Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf appointed Leigh Chapman to serve as acting secretary of the Commonwealth, replacing Veronica Degraffenreid who accepted a different position in the Wolf administration.
In her position, Chapman will serve as the state’s top elections official.
“As we move into a new year and new election cycle, I have full confidence that Leigh M. Chapman will continue the Department’s efforts to lead Pennsylvania through a smooth election process and ensure that Pennsylvania voters continue to experience free and fair elections, among many responsibilities,” Wolf said.
Chapman previously served as the executive director of Deliver My Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization “with a simple philosophy: vote at home programs increase turnout and participation from more informed voters.”
“I am honored and excited to be returning to the Department of State to serve as ​Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Chapman said. “Throughout my career I have worked to ensure that voting rights are protected, and to improve access to the ballot box. I look forward to continuing that work in my new role, and to build on the tremendously successful election reforms in Pennsylvania over the last several years.”
While Deliver My Vote claims a “nonpartisan” title, the organization’s website lists Georgie Aguirre-Sacasa and Brian Dunn as founders of the group. Both individuals work for consulting agencies that help elect Democratic candidates.
Field Strategies, which employs Dunn, details on its website that it has “been instrumental in securing victories for Democratic Presidents, Governors, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives and statewide ballot initiatives.” Furthermore, the group celebrates that it has “been the driving force behind massive voter registration, petition circulation and vote-by-mail signup drives, helping to reshape the electorate favorably for Democratic causes.”
Additionally, Joan Fitz-Gerald, a former Democratic Colorado senator, serves on the board of the organization. During her time as a state lawmaker, Fitz-Gerald worked as the chair for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), an organization dedicated to elected Democratic state legislators.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Tom Wolf” by Governor Tom Wolf. CC BY 2.0. Photo “Leigh Chapman” by Deliver My Vote. Background Photo “Ballot Drop Box” by Cliffordsnow. CC BY-SA 4.0.
