Karl Freitag
Karl Tobias Freitag is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Secretary of State since 2026, previously serving as Governor of Pennsylvania from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he serves on the Democratic National Committee on the third committee seat.
Born in Haverford, PA to first-generation German-French businessowner immigrants, Freitag studied at the University of Pennsylvania achieving a Master in International Affairs. Interning at the Department of State, he would later run for Governor of Pennsylvania under the Democratic Party member after defeating Miguel Bruno Jr. in the 2020 Pennsylvania gubernatorial primaries, defeating Bob the Builder in the general election. He would later be defeated in the 2024 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election in a rematch, later being appointed as Secretary of State by President Kimi Antonelli in 2025 and 2026, being successfully nominated in the latter attempt.
Early life and career
Freitag was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania to Carsten and Ameline Freitag, a family of business executives and first-generation immigrants from Europe. After obtaining a Master in International Affairs from the University of Pennsylvania, Freitag co-founded Duolingo with his parents contributing to the company's first round of capital investments.
As chief executive officer of Duolingo, he brought the company to soaring heights with the company becoming the largest American technology company globally, briefly becoming the largest worldwide technology company and achieving a valuation of $200 million.
Political career
After achieving success as a corporate CEO, Freitag ran in the 2020 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election against incumbent Miguel Bruno Jr., winning the primary and the general election against Bob the Builder. As governor, he pushed for a balanced budget and improvements to state infrastructure, working with the Pennsylvania State Senate in pushing his policy goals forward.
Freitag would later lose the 2024 gubernatorial election to Bob the Builder in a rematch, owing to irregularities in the voter registration process and the unauthorised removal of his name from ballots, although it was partly reversed. He would concede the election, arguing that "the people have spoken and the state comes before personal interests".
Following the election of Kimi Antonelli to the presidency, he would be nominated for Secretary of State, being rejected in the first round of nominations before finally being approved in the second round of nominations in 2026. Freitag led the imposition of Republican-proposed tariffs on British and Japanese businesses in his tenure, before working with President Antonelli to begin the reversion of tariffs following the Republicans' exit from the cabinet.
Political history
- Governor of Pennsylvania (2021-2025)
- United States Secretary of State (2026-present)
Party positions
- Member of the Democratic National Committee (2022-present)
- Treasurer of the Democratic Party (presumptive candidate)