Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Josh Shapiro

Discover the career path of Josh Shapiro, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Joshua David Shapiro is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. A Democrat, he previously served as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 2017 to 2023. Before his statewide role, Shapiro was a Montgomery County Commissioner from 2012 to 2017. His career reflects a trajectory of public service within Pennsylvania's political landscape.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1992: Elected Student Body President

In 1992, Josh Shapiro was the first freshman ever elected student body president of the University of Rochester.

April 1996: Began Working at Israeli Embassy

In April 1996, Josh Shapiro began working in the Israeli embassy's public diplomacy department.

September 1996: Began working for U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch

In September 1996, Josh Shapiro began working for U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch.

1999: Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Joe Hoeffel

In 1999, Josh Shapiro became chief of staff to U.S. Representative Joe Hoeffel.

2003: End of Role as Chief of Staff

In 2003, Josh Shapiro's role as chief of staff to U.S. Representative Joe Hoeffel ended.

2004: Elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2004, Josh Shapiro was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 153rd district, defeating Jon D. Fox.

2005: Represented 153rd district

In 2005, Josh Shapiro began representing the 153rd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, a position he held until 2012.

2006: Practiced Corporate Law at Stradley Ronon

From 2006, Josh Shapiro practiced corporate law at the firm Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young in Philadelphia.

2006: Brokered Deal for Speaker of the House

In 2006, Josh Shapiro helped broker a deal that resulted in the election of moderate Republican Dennis O'Brien as Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania.

2006: Re-elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2006, Josh Shapiro was re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

2007: Introduced Bill to Divest State Funds from Iran

In 2007, Josh Shapiro introduced bills into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to divest state funds from Iran.

2008: Called for Bill DeWeese to Step Down

In 2008, Josh Shapiro called for Democratic House minority leader Bill DeWeese to step down due to a corruption scandal.

2008: Re-elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2008, Josh Shapiro was re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

2009: Introduced Bill to Divest State Funds from Sudan

In 2009, Josh Shapiro introduced bills into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to divest state funds from Sudan.

2009: Pennsylvania Last Raised the Minimum Wage

The state of Pennsylvania had not raised the minimum wage since 2009.

2010: Re-elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2010, Josh Shapiro was re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

2010: Pushed for National Legislation on Divestment from Iran

In 2010, Josh Shapiro, along with Bob Casey and Dan Frankel, pushed for national legislation to allow states' pension funds to divest from businesses engaging with Iran.

2011: Elected to Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

In 2011, Josh Shapiro was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, marking the first time Republicans lost control of the county.

2012: Chaired Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

In 2012, Josh Shapiro became chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

2012: Left Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2012, Josh Shapiro left the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

April 2015: Named Chair of Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

In April 2015, Governor Tom Wolf named Josh Shapiro the chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

2015: Democrats Retained Majority on Board of Commissioners

In 2015, Democrats retained a majority on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, as Josh Shapiro and Val Arkoosh were both elected.

2015: Chairman of Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

In 2015, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Josh Shapiro as chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

January 2016: Announced Candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General

In January 2016, Josh Shapiro announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General.

April 2016: Won Democratic Primary for Attorney General

In April 2016, Josh Shapiro won the Democratic primary for Attorney General, defeating Stephen Zappala and John Morganelli.

November 2016: Elected as Attorney General

In November 2016, Josh Shapiro was elected as Attorney General, narrowly defeating the Republican nominee, state senator John Rafferty Jr.

2016: Ran for attorney general

In 2016, Josh Shapiro said that the death penalty should be reserved for the most heinous of crimes when he ran for attorney general.

2016: Inherited Catholic Church Abuse Investigation

In 2016, Josh Shapiro took office and inherited the Pennsylvania attorney general's office investigation of allegations of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church.

2016: Voted for Tax Increase

In 2016, Josh Shapiro voted for an 11% tax increase as a Montgomery County Commissioner.

2016: Elected Pennsylvania Attorney General

In 2016, Josh Shapiro was elected Pennsylvania Attorney General, defeating John Rafferty Jr.

2016: End of term as Chair of Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

In 2016, Josh Shapiro's term as chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners ended.

2017: Announced Roundup of "Million Dollar Heroin Ring"

In 2017, Josh Shapiro announced the roundup of a "Million Dollar Heroin Ring" under "Operation Outfoxed" in Luzerne County.

2017: Pennsylvania Attorney General

In 2017, Josh Shapiro became the attorney general of Pennsylvania, a role he held until 2023.

