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Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro taps Trump target Al Schmidt to be Pa.'s top election official
(link) https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-election-josh-shapiro-governor-al-schmidt-secretary-of-state/
Al Schmidt, a Republican who famously stood up to former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020 while receiving death threats, has been nominated to be Pennsylvania’s top election official.
Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a news release that he selected Schmidt to lead the Pennsylvania Department of State because he was “an integral part of the effort to protect our democracy and stop Pennsylvanians’ votes from being thrown out” after the 2020 election. Schmidt served as a city commissioner overseeing elections in Philadelphia for 10 years.
“Al Schmidt has a proven track record of defending our democracy, protecting voting rights, and standing up to extremism — even in the face of grave threats — and I am proud to nominate him to be Pennsylvania’s next Secretary of the Commonwealth,” Shapiro said in the news release.
In an interview late Wednesday with Votebeat and Spotlight PA, Schmidt said his priorities included improving voter registration processes as well as the way votes are cast and counted, positions that align with those Shapiro outlined on the campaign trail.
Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a news release that he selected Schmidt to lead the Pennsylvania Department of State because he was “an integral part of the effort to protect our democracy and stop Pennsylvanians’ votes from being thrown out” after the 2020 election. Schmidt served as a city commissioner overseeing elections in Philadelphia for 10 years.
“Al Schmidt has a proven track record of defending our democracy, protecting voting rights, and standing up to extremism — even in the face of grave threats — and I am proud to nominate him to be Pennsylvania’s next Secretary of the Commonwealth,” Shapiro said in the news release.
In an interview late Wednesday with Votebeat and Spotlight PA, Schmidt said his priorities included improving voter registration processes as well as the way votes are cast and counted, positions that align with those Shapiro outlined on the campaign trail.
- more at link -
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I admit that I couldn't recall who Al Schmidt was until I read the article. But I do remember that a good guy from Philadelphia did stand up to Chump - it was Al Schmidt.
Shapiro seems to have the ability to reach across the aisle and work with some Republicans (who aren't crazy). He's like Joe Biden in that regard.
Headline: Al Schmidt, Republican ex-Philadelphia official, is Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro's nominee for Pa. secretary of state
Subhead: Schmidt has told of enduring death threats whipped up by Donald Trump for defending the Philadelphia's 2020 vote-counting against the former president’s lies
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A former Philadelphia election official who has told of enduring death threats for defending the city's 2020 vote-counting against former President Donald Trump's lies will be nominated for the top election administration post in Pennsylvania.
Al Schmidt will be nominated to be Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro's secretary of state, the campaign said Thursday, setting him up to oversee what is expected to be a hard-fought 2024 election in the critical presidential battleground.
Mr. Shapiro, a Democrat, made the post his first Cabinet selection to be publicly announced ahead of his Jan. 17 inauguration.
Protecting elections and voting rights was central to Mr. Shapiro's campaign, as he emphasized his intention to nominate a “pro-Democracy” secretary of state and his role, as attorney general, in fighting efforts in court by Mr. Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“Al Schmidt has a proven track record of defending our democracy, protecting voting rights and standing up to extremism — even in the face of grave threats," Shapiro said in a statement.
Mr. Schmidt, 51, is a Republican, fitting in with Mr. Shapiro's theme of fashioning a bipartisan administration in politically divided Pennsylvania.
Al Schmidt will be nominated to be Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro's secretary of state, the campaign said Thursday, setting him up to oversee what is expected to be a hard-fought 2024 election in the critical presidential battleground.
Mr. Shapiro, a Democrat, made the post his first Cabinet selection to be publicly announced ahead of his Jan. 17 inauguration.
Protecting elections and voting rights was central to Mr. Shapiro's campaign, as he emphasized his intention to nominate a “pro-Democracy” secretary of state and his role, as attorney general, in fighting efforts in court by Mr. Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“Al Schmidt has a proven track record of defending our democracy, protecting voting rights and standing up to extremism — even in the face of grave threats," Shapiro said in a statement.
Mr. Schmidt, 51, is a Republican, fitting in with Mr. Shapiro's theme of fashioning a bipartisan administration in politically divided Pennsylvania.
More at link: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2023/01/05/al-schmidt-elections-secretary-of-state-josh-shapiro-nominee/stories/202301050101
What's good here too is that he is familiar with handling elections in general having been a city Commissioner for so long and then recently heading up the Committee of Seventy.
