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, nan boy of a erstwhile metropolis leader who had nan support of nan party's "old guard" and immoderate Republicans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"ICE is not going to extremity nan business of a grounded migration policy. What it’s going to do is create much situations wherever group consciousness scared, wherever group don’t consciousness safe," Gainey said successful January – a sentiment which earned nan rebuke of different Pittsburgh politician, Republican U.S. Sen. David McCormick.

"Gainey needs to travel nan rule and nan lead 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 nan Tree of Life memorial ceremony. (Getty)

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

Under Gainey, nan metropolis ranks first successful authorities organization maturation and has accrued its affordable lodging by 1,600 units.

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

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

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

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