2017: Left Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

In 2017, Josh Shapiro left the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

2017: Stopped Practicing Corporate Law at Stradley Ronon

Through 2017, Josh Shapiro practiced corporate law at the firm Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young in Philadelphia.

January 2018: Referred Death of Tim Piazza Case to Shapiro

In January 2018, Centre County district attorney Bernard Cantorna referred the case of the death of Tim Piazza to Josh Shapiro.

August 2018: Released Grand Jury Report on Catholic Church Abuse

In August 2018, Josh Shapiro released the results of an extensive grand jury report alleging sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by over 300 priests.

August 2018: Jeffrey Dennis case referred to Shapiro

In August 2018, Krasner referred the case of a Philadelphia police officer's fatal shooting of Jeffrey Dennis to Shapiro because Krasner had previously served as Dennis's criminal defense attorney.

2018: Lawsuit against ITT Technical Institute

In 2018, Josh Shapiro joined a lawsuit against ITT Technical Institute, a for-profit educational institute, which resulted in a $168 million settlement, with about $5 million going to Pennsylvania students. He also reached an agreement with federal officials to prevent the distribution of blueprints for 3D printed firearms in 2018.

2018: Offered Plea Deal in Corruption Case

In 2018, Josh Shapiro offered William Higgins a plea deal for corruption charges, guaranteeing no prison time.

December 2019: Charges against Movita Johnson-Harrell

In December 2019, Josh Shapiro charged state representative Movita Johnson-Harrell with perjury and theft of funds from her own charity for such things as vacations and clothing.

2019: Support for legalization of recreational cannabis

In 2019, Josh Shapiro came out in support of the legalization of recreational cannabis use by adults, joining Governor Tom Wolf and other leading Pennsylvania Democrats.

2019: Led efforts to ensure Highmark insurance holders receive treatment

In 2019, Shapiro led efforts to ensure that insurance holders of Highmark, a healthcare company, could receive treatment at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

2019: Fewest votes in favor of commutation

In 2019, while serving on the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons as attorney general, Josh Shapiro cast the fewest votes in favor of commutation, denying 24 out of 41 pardons. He was also one of only two board members to vote against more cases than in favor in 2019.

2020: Televised advertisement

During the leadup to the primary election, Shapiro's campaign released a statewide televised advertisement calling a Mastriano win "a win for what Donald Trump stands for", referencing Mastriano's stance on outlawing abortion and his efforts to audit the 2020 presidential election.

2020: Electoral College Elector

In 2020, Josh Shapiro was one of 20 electors chosen by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to vote in the Electoral College for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the United States presidential election.

2020: Re-elected as Attorney General

In 2020, Josh Shapiro was re-elected as Attorney General, defeating Republican nominee Heather Heidelbaugh.

2020: Voter Base Comparison

In the 2022 gubernatorial election, the vast majority of President Joe Biden's voters in 2020 voted for Shapiro, as did many independents and a sizable segment of Donald Trump supporters.

July 2021: Charges against Margo L. Davidson

In July 2021, Josh Shapiro charged state representative Margo L. Davidson with theft by deception, solicitation to hinder apprehension, and Election Code violations. Davidson stole public funds and hindered a state prosecution.

August 2021: Settlement in prevailing wage criminal case

In August 2021, Josh Shapiro settled the largest prevailing wage criminal case in U.S. history. As part of the plea, Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. paid nearly $21 million to 1,267 Pennsylvania workers.

October 13, 2021: Announced candidacy for Governor

On October 13, 2021, Josh Shapiro announced his candidacy in the 2022 election for governor of Pennsylvania.

2021: Opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson

In 2021, Josh Shapiro announced an opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson and three other U.S. pharmaceutical distributors, resulting in Pennsylvania receiving $1 billion. The settlement resolved thousands of lawsuits against the companies for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic.

January 2022: Campaign funds reported

In January 2022, Josh Shapiro's campaign reported it had $13.4 million in campaign funds, which was described as a record amount for a candidate in an election year.

January 29, 2022: Endorsement by Pennsylvania Democratic Party

On January 29, 2022, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party endorsed Josh Shapiro by voice vote. The committee also endorsed his preferred running mate, state representative Austin Davis.

May 17, 2022: Secured Democratic nomination for Governor

On May 17, 2022, Josh Shapiro secured the Democratic nomination for governor of Pennsylvania, facing no opponents in the primary.

August 2022: Former Republican officials endorse Shapiro

In August 2022, seven more former Republican officials, including former U.S. secretary of homeland security Michael Chertoff, endorsed Josh Shapiro, citing concerns that his opponent, Doug Mastriano, was "extreme" and "divisive".

