History of Josh Shapiro in Timeline

Joshua David Shapiro is an American lawyer and politician 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. Prior to his role as attorney general, Shapiro was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners from 2012 to 2017. His career has been marked by consistent public service within Pennsylvania state and local government.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

June 20, 1973: Joshua Shapiro Born

On June 20, 1973, Joshua David Shapiro was born. He is an American lawyer and politician.

Others born on this day/year

1992: Elected student body president

In 1992, Shapiro was elected student body president of the University of Rochester as a freshman.

1993: Published "Peace not Possible"

In 1993, Shapiro published an op-ed titled "Peace not Possible" in the Campus Times student newspaper, expressing his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

1995: Graduated from University of Rochester

In 1995, Shapiro graduated magna cum laude from the University of Rochester.

April 1996: Began working in Israeli embassy

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

September 1996: Started working for Peter Deutsch

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

1997: Marriage to Lori Shapiro

In 1997, Josh Shapiro proposed to his wife, Lori, in Jerusalem, and they married on May 25 of that year. They originally met in ninth grade and reconnected after college.

1999: Chief of Staff to Joe Hoeffel

In 1999, Shapiro became the chief of staff to U.S. representative Joe Hoeffel.

2002: Earned Juris Doctor

In 2002, Shapiro earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law Center.

2003: End of role as chief of staff

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

2004: Elected to Pennsylvania House

In 2004, Shapiro was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, defeating Jon D. Fox.

2004: Elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2004, Shapiro was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, defeating Jon D. Fox.

2005: Represents 153rd district

From 2005 to 2012, Shapiro represented the 153rd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

2006: Practiced corporate law at Stradley Ronon

From 2006 to 2017, Shapiro practiced corporate law at the firm Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young in Philadelphia.

2006: Brokered deal for Speaker of the House

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

2006: Re-elected to Pennsylvania House

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

2007: Introduced bill to divest from Iran

In 2007, Shapiro introduced a bill into the Pennsylvania House to divest state funds from Iran.

2008: Called for Bill DeWeese to step down

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

2008: Backed Barack Obama for President

In 2008, Shapiro publicly backed Barack Obama for president, differing from much of the Pennsylvania Democratic establishment.

2008: Re-elected to Pennsylvania House

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

2009: Introduced bill to divest from Sudan

In 2009, Shapiro introduced a bill into the Pennsylvania House to divest state funds from Sudan.

2009: Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Since 2009

In June 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, as Pennsylvania had not raised the minimum wage since 2009.

2010: Re-elected to Pennsylvania House

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

2010: Pushed for national legislation on divestment

In 2010, 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, Shapiro was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, marking a shift in the county's political landscape.

2011: Won election to Montgomery County Board

In 2011, Shapiro won election to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, marking a historic shift.

2012: Chaired the Montgomery County Board

From 2012 to 2016, Shapiro chaired the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

2012: End of term in the House of Representatives

In 2012, Shapiro's term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives concluded.

April 2015: Named chair of Pennsylvania Commission

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

2015: Democrats retained majority

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

2015: Chairman of Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

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

January 2016: Announced candidacy for Attorney General

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

April 2016: Won Democratic primary

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

November 2016: Defeated John Rafferty Jr.

In November 2016, Shapiro defeated Republican John Rafferty Jr. to become Attorney General.

2016: Maura Kathio Charged in Bath Salts Case

In 2016, Maura Kathio, one of those arrested in the Million Dollar Heroin Ring operation, was previously charged in a major bath salts case.

2016: Inherited Catholic Church investigation

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

2016: Voted for tax increase

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

2016: Elected Pennsylvania Attorney General

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

2016: End of term as chair of Montgomery County Board

In 2016, Shapiro's term as chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners concluded.

2016: Position on Death Penalty in 2016

In 2016, when running for Attorney General, Josh Shapiro stated that the death penalty should be reserved for the most heinous of crimes.

2017: "Million Dollar Heroin Ring" Announced

In 2017, Shapiro announced the roundup of a "Million Dollar Heroin Ring" under "Operation Outfoxed" in Luzerne County, which was later dismissed after allegations of mishandling wiretapped recordings.

2017: Shapiro becomes Attorney General

In 2017, Shapiro became the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, a position he held until 2023.

2017: End of practice at Stradley Ronon

In 2017, Shapiro's practice at Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young in Philadelphia came to an end.

2017: End of term in Montgomery County

In 2017, Shapiro's term in the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners concluded.

January 2018: Penn State hazing case referred to Shapiro

In January 2018, the case of Tim Piazza's death at Penn State due to hazing was referred to Shapiro by Centre County district attorney Bernard Cantorna.

August 2018: Referred case and decision not to file charges

In August 2018, Krasner referred the case of a Philadelphia police officer's fatal shooting of Jeffrey Dennis to Shapiro. Shapiro later announced in December that no charges would be filed against the officers involved.

