Pedro A. Cortés, ASPIRAnte from Puerto Rico, was nominated as Secretary of the Commonwealth by Governor Edward G. Rendell on April 2, 2003 and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on May 13, 2003.  He is the first confirmed Latino Cabinet member and the longest serving Secretary of the Commonwealth in Pennsylvania history.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth administers the Department of State.  The Department protects the public's health, safety and welfare by licensing over 800,000 business, health and real estate professionals; maintaining registration and financial information for thousands of charities soliciting contributions from Pennsylvanians; overseeing Pennsylvania's electoral process; maintaining corporate filings; and sanctioning professional boxing, wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts in the Commonwealth.