Shapiro Takes Attorney General Election

Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro will be Pennsylvania’s next attorney general as the Democrat defeated Republican nominee and state Sen. John Rafferty.

After more than 30 years without a Democrat being elected to the position, Shapiro’s win marks the second consecutive election a Democrat has captured the attorney general’s office. Kathleen Kane in 2012 became the first Democrat attorney general since it became an elected office.

Shapiro, however, will be succeeding Bruce Beemer, who was nominated to the role in August after Kane resigned in the wake of her conviction on perjury and obstruction charges.

Shapiro, who served in the state house from 2005-2012 representing the 153rd District, had 51.6 percent of the vote with 98 percent reporting statewide. Shapiro won 50.49 percent of the vote in Centre County.

Now the state’s next top prosecutor, Shapiro has never been a prosecutor himself. He has a law degree from Georgetown and practiced corporate law with Philadelphia law firm Stradley, Ronon, Stevens, and Young.

Shapiro’s win gave Democrats a sweep of the state row offices on the ballot, with Eugene DePasquale being re-elected auditor general and Joe Torsella winning the state treasurer’s office.