November 8, 2022: Defeated Mastriano

On November 8, 2022, Josh Shapiro defeated Doug Mastriano with 56.5% of the vote to Mastriano's 41.7%.

December 6, 2022: Tapped aides for high-ranking positions

On December 6, 2022, during his transition to the governorship, it was reported that Josh Shapiro tapped several of his longtime aides to serve in high-ranking positions, including naming his campaign manager Dana Fritz as his chief of staff.

2022: Reversal on Death Penalty Position

Before running for governor, Shapiro had supported capital punishment, but during his 2022 campaign, he announced that he now favored abolishing the death penalty in Pennsylvania, reversing his previous position.

2022: Won Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election

In 2022, Josh Shapiro won the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, defeating Doug Mastriano.

January 2023: Appointed Akbar Hossain and Mike Vereb

In January 2023, Josh Shapiro appointed Akbar Hossain, an executive to his transition team, to be secretary of policy and named his longtime aide Mike Vereb to be secretary of legislative affairs.

January 17, 2023: Sworn in as Governor

On January 17, 2023, Josh Shapiro was sworn in as Governor of Pennsylvania. He is the third Jewish governor in the history of Pennsylvania and the state's first Generation X governor.

February 2023: Criticism of Norfolk Southern Railway

In February 2023, Josh Shapiro criticized the Norfolk Southern Railway's management for failing to contact Pennsylvania officials after a train derailment in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. He urged the railway to adopt a safer approach and called for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to consider more advanced safety measures for trains.

June 11, 2023: I-95 Collapse Disaster Emergency Proclamation

On June 11, 2023, Shapiro issued a "disaster emergency" proclamation after part of Interstate 95 collapsed in Philadelphia. Up to $7 million in state funds were allocated for reconstruction. The proclamation also authorized the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania State Police to use available resources to respond to the collapse.

June 2023: Pennsylvania House Passed Minimum Wage Bill

In June 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, but the Republican-controlled State Senate thwarted the legislation.

August 2023: Ending Contract with Anti-Abortion Nonprofit

In August 2023, Shapiro's administration ended Pennsylvania's nearly 30-year contract with Real Alternatives, an anti-abortion nonprofit, to better defend abortion access in the state.

September 19, 2023: Implementation of Automatic Voter Registration

On September 19, 2023, Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania would implement automatic voter registration, effective immediately, allowing voter registration when eligible individuals obtain driver's licenses with an opt-out option.

November 2023: Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu

In November 2023, Josh Shapiro criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him "a terrible leader" who "has driven Israel to an extreme that has been bad for Israel and bad for the stability in the Middle East."

December 3, 2023: Support for Goldie Restaurant

On December 3, 2023, after a pro-Palestinian protest targeted Jewish-owned Philadelphia restaurant Goldie, Shapiro visited the restaurant to show his support, condemning the protest as antisemitic.

December 2023: Intervention in Philadelphia Transit Officer Strike

In December 2023, Josh Shapiro intervened in a strike by Philadelphia transit officers and negotiated with the officers and SEPTA, leading to a three-year contract that included a 13% raise increase for the officers over the next 36 months.

December 2023: Signing of Parole Violation Restriction Bill

In December 2023, Shapiro signed into law a bipartisan bill to restrict the types of activities considered parole violations. He was joined by rapper Meek Mill at the bill-signing ceremony.

2023: School Choice Proposal Support and Withdrawal

During the drafting of the state budget in mid-2023, Shapiro initially supported a Republican-led school choice proposal to distribute $100 million for private school tuition. However, he later withdrew his support to prevent a budget delay after opposition from Democrats in the state House.

2023: Became Governor of Pennsylvania

In 2023, Josh Shapiro became the 48th governor of Pennsylvania.

2023: Support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas War

In 2023, Shapiro expressed strong support for Israel during the Israel-Hamas war, condemning the Hamas-led attack on Israel and emphasizing Israel's right to self-defense. His remarks drew criticism for allegedly overlooking civilian casualties in Gaza.

2023: Permanent Extension of Free Breakfast Program

In 2023, Shapiro permanently extended the Wolf administration's free breakfast program for all Pennsylvania public-school students as part of the state budget signed into law in August.

January 2024: Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu

In January 2024, Shapiro stated that he believes "Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the worst leaders of all time" and that Netanyahu has steered Israel in a wrong direction, making Israel less safe and making their future less bright because of his leadership."