August 2018: Released grand jury report

In August 2018, Shapiro released the results of a grand jury report alleging sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church, impacting over 1,000 children and 300 priests.

2018: Lawsuit against ITT Technical Institute

In 2018, Josh Shapiro joined a lawsuit against ITT Technical Institute, a for-profit educational institute, that 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.

2018: Offered plea deal to William Higgins

In 2018, Shapiro offered former Bedford County district attorney William Higgins a plea deal for corruption charges, guaranteeing no prison time.

May 7, 2019: Wikipedia edits flagged

On May 7, 2019, edits to Shapiro's Wikipedia page were flagged for potentially violating Wikipedia's terms of use.

May 2019: Staff Edited Wikipedia Entry

In May 2019, it was reported that members of Josh Shapiro's office staff had edited his Wikipedia entry to describe him positively. Staffers for other political figures also reportedly edited their bosses' Wikipedia pages.

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 personal expenses.

2019: Support for Cannabis Legalization

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: Efforts to ensure Highmark treatment

In 2019, Shapiro led efforts to ensure that insurance holders of Highmark 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 one of only two board members to vote against more cases than in favor.

2020: Campaign Advertisement

During the leadup to the primary election, Josh 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 the 20 electors the Pennsylvania Democratic Party chose to vote in the Electoral College for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the United States presidential election.

2020: Re-elected Attorney General

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

2020: Re-elected as Pennsylvania Attorney General

In 2020, Shapiro was re-elected as Pennsylvania Attorney General.

2020: Comparison to Biden's Voters

On November 8, 2022, Shapiro's victory was decisive. 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.

August 2021: Largest Prevailing Wage Criminal Case Settlement

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

October 13, 2021: Announced Candidacy for Governor

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

2021: Opioid Settlement

In 2021, Josh Shapiro announced an opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson and three other U.S. pharmaceutical distributors, resulting in Pennsylvania receiving $1 billion. This 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 $13.4 million in campaign funds, described as a record amount for a candidate in an election year.

January 29, 2022: Pennsylvania Democratic Party Endorsement

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

May 17, 2022: Secured Democratic Nomination

On May 17, 2022, Josh Shapiro secured the Democratic nomination for the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, running unopposed in the primary.

August 2022: Endorsement from Former Republican Officials

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

November 8, 2022: Defeated Mastriano in Gubernatorial Election

On November 8, 2022, Josh Shapiro defeated Doug Mastriano in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election with 56.5% of the vote.

December 6, 2022: Transition to Governorship

On December 6, 2022, during his transition to the governorship, 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: Won Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

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

January 2023: Appointments to Secretary Positions

In January 2023, Josh Shapiro appointed Akbar Hossain as secretary of policy and Mike Vereb as secretary of legislative affairs.

January 17, 2023: Sworn in as Governor

On January 17, 2023, Josh Shapiro was sworn in as the governor of Pennsylvania. He is the third Jewish governor in the state's history and the 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 carrying harmful chemicals in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. He advocated for a safer approach by the railway company and urged the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to consider more advanced safety equipment for trains.

June 11, 2023: Disaster Emergency Proclamation

On June 11, 2023, Josh Shapiro issued a "disaster emergency" proclamation after a section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia collapsed. This action allocated up to $7 million in state funds for reconstruction and authorized various state agencies to use available resources to respond to the collapse.

June 2023: Pennsylvania House of Representatives Voted

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 Real Alternatives

In August 2023, Josh Shapiro announced that his administration would terminate Pennsylvania's contract with Real Alternatives, an anti-abortion nonprofit, to better defend abortion access in the state.

September 19, 2023: Automatic Voter Registration Announcement

On September 19, 2023, Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania would implement automatic voter registration effective immediately, integrating voter registration with the process of obtaining driver's licenses.

November 2023: Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's Leadership

In November 2023, Josh Shapiro described Benjamin Netanyahu as "a terrible leader" whose actions have negatively impacted Israel and stability in the Middle East.

December 3, 2023: Visit to Goldie Restaurant and Criticism of Liz Magill

On December 3, 2023, Josh Shapiro visited the Jewish-owned Philadelphia restaurant Goldie in support after a pro-Palestinian protest accused it of supporting genocide. He also criticized University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill for her response to questions on antisemitism.

December 2023: Intervention in Transit Officer Strike

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

December 2023: Signing of Parole Restriction Bill

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

2023: Support for School Choice Proposal

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

2023: Extension of Free Breakfast Program

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

2023: Shapiro becomes Governor of Pennsylvania

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

January 2024: Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu

In January 2024, Josh Shapiro criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him "one of the worst leaders of all time" and stating that Netanyahu's leadership has made Israel less safe.

