Josh Shapiro, the only Democrat running for governor of the PA Election Guide Pittsburgh
While nine Republican candidates are vying to run for governor, Attorney General Josh Shapiro is the only Democrat to run for governor Tom Wolf for a limited time. The 48-year-old Shapiro was elected Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.
He was first elected in 2004 when he changed his seat in the 153rd Legislative District from red to blue. In 2011, he was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
Shapiro, who largely works as the state’s top law enforcement officer, has a huge military chest; in January documents showed that his company already was raised $ 13.4 million, a new state record for a gubernatorial candidate running in election year. Much of this comes from unions that donated more than $ 3 million to Shapiro’s campaign in 2021.
During his tenure as attorney general, Shapiro’s office published a 2018 grand jury report alleging that the clergy sexually abused more than 1,000 children. In 2019, it helped enter into an agreement between Highmark and UPMC that allowed patients insured by Highmark to continue receiving care from UPMC providers.
In an interview with Natalia Benchiveng on Pittsburgh City Paper ‘s Show After Hours InstagramShapiro described his role as a chief of the Commonwealth’s law enforcement, saying the work included “ensuring the fight against criminal activities such as drug trafficking in our communities, and bringing people to justice for offenses under the law.”
He also says he plans to try to work with Republicans, who will continue to oversee both houses of the legislature, on many issues.
“If you look back and look at my time in the legislature and after, I’ve regularly worked with both sides to unite people to find common ground,” Shapiro said. City newspaperbut added that there are “certain traits” that he will not pass as governor.
“You are putting the bill on my desk and restricting a woman’s right to an abortion, it will be vetoed,” he told CP. “You put the bill on my desk to try to limit the right to vote, it will be vetoed. But there are a lot of areas where we can find common ground, and I think it takes someone like me, with the experience I’ve had and I’m doing it to bring people together to do it. ”
Although he has won several significant victories as attorney general, Shapiro has been criticized by some progressives for his stance on some criminal justice issues. He said during his first campaign for AG that he supported the death penalty for “the most heinous crimes.” He recently softened (or clarified) this position, but into one interview with Pennsylvania Capital-Star earlier this month he made no commitment to maintain on the spot a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania, which Wolfe implemented in 2015.
Shapiro also got into an argument with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner over legislation that expanded the role of AH in the prosecution of gun crimes in Philadelphia. Krasner and Allegheny District Attorney Stephen Zapala also sued Shapiro for an $ 1 billion opioid hearing. helped negotiate with major pharmaceutical companies. Court of the Commonwealth dismissed the claims in February.
But without a major rival, Shapiro now has the luxury of retaining most of his $ 18 million in funds for the company in reserve for November when he meets with the Republican candidate. He has spent about $ 2.7 million on advertising so far.
https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/josh-shapiro-the-lone-democrat-running-for-pa-governor/Content?oid=21593945
