everyone. The bodies had not been identified yet, he says. He did not respond to JTAs requests for an interview. Shapiro had a short list of lieutenant governor candidates, which included Sims and Rep. Patty Kim, of Harrisburg, who Its a speech that Shapiros friends, teachers and associates could have envisioned decades ago. For Pennsylvania, its a new first family, for Shapiro its a new job, one that he cant wait to get started. . Joshua David Shapiro (born June 20, 1973) is an American politician and lawyer who is the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. As Shapiro is sworn in Tuesday on a stack of three Hebrew Bibles including the one that was on the bimah when a gunman massacred 11 Jewish worshipers in a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 the novelty becomes reality: A Jewish day school grad and dad is now one of the most influential elected officials in the United States. To the contrary, hes made his faith and fighting antisemitism a central part of his political persona. "Which is to educate, empower and respect peoples personal decisions and respect their personal freedom to make those choices.". Why didnt his obituaries say so? I have an ambition to get a little bit of sleep, to reintroduce myself to my kids, and then to serve the good people of Pennsylvania as their governor, he said. It almost doesnt matter what denomination it is. People are looking for someone who has strong faith. Shapiro defeated Republican Senator John Rafferty after receiving 3.4 million votes, the most in Pennsylvania history. My hard work paid off and against the odds and conventional political wisdom, I was elected as a progressive Democrat, defeating a well-known Republican in Montgomery County. It is a source of delight to Shapiro and his backers that his open Jewish identity did not alienate Pennsylvanians; indeed, he fared well in the conservative center of the state, a fact that his campaign boasted about in an email sent to the media a week after the election, when most campaigns are wrapping up business. Shapiro soon was looking elsewhere: He ran for and won a spot on the three-member Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, where he was elected chairman, effectively the mayor of the populous and prosperous suburban Philadelphia area. WebJosh Shapiro's Biography . Shapiros father is a well-known pediatrician in the Elkins Park area and his mother was active in the Soviet Jewry movement and they saw to it their son attended But hes run a great campaign. Mastrianos team, toward the end of the campaign, appeared to notice the resonance Shapiros beliefs had among Pennsylvanians. In an interview last year with the Forward, after a campaign event with union organizers, Shapiro said he understood organizing as an effective tool when he was 6 and he joined his parents in campaigning for the release of Jews in the Soviet Union. Alongside his running mate Austin Davis, Josh is ready to work with every Pennsylvanian to move our Commonwealth forward. Until we reformed our pension system, Wall Street was charging excessive fees, and limiting the county's rate of return. Fresh out of his bar mitzvah, a 13-year-old Shapiro looked forward to his chats with Mark Aronchick, who was a leader with Joshs parents, Steven and Judi, in the movement for Soviet Jewry in the Philadelphia area. He is the face of political correctness. The Democrat from Montgomery County announced his candidacy for governor in 2022 earlier this month. I voted against, refused to accept and led the fight to repeal the infamous "pay-raise" that was passed in the dark of night. The more they tell me its impossible to fix, the more motivated I am to surround myself with smart, ethical people, build a coalition, lay out a strategy and see it through. Dad to four kids. We sang songs. Another example of his steely-eyed ambition that political insiders point to: His campaign put nearly $900,000 behind an ad boosting Mastriano above his more traditional opponents in the GOP primary. 1.78m. Look who I saw! she said in an email, photos of hugs attached.). Shapiros friends and neighbors say his faith is not just genuine, but deep. Chair: William Sasso, Chairman Emeritus of Stradley Ronon. He keeps kosher and has Shabbat dinner at home every Friday something he says he refuses to let his campaign get in the way of. We adopted brand new ethics and procurement standards that saved tax dollars, ensured transparency in the system and have been a model for other counties across Pennsylvania. The first Jewish governor in the history of Pennsylvania who ran for president also bore the last name Shapiro. I looked at it as an attorney general who wants to be governor, thinking, This guy cant lead our commonwealth if he thinks certain people shouldnt exist here, if he thinks certain people dont deserve representation. So it pissed me off on behalf of the people that Im trying to represent., He wasnt even a little pissed off as a Jew? Josh Shapiro delivers eulogy for Temple officer Chris Fitzgerald. However, even Shapiros critics respect his devotion to his Jewish faith and his family. And I think Josh gets credit for being a good family man and a person of very strong faith., Amid a rise in antisemitic incidents across the nation, Shapiro is effectively making a bet that most Pennsylvanians are good, unprejudiced people. He became a mentor to the inchoate politician, who several years ago recruited Groens mother, a Holocaust survivor, to speak to incarcerated teens. In 2008, Shapiro was among just a handful of establishment Democrats who endorsed Barack Obama for president in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the primaries. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. No I really try not to take any of these things personally, and stay focused on what really matters, which is the people Im trying to represent.. They (Mark Makela/Getty Images). I just think its about pragmatism.". Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan are reviving it. Josh Shapiro rose to prominence in 2016 when he was first elected as Pennsylvania attorney general. February 24, 2023, 12:01 PM. We want them to grow up and prosper in a democracy they can trust. mail Email. He said hes not sure whether he will follow his father into politics but said he would like to serve in a role that would help the community. As Attorney General, I'll lead the effort to restore integrity to our government. And I think theyre understanding and inclusive and accepting.. Negrin is perhaps best known in Pennsylvania for his tenure in Philadelphia politics, when he first worked as executive director of the Board of Revision of Taxes, then served as deputy mayor and city managing director. After eight years of Tom Wolf, Josh Shapiro will become Pennsylvanias 48th governor. Shapiro embarked on a final six-day tour across 25 towns in a final surge to meet with voters in the week lead-up to the election. Married to my high school sweetheart. More Campaign At the time, Shapiro had read that Andrew Torba, Gabs CEO, said Mastrianos policy was not to conduct interviews with reporters who arent Christian. (Mastriano, who did not respond to a request for comment for this story, said on Twitter that Torba doesnt speak for me and that I reject antisemitism in any form.) It angered Shapiro. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. At a young age, Shapiro started a worldwide letter-writing program, known as Children for Avi, on behalf of Russian Jewish refuseniks. Shapiro said he was honored when asked to give the eulogy. Campaign. You have to be genuine. He has been to Israel more than a dozen times. WebJosh Shapiro (II) + Add or change photo on IMDbPro . His daughter got it for him on a recent trip to Israel. Joshua David Shapiro (born June 20, 1973) is an American politician and lawyer who is the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. He has staked his campaign on the idea that voters will reject Mastriano not only because hes conservative on abortion or the economy or some other issue but also because, he argues, he peddles racist things, he peddles antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, you name it.. I didnt look at it as an American Jew and feel offended personally. (her father, Jack, served as state auditor general from 2005-13). A I've held dozens of meetings and forums across the Commonwealth in the past year. As soon as he got the job, OBrien named Shapiro deputy speaker. And to me, thats the approach we need to take more broadly as a public," Shapiro told the Associated Press. Shapiros energy can seem limitless when theres a political stage or an open microphone. He has proven to Pennsylvanians he can bring people together to solve tough problems, and is unafraid to enforce the law without fear or favor. 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