Josh Shapiro
Encyclopedia
Josh Shapiro is a Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, representing the 153rd legislative district
since 2005. The district includes portions of Montgomery County
in Upper Dublin
and Abington Townships
.
, Missouri
, and graduated magna cum laude
from the University of Rochester
in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree. After college, he moved to Washington, D.C.
and became a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator
Carl Levin
. He then worked as a senior advisor to U.S. Representative
Peter Deutsch
(1996–98) and to U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli
(1998–99). From 1999 to 2003, he was chief of staff to U.S. Representative Joe Hoeffel
.
Shapiro received his Juris Doctor
degree from Georgetown University
in 2002 and, in addition to his role as a state legislator, works as an attorney with Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young. He lives in Abington
with his wife and four children. He has a brother, sister and several nieces and nephews.
, Shapiro ran for the seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
held by Ellen Bard
, who had run unsuccessfully for Congress. It was the same seat held by his former employer, Congressman Hoeffel, from 1977 to 1985. His GOP opponent was Jon Fox
, who represented Montgomery County in Congress from 1995 to 1999. Shapiro defeated Fox in November with 54% of the vote. He is only the second Democrat to represent the Abington area since World War I
.
He won re-election against a lesser-known opponent, Lou Guerra, taking 76% of the vote. In 2007, Shapiro was named Deputy Speaker by incoming Speaker
Denny O'Brien
after Shapiro helped broker a deal to bring him into office.
In the 2008 Democratic primary
, Shapiro ran uncontested. Additionally he won a write-in campaign on the Republican side to ensure that would win re-election without major opposition in November. Shapiro was said to be considering a run
for the United States Senate
before Arlen Specter
announced he had joined Democratic Party.
On January 31, 2011, Shapiro announced his candidacy for the Montgomery County
Board of Commissioners after Hoeffel, whom Shapiro had succeeded as a state legislator, announced he would be retiring.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, representing the 153rd legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 153
The 153rd Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Montgomery County and includes the following areas:* Abington Township ** Ward 01** Ward 02 [PART, Divisions 02 and 03]** Ward 03** Ward 04** Ward 05** Ward 06** Ward 07...
since 2005. The district includes portions of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
in Upper Dublin
Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Dublin Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,569 at the 2010 census.Upper Dublin is made up of several community areas, many of which are unincorporated areas in Montgomery County with no legal status, and are used primarily by the US...
and Abington Townships
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
.
Personal
Shapiro was born in Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and graduated magna cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. After college, he moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and became a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Carl Levin
Carl Levin
Carl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. He then worked as a senior advisor to U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Peter Deutsch
Peter Deutsch
Peter R. Deutsch is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. Deutsch was a Democratic Representative from Florida's 20th congressional district from 1993 until 2005.- Background :...
(1996–98) and to U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli
Robert Torricelli
Robert Guy Torricelli , nicknamed "the Torch," is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Jersey. Torricelli, a Democrat, served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate...
(1998–99). From 1999 to 2003, he was chief of staff to U.S. Representative Joe Hoeffel
Joe Hoeffel
Joseph Merrill "Joe" Hoeffel III is an American politician. A Democrat, he is currently a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, having previously served from 1992 to 1998....
.
Shapiro received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Georgetown University
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 2002 and, in addition to his role as a state legislator, works as an attorney with Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young. He lives in Abington
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
with his wife and four children. He has a brother, sister and several nieces and nephews.
Political career
In 2004Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2004
The 2004 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2004, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 27, 2004. Necessary primary elections were held on May 21, 2002. The term of office for those elected in 2004 ran from...
, Shapiro ran for the seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
held by Ellen Bard
Ellen Bard
Ellen M. Bard was a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Bard was a 1971 graduate of Pomona College. She also earned a M.S. degree from the Boston University School of Public Communication in 1972 and another M.S...
, who had run unsuccessfully for Congress. It was the same seat held by his former employer, Congressman Hoeffel, from 1977 to 1985. His GOP opponent was Jon Fox
Jon D. Fox
Jon D. Fox was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Jon Fox was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA in 1969, and earned a J.D. from the Delaware School of Law , in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1975...
, who represented Montgomery County in Congress from 1995 to 1999. Shapiro defeated Fox in November with 54% of the vote. He is only the second Democrat to represent the Abington area since World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He won re-election against a lesser-known opponent, Lou Guerra, taking 76% of the vote. In 2007, Shapiro was named Deputy Speaker by incoming Speaker
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives holds the oldest state-wide elected office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since its first session under the Frame of Government in 1682, presided over by William Penn, over 130 House members have been elevated to the speaker's chair...
Denny O'Brien
Dennis M. O'Brien
Dennis Michael "Denny" O'Brien is the representative from the 169th Legislative District and was the 137th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is the majority chairman of the House Committee on Children & Youth...
after Shapiro helped broker a deal to bring him into office.
In the 2008 Democratic primary
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2008
The 2008 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 4, 2008, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 22, 2008. The term of office for those elected in 2008 will run from January 6, 2009 until November 2010...
, Shapiro ran uncontested. Additionally he won a write-in campaign on the Republican side to ensure that would win re-election without major opposition in November. Shapiro was said to be considering a run
United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania took place on November 2, 2010, during the 2010 midterm elections. Incumbent Republican-turned-Democrat U.S. Senator Arlen Specter ran for re-election to a sixth term, but lost in the Democratic primary to Joe Sestak. Republican nominee Pat...
for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
before Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
announced he had joined Democratic Party.
On January 31, 2011, Shapiro announced his candidacy for the Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
Board of Commissioners after Hoeffel, whom Shapiro had succeeded as a state legislator, announced he would be retiring.
External links
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Josh Shapiro, Jr. official PA House website
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Josh Shapiro official caucus website
- Josh Shapiro for Montgomery County Commissioner official campaign website