2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election

2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election
November 4, 2025
 
Candidate Corey O'Connor Tony Moreno
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 80,738 11,463
Percentage 85.57% 12.15%
Ward results
O'Connor:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Mayor before election

Ed Gainey
Democratic

 Elected mayor

Corey O'Connor
Democratic

The 2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election was held on November 4, 2025, with a primary election held on May 20, 2025.[1] Incumbent Democratic mayor Ed Gainey ran for re-election to a second term as mayor but lost in the Democratic primary to challenger Corey O'Connor,[2] who subsequently won the general election.

Background

Due to the Democratic Party's dominance in Pittsburgh, with no Republican elected mayor since 1929, the Democratic primary has long been the main ideological contest in municipal politics. In 2021, Ed Gainey, a progressive, comfortably defeated moderate incumbent Bill Peduto in the primary and went on to win 70.8% of the vote against Republican Tony Moreno in the general election. Gainey's mayoralty, however, proved controversial. His administration was criticized for its handling of the city budget and crime and for its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the context of the Gaza War; Pittsburgh has a substantial and politically engaged Jewish population, while Gainey was perceived as pro-Palestinian.[3][4][5] As such, Gainey was seen as vulnerable to a primary challenge from moderate city councilman Corey O'Connor.[6] Due, again, to Pittsburgh's heavily Democratic lean, O'Connor was favored to win the general election if he triumphed in the primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Defeated in primary

Endorsements

Ed Gainey
U.S. representatives
State representatives
County officials
Pittsburgh city councilors
  • Deb Gross, 7th district (2014–present)[9]
  • Daniel Lavelle, 6th district (2010–present)[9]
  • Khari Mosley, 9th district (2024–present)[9]
  • Barb Warwick, 5th district (2022–present)[9]
Other local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Political parties
Newspaper
Corey O'Connor
State legislators
County officials
Pittsburgh mayors
Pittsburgh city councilors
  • Ricky Burgess, 9th district (2008–2024)[23]
  • Robert Charland, 3rd district (2024–present)[12]
  • Anthony Coghill, 4th district (2018–present)[12]
  • Theresa Kail-Smith, 2nd district (2009–present)[12]
  • Bruce Kraus, 3rd district (2008–2024)[23]
  • Erika Strassburger, 8th district (2018–present)[12]
  • Bobby Wilson, 1st district (2020–present)[12]
Labor unions
Party chapters
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Labor unions

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Ed
Gainey		 Corey
O'Connor		 Undecided
Upswing Research & Strategy (D)[33][A] March 2025 402 (LV) ± 4.2% 49% 42% 9%
Lake Research Partners (D)[34][B] March 2025 500 (LV) – 32% 50% 18%
Lake Research Partners (D)[35][B] February 6–11, 2025 500 (LV) – 35% 47% 16%

Results

Primary results by ward
  O'Connor
  •   50%–60%
  •   60%–70%
  •   70%–80%
  Gainey
  •   50%–60%
  •   60%–70%
  •   70%–80%
  •   80%–90%
Democratic primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Corey O'Connor 31,666 52.59
Democratic Ed Gainey (incumbent) 28,355 47.09
Write-in 189 0.31
Total votes 60,210 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Tony Moreno, retired police officer and nominee for mayor in 2021[37]

Defeated in primary

  • Thomas West, clothing store owner[38]

Results

Republican primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tony Moreno 2,911 62.00
Republican Thomas West 1,247 26.56
Write-in 537 11.44
Total votes 4,695 100.0

General election

Results

2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Corey O'Connor 80,738 85.57
Republican Tony Moreno 11,463 12.15
Write-in 2,154 2.28
Total votes 94,355 100.0

Notes

  1. ↑ Pittsburgh's EMS Union is affiliated with AFL-CIO.
  2. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by Gainey's campaign
  2. 1 2 Poll sponsored by O'Connor's campaign

