In a stunning upset, Allegheny County Controller defeated incumbent Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey after campaigning on sound fiscal and operational management of the city.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, labeled as progressive and the city’s first Black mayor, lost the Democratic primary to moderate challenger Corey O’Connor, Allegheny County Controller and son of former Mayor Bob O’Connor. The race, reflective of broader tensions between the Democratic Party’s progressive and moderate factions, centered heavily on budget issues. O’Connor criticized Gainey’s financial management and handling of police staffing, while Gainey highlighted his focus on crime prevention, housing, and sustainability.
Despite a narrowing lead in polls, O’Connor won, aided by a narrow endorsement from the county’s Democratic Party and support from various officials and unions. O’Connor secured 52.7% of the vote to Gainey’s 47%. At the beginning of the night, O’Connor came out with a commanding early lead when mail-in ballots were first reported shortly after the polls closed. O’Connor’s mail-in ballot lead was so large, Gainey was unable to neutralize it with day-of in-person voting.
In his victory speech, O’Connor pledged to work hard for Pittsburgh, saying “your calls for accountable leadership and growth have been heard in this Democratic primary.” Gainey conceded graciously, highlighting the progress made during his term, telling his supporters “Be glad of the progress that we made. It would’ve been easy for me to bow down to power. But it was more exhilarating to fight it for you.”
O’Connor campaigned on restoring fiscal stability, addressing police department leadership, and pushing nonprofits to contribute more to city services. O’Connor made the city’s finances a cornerstone of his campaign, saying Gainey mismanaged the “handling of public finances, housing and development, and public safety.” During his victory speech, O’Connor said filling the vacant city police chief position will be a priority, also saying the city won’t “waste taxpayers’ money on a national search for a chief.”
Gainey, who had ousted former Mayor Bill Peduto in 2021, attempted to tie O’Connor to Republican President Donald Trump through campaign donations both men received from the same individuals. During the campaign, Gainey also pointed to his record, claiming reductions in violent crime, local job growth, and a higher credit rating for the city.
While coverage of the race often characterized it as a battle between moderate or establishment forces backing O’Connor and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party supporting Gainey, Axios notes the candidates “agreed on a litany of liberal policies”, including refusing local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
On the GOP side, Moreno won with 61.9% of the vote, defeating Thomas West. Despite his primary win, Moreno faces long odds in the general election, as Pittsburgh has not elected a Republican mayor since 1934 and Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in voter registration.
