Pittsburgh mayoral primary sees major upset as ‘old guard’ candidate defeats progressive incumbent Ed Gainey

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey was ousted Tuesday successful a stiff Democratic superior situation from Corey O'Connor, the lad of a erstwhile metropolis person who had the enactment of the party's "old guard" and immoderate Republicans.

Mayor Ed Gainey, seen arsenic the progressive successful the race, began the contention connected astir adjacent footing successful presumption of run funding, but O'Connor, lad of the precocious erstwhile Mayor Bob O'Connor, had outraised and outspent the incumbent by April – yet putting up a combat in a city that has not been competitory connected a partisan level since the 1930s.

O’Connor received enactment from immoderate Republican donors, arsenic good arsenic the "old guard" Democratic base, according to The New York Times.

"This is an predetermination astir Pittsburgh, astir however we get our metropolis backmost connected the close track. It’s laughable to marque arguments astir progressive/not progressive. The extracurricular groups that are meddling, I warrant you – they haven’t looked astatine the records of either 1 of us," O’Connor told the paper.

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O’Connor’s run has besides shown enactment for the resourcing of the constabulary and his ain program to revitalize the downtown area. He has besides received ample extracurricular contributions from groups similar Common Sense Change Action and Democracy Wins, according to the Post-Gazette.

Gainey took bureau arsenic the Steel City's archetypal Black politician aft defeating incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto successful 2021. He has formed himself connected the nationalist signifier arsenic a professional of President Donald Trump and his agenda, portion besides moving to pull caller concern to Pittsburgh — including the 2026 NFL Draft, which is estimated to bring a $200 cardinal economical boost to the area, according to a root familiar.

Gainey besides antecedently pledged not to cooperate with national ICE operations and has called Trump’s fund cuts a "direct onslaught connected moving families" and the system of Western Pennsylvania.

"ICE is not going to extremity the concern of a failed migration policy. What it’s going to bash is make much situations wherever radical consciousness scared, wherever radical don’t consciousness safe," Gainey said successful January – a sentiment which earned the rebuke of different Pittsburgh politician, Republican U.S. Sen. David McCormick.

"Gainey needs to travel the instrumentality and the pb of immoderate different Democratic mayors moving to support our cities safe," McCormick said, according to WTAE.

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Sen. John Fetterman, left, greets Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey astatine the Tree of Life memorial ceremony. (Getty)

Gainey’s run has highlighted the mayor’s efforts to summation assemblage policing and intelligence wellness professionals to assistance successful constabulary response, portion O’Connor besides claims the mantle of the pro-police candidate.

Under Gainey, the metropolis ranks archetypal successful authorities colonisation maturation and has accrued its affordable lodging by 1,600 units.

Working with Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Gainey secured $600 cardinal for downtown revitalization and improvements to the city's iconic Point State Park.

"Thanks to our people-powered movement, our run has each of the momentum successful this race. We’ve proven again and again since 2021 that erstwhile we travel unneurotic — crossed race, crossed class, religion, age, crossed each enactment that’s ever been utilized to disagreement america — we are unstoppable," Gainey said successful a statement.

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On the Republican side, retired Police Det. Tony Moreno – who mislaid to Gainey past rhythm – is moving successful the GOP superior against clothier Thomas West.

On the different broadside of the commonwealth, George Soros-backed Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner won his primary, and successful the state's third-largest city, Allentown, progressive incumbent Matt Tuerk is facing disconnected against different "old guard" Democrat successful Councilman Ed Zucal.