February 2024: High Approval Rating

A February 2024 Franklin & Marshall College poll showed that Shapiro had the highest approval rating among voters compared to his four predecessors as governor at a similar point in their terms.

February 2024: Unveiled proposed state budget

In February 2024, Josh Shapiro unveiled his proposed $48.3 billion state budget for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal year, mostly consisting of funding public schools, public transit, higher education and infrastructure.

February 2024: Rejection of Sending National Guard to Southern Border

In January and February 2024, Shapiro declined the Republican-controlled State Senate's urging to send the Pennsylvania National Guard to the U.S. southern border to assist Texas with the increasing number of migrants entering the country.

March 2024: Directive Increasing use of Project Labor Agreements

In March 2024, Josh Shapiro issued a directive increasing Pennsylvania's use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs).

March 2024: Sympathy for Palestinian Civilians

In a March 2024 interview, Shapiro voiced sympathy for Palestinian civilians and peaceful protesters, defending their right to protest peacefully.

June 2024: Denial of Presidential Run and Support for Biden

After speculation arose that Joe Biden might not seek reelection following his June 2024 debate performance, Shapiro denied any interest in running for president and affirmed his support for Biden.

July 2024: Support for "aggressive" corporate tax cuts

At an event with Janet Yellen in July 2024, Shapiro reiterated his support for "aggressive" corporate tax cuts.

September 2024: High Approval Rating

In May and September 2024 polls by The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, and Siena College showed Shapiro as the most popular government official in Pennsylvania, with a 57% and 59% approval ratings, respectively.

November 2024: Creation of Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program

In November 2024, Shapiro signed an executive order establishing the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program, aimed at streamlining the permitting process for large-scale infrastructure projects.

2024: Public School Funding Boost

During the drafting of the 2024 budget, Shapiro proposed a $1.1 billion boost for public school operations and instruction, a 14% increase. The budget also allocated about $144 million for financially aiding students, and established a new State Board of Higher Education that created performance-based criteria for funding state-related universities. The budget initiated over $900 million for special education.

2024: Minimum Wage Raise Attempt Withdrawn

In 2024, Josh Shapiro and other Democratic lawmakers attempted to include a raise in the minimum wage in that year's state budget, but due to Republican criticism, the proposal was withdrawn.

2024: Support for Inmate's Appeal

In 2024, Shapiro filed a brief supporting an Allegheny County inmate, Derek Lee, in his appeal against a life without parole sentence for second-degree murder related to his accomplice's actions during a burglary.

2024: Pledge to Sign Anti-BDS Bill

In 2024, Shapiro pledged to sign a bill to block state funding of colleges and universities that engage in boycotts of Israel, defining it as any activity intended to financially penalize the State of Israel.

2024: Support for Senate Election Recount

In 2024, when the Senate election between Bob Casey and David McCormick resulted in a recount, Shapiro supported it but rejected calls to count undated or incorrectly dated ballots, following Pennsylvania Supreme Court rulings.

2024: Declined Endorsement in Treasurer Election

In the 2024 Pennsylvania state treasurer election, Shapiro declined to endorse Democratic nominee Erin McClelland against Republican incumbent Stacy Garrity.

February 19, 2025: Appointed to the Council of Governors

On February 19, 2025, President Trump appointed Josh Shapiro to the Council of Governors.

2025: Proposed corporate tax rate cut

Josh Shapiro supports cutting Pennsylvania's corporate tax rate to 4 percent by 2025.

2026: Proposed lowering corporate income taxes

During Josh Shapiro's first two years in office, he has proposed lowering corporate income taxes from 8.99% to 4.99% by 2026.

2026: Proposed minimum wage increase

In June 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, but the Republican-controlled State Senate thwarted the legislation.

2028: Commonwealth Workers Transformation Program Funding

As part of the Commonwealth Workers Transformation Program, which Josh Shapiro established, as much as $400 million could be used for workforce training in Pennsylvania until 2028.

2028: Predicted State Deficit

Critics argued that the budget Josh Shapiro proposed in February 2024 would inflate the state's deficit to over $6 billion by 2028 and lead to large tax increases.

2028: Potential Presidential Candidate

Following Harris's loss in the general election, Shapiro has been seen as a potential candidate in the 2028 presidential election.

2029: Public Transit Funding Proposal

In 2024, Shapiro proposed investing $282.8 million in funding for public transit systems in the 2024 budget, which was projected to generate $1.5 billion for transit funding until 2029. By 2029, this funding was intended to support public transit.