HARRISBURG, Pa. – Yesterday, Governor-elect Josh Shapiro announced his intent to nominate Al Schmidt to serve as Secretary of State. 

Schmidt is a former Philadelphia city commissioner, and was once a target of former President Donald Trump’s ire during Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. 

Statement of Common Cause Pennsylvania executive director Khalif Ali

“Schmidt’s experience on Philadelphia’s elections board demonstrates his commitment to secure and accurate elections, and his dedication to the people of Pennsylvania. His first hand understanding of the challenges of election administration makes him uniquely qualified to be Pennsylvania’s chief election official, and I’m optimistic that he’ll receive a swift confirmation from the legislature.

“We hope that Schmidt is prepared to bring Pennsylvania’s election infrastructure into the 21st century. Our state has a ways to go in terms of modernization and accessibility, and we look forward to working alongside him to create an election system that works in favor of voters. 

“Congratulations to both Schmidt and Shapiro on this decision, and we look forward to working with you to ensure that the voices of Pennsylvanians are heard.”