February 2024: Proposed State Budget

In February 2024, Josh Shapiro unveiled his proposed $48.3 billion state budget for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal year.

February 2024: High Approval Rating

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

February 2024: Rejection of Sending National Guard to Southern Border

In February 2024, the Republican-controlled State Senate urged Josh Shapiro to deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard to the U.S. southern border to assist Texas with the increasing number of migrants entering the country, but Shapiro declined to do so.

March 2024: Increased 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 March 2024, Josh Shapiro voiced sympathy for Palestinian civilians and peaceful protesters, affirming their right to protest peacefully and ensuring they felt heard in Pennsylvania.

April 2024: Condemnation of Pro-Palestinian Protests

In April 2024, Josh Shapiro condemned pro-Palestinian protests at American colleges and called on local officials to "step in and enforce the law" to protect students, following concerns raised by a rabbi at Columbia University.

May 2024: Call for Police Crackdown at University of Pennsylvania

In May 2024, Josh Shapiro advocated for a police crackdown on the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Pennsylvania. Critics have accused him of exaggerating the threat posed by student demonstrators.

June 2024: Support for Biden and Harris

In June 2024, after speculation arose that Joe Biden might not seek reelection, Josh Shapiro denied any interest in running for president and declared his support for Biden.

July 2024: Support for Corporate Tax Cuts

In July 2024, at an event with Janet Yellen, Josh Shapiro reiterated his support for "aggressive" corporate tax cuts.

September 2024: Polls Show High Approval Rating

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

November 2024: Creation of Permit Fast Track Program

In November 2024, Josh Shapiro signed an executive order to establish the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program, aiming to streamline and expedite the permitting process for large-scale infrastructure projects.

2024: Refusal to Endorse Erin McClelland

During the 2024 Pennsylvania state treasurer election, Josh Shapiro chose not to endorse Democratic nominee Erin McClelland in her campaign against Republican incumbent Stacy Garrity.

2024: Boost for Public School Operations

During the drafting of the 2024 budget, Josh Shapiro proposed a $1.1 billion increase for public school operations and instruction, a 14% rise from the previous year. The budget also allocated approximately $144 million to financially aid students and established a new State Board of Higher Education to set performance-based criteria for funding state-related universities.

2024: Minimum Wage Proposal in Budget

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 Appeal

In 2024, Josh Shapiro filed a brief supporting an Allegheny County inmate, Derek Lee, who was convicted of second-degree murder, in his appeal against a life without parole sentence.

2024: Pledge to Sign Anti-Boycott Bill

In 2024, Josh Shapiro pledged to sign a bill to block state funding of colleges and universities that engage in a "boycott or divestment from Israel."

2024: Public Transit Funding Proposal

In 2024, Josh Shapiro proposed investing $282.8 million in public transit systems, which would generate $1.5 billion for transit funding until 2029. However, the initial funding proposal was later dropped from the budget in July.

2024: Shapiro's position on peace clarified

In 2024, a spokesperson for Shapiro stated that his position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had changed since his 1993 op-ed and that he now supports a two-state solution.

2024: Spokesperson clarifies military activities

In 2024, a spokesperson stated that Shapiro was "at no time engaged in any military activities" during his time in Israel.

2024: Support for Senate Election Recount

In 2024, when the Senate election results between Bob Casey and David McCormick triggered a statewide recount, Josh Shapiro supported the recount but opposed counting undated or incorrectly dated ballots.

February 19, 2025: Appointment to Council of Governors

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

April 13, 2025: Arson attack at governor's mansion

On April 13, 2025, Shapiro and his family survived an arson attack at the governor's mansion, which occurred hours after they held a Passover Seder.

2025: Proposed State Budget Funding

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, with tax collections projected to increase by $1 billion.

2025: Proposed Corporate Tax Rate Cut

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

2026: Proposed Corporate Tax Rate

During Josh Shapiro's first two years in office, Pennsylvania's credit rating increased three times. He has proposed lowering corporate income taxes from 8.99% to 4.99% by 2026.

2026: Proposed Minimum Wage Increase

On several occasions, Shapiro has proposed raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15. In June 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2026

2028: Potential Presidential Candidate

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

2028: Projected State Deficit

In February 2024, critics argued that the budget would inflate the state's deficit to over $6 billion by 2028 and lead to large tax increases.

2028: Workforce Training Funding

Josh Shapiro said he has focused on expanding Pennsylvania's workforce and established the Commonwealth Workers Transformation Program (CWTP), which provides grants for skilled workforce training. As part of the program, as much as $400 million could be used for workforce training in Pennsylvania until 2028.

2029: Public Transit Funding to 2029

In 2024, Josh Shapiro proposed investing $282.8 million in public transit systems, which was projected to generate $1.5 billion for transit funding until 2029.