References

  1. ↑ "Upcoming Elections". www.pa.gov. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ "O'Connor Wins Democratic Primary, for Pittsburgh Mayor, Defeating Incumbent". New York Times. May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ Maruca, Julia (April 3, 2025). "Gainey, O'Connor face questions on Israel, antisemitism fears at Pittsburgh mayoral forum". Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  4. ↑ Gans, Jordan (May 20, 2025). "Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey ousted in blow to progressives". Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ Kassel, Matthew (March 13, 2025). "Pittsburgh's mayor struggles politically amid lack of support from city's Jewish community". Jewish Insider. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ Delano, Jon (July 5, 2024). "Poll shows hypothetical primary matchup between Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Corey O'Connor". CBS News. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  7. ↑ Ulrich, Steve (December 10, 2024). "O'Connor Announces Candidacy For Pittsburgh Mayor". PoliticsPA. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  8. ↑ Maruca, Julia; Potter, Chris (September 7, 2024). "Gainey launches bid for second term as Pittsburgh's mayor". WESA. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wolfson, Charlie (March 4, 2025). "Pittsburgh's mayoral primary options: Ed Gainey". PublicSource. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Maruca, Julia (February 10, 2025). "O'Connor starts year with money advantage over Gainey in Pittsburgh mayoral primary campaign". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, Rob Jr. (March 13, 2025). "Support growing for Gainey in bid for re-election". New Pittsburgh Courier. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Potter, Chris; Maruca, Julia (April 21, 2025). "Voter guide to Pittsburgh mayor primary election: Gainey, O'Connor, Moreno, West". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  13. ↑ Prose, J.D. (March 18, 2025). "Is this Pa. city's mayoral primary a barometer of Democrats' future?". The Patriot-News. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Heyl, Eric (March 18, 2025). "Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey Gets Key Backing From Unions". Patch Media. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Eastern Region Celebrates Union Growth: Council Endorses Pittsburgh Mayor, May Day Actions". United Electrical Union. April 29, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  16. ↑ Deto, Ryan (February 4, 2025). "Scoop: Steelworkers back Gainey in mayoral race". Axios. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  17. ↑ CMU Democrats [@cmudems] (April 7, 2025). "The CMU College Democrats are officially endorsing @mayoredgainey for the Mayor of Pittsburgh". Instagram. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  18. ↑ Clean Water Action - Pennsylvania [@CleanWaterActionPA] (April 29, 2025). "We're excited to announce our support of Team Gainey in his re-election campaign for Mayor". Facebook. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2025 Endorsements". Conservation Voters of PA. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ Ulrich, Steve (April 9, 2025). "Gainey Garners NextGen PAC Endorsement". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Pennsylvania Working Families Party Endorses Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey for re-election". Pennsylvania Working Families Party. April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ "LET HIM FINISH WHAT HE STARTED: Courier endorses Ed Gainey for Mayor". New Pittsburgh Courier. May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 Wolfson, Charlie (March 4, 2025). "Pittsburgh's mayoral primary options: Corey O'Connor". PublicSource. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  24. ↑ Maruca, Julia (April 3, 2025). "Gainey, O'Connor face questions on Israel, antisemitism fears at Pittsburgh mayoral forum". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  25. ↑ Weigel, David (April 18, 2025). "Can a progressive mayor survive in Pittsburgh?". Semafor. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  26. ↑ Corey O'Connor campaign (May 12, 2025). "Mayor Murphy, why are you supporting Corey for Mayor?". Twitter. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  27. ↑ Burdelski, Julia (May 11, 2025). "Split decision: As Gainey claims unity in mayoral race, cracks appear among Democrats". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  28. 1 2 Lauer, Hallie (February 10, 2025). "Corey O'Connor gets the nod from Young Democrats, multiple labor unions in bid for mayor". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  29. ↑ Sheehan, Andy (March 18, 2025). "Pittsburgh's unions divided over support for Mayor Ed Gainey and Controller Corey O'Connor". CBS News/KDKA News. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  30. ↑ Potter, Chris (March 9, 2025). "O'Connor edges out Gainey in Democratic Committee endorsement". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  31. ↑ Pitt College Dems [@pittcollegedems] (February 15, 2025). "Announcing our official endorsements for the 2025 primary election". Facebook. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  32. ↑ "2025 Primary Endorsements". Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  33. ↑ Potter, Chris (April 28, 2025). "Gainey camp says its polling demonstrates he's driving Pittsburgh's mayoral race". WESA. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  34. ↑ Potter, Chris (April 18, 2025). "Gainey, trailing O'Connor in polls, tries to nationalize the race for Pittsburgh mayor". WESA. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  35. ↑ Deto, Ryan (March 3, 2025). "Scoop: O'Connor up by 12 points in mayoral race". Axios. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  36. 1 2 "Dem Mayor Pittsburgh". Allegheny County, PA Election Results. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  37. ↑ Sasso, Kelly (January 24, 2025). "Tony Moreno will make another run for Pittsburgh mayor". WTAE-TV. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  38. ↑ Gunderson, Kalea (January 28, 2025). "Pittsburgh business owner Thomas West launches Republican bid for mayor". WTAE-TV. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Mayor Pittsburgh". results.enr.clarityelections.com. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
Official campaign websites
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