2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election

For related races, see 2025 Pittsburgh elections.

2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election

←  2021 November 4, 2025 2029 →

Candidate Corey O'Connor Tony Moreno Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey Democratic

The 2025 Pittsburgh mayoral election will be 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]

Background

Ed Gainey was first elected in 2021, winning 70.8% of the vote against Republican Tony Moreno. Gainey was considered to be at risk of losing the Democratic primary to challenger Corey O'Connor. ^[3] O'Connor will be heavily favored to win the general election; Pittsburgh has not elected a Republican mayor since 1929.

O'Connor's campaign has received more donations than Gainey's. It has also received more donations from Republicans, a disparity that emerged as a campaign issue. ^{[4] [5]}

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Corey O'Connor, Allegheny County Controller (2022–present), former Pittsburgh city councilor (2012–2022), and son of former mayor Bob O'Connor ^[6]

Defeated in primary

• Ed Gainey, incumbent mayor ^[7]

Endorsements

Ed Gainey

U.S. representatives

• Summer Lee, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district (2023–present) ^[8]

State representatives

• Aerion Abney, 19th district (2022–present) ^[9]
• Jessica Benham, 36th district (2021–present) ^[9]
• Emily Kinkead, 20th district (2021–present) ^[9]
• La'Tasha Mayes, 24th district (2023–present) ^[9]

County officials

• Bethany Hallam, at-large Allegheny County Councilor (2020–present) ^[9]
• Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Executive (2024–present) ^[8]
• Bob Palmosina, Allegheny County Councilor from the 12th district (2018–present) ^[9]

Pittsburgh city councilors

• Deb Gross, 7th district (2014–present) ^[8]
• Daniel Lavelle, 6th district (2010–present) ^[8]
• Khari Mosley, 9th district (2024–present) ^[8]
• Barb Warwick, 5th district (2022–present) ^[8]

Other local officials

• Ashley Comans, at-large (2017–present) vice president of the Wilkinsburg School District Board of Directors (2023–present) ^[10]
• Dontae Comans, mayor of Wilkinsburg (2022–present) ^[10]
• Devon Taliaferro, Pittsburgh Public Schools board director from the 2nd district (2019–present) ^[10]
• Sylvia Wilson, Pittsburgh Public Schools board director from the 1st district (2013–present) ^[10]

Labor unions

• International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1 ^[11]
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66 ^[10]
• Service Employees International Union Local 668, SEIU 32BJ, and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania ^[12]
• Pittsburgh American Federation of Teachers Local 400 ^[13]
• UNITE HERE Local 57 ^[13]
• United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Eastern Region and Locals 506 and 618 ^[14]
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 ^[13]
• United Steelworkers District 10 ^[15]
• Workers United Pennsylvania Joint Board ^[13]

Organizations

• Carnegie Mellon University College Democrats ^[16]
• Clean Water Action Pennsylvania ^[17]
• League of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania ^[18]
• NextGen PAC ^[19]
• Steel City Stonewall Democrats ^[8]

Political parties

• Pennsylvania Working Families Party ^[20]

Newspaper

• New Pittsburgh Courier ^[21]

Corey O'Connor

State legislators

• Wayne Fontana, state senator from the 42nd district (2005–present) ^[22]
• Dan Frankel, state representative from the 23rd district (1998–present) ^[23]

County officials

• DeWitt Walton, Allegheny County Councilor from the 10th district (2015–present) ^[24]

Pittsburgh mayors

• Thomas J. Murphy Jr., mayor of Pittsburgh (1994-2006) ^[25]

Pittsburgh city councilors

• Ricky Burgess, 9th district (2008–2024) ^[22]
• Robert Charland, 3rd district (2024–present) ^[11]
• Anthony Coghill, 4th district (2018–present) ^[11]
• Theresa Kail-Smith, 2nd district (2009–present) ^[11]
• Bruce Kraus, 3rd district (2008–2024) ^[22]
• Erika Strassburger, 8th district (2018–present) ^[11]
• Bobby Wilson, 1st district (2020–present) ^[11]

Labor unions

• Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics Local 1 ^{[a] [26]}
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 3 ^[9]
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers Local 154 ^[9]
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Locals 205 and 249 ^[9]
• International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 9 ^[9]
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District 57 ^[27]
• Laborers' International Union of North America - Pennsylvania District Council ^[9]
• Pittsburgh Building Trades Council ^[28]
• Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Local 12 ^[9]
• United Association Locals 27, 188, and 449 ^[9]

Party chapters

• Allegheny County Democratic Committee ^[29]

Organizations

• University of Pittsburgh College Democrats ^[30]
• Young Democrats of Allegheny County ^[27]

Declined to endorse

Labor unions

• Allegheny/Fayette AFL-CIO ^[31]

Polling

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

Results

Democratic primary results ^[35]

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 ^[36]

Defeated in primary

• Thomas West, clothing store owner ^[37]

Results

Republican primary results ^[35]

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Corey O'Connor
	Republican	Tony Moreno
	Write-in
Total votes				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. 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. 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.
4. "Gainey and O'Connor argue over 'MAGA assault' in Pittsburgh mayoral race". 90.5 WESA. March 3, 2025.
5. Greve, Joan E. (March 3, 2025). "Republican donors trying to unseat Pittsburgh's progressive Black mayor" – via The Guardian.
6. Ulrich, Steve (December 10, 2024). "O'Connor Announces Candidacy For Pittsburgh Mayor". PoliticsPA . Retrieved December 10, 2024.
7. Maruca, Julia; Potter, Chris (September 7, 2024). "Gainey launches bid for second term as Pittsburgh's mayor". WESA . Retrieved November 11, 2024.
8. Wolfson, Charlie (March 4, 2025). "Pittsburgh's mayoral primary options: Ed Gainey". PublicSource . Retrieved March 10, 2025.
9. 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.
10. Taylor, Rob Jr. (March 13, 2025). "Support growing for Gainey in bid for re-election". New Pittsburgh Courier . Retrieved May 13, 2025.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. Heyl, Eric (March 18, 2025). "Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey Gets Key Backing From Unions". Patch Media . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
14. "Eastern Region Celebrates Union Growth: Council Endorses Pittsburgh Mayor, May Day Actions". United Electrical Union. April 29, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
15. Deto, Ryan (February 4, 2025). "Scoop: Steelworkers back Gainey in mayoral race". Axios . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
16. CMU Democrats [@cmudems] (April 7, 2025). "The CMU College Democrats are officially endorsing @mayoredgainey for the Mayor of Pittsburgh". Instagram . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
17. 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.
18. "2025 Endorsements". Conservation Voters of PA. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
19. Ulrich, Steve (April 9, 2025). "Gainey Garners NextGen PAC Endorsement". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
20. "Pennsylvania Working Families Party Endorses Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey for re-election". Pennsylvania Working Families Party . April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
21. "LET HIM FINISH WHAT HE STARTED: Courier endorses Ed Gainey for Mayor". New Pittsburgh Courier . May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
22. Wolfson, Charlie (March 4, 2025). "Pittsburgh's mayoral primary options: Corey O'Connor". PublicSource . Retrieved March 10, 2025.
23. 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.
24. Weigel, David (April 18, 2025). "Can a progressive mayor survive in Pittsburgh?". Semafor . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
25. Corey O'Connor campaign (May 12, 2025). "Mayor Murphy, why are you supporting Corey for Mayor?". Twitter . Retrieved May 22, 2025.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. Potter, Chris (March 9, 2025). "O'Connor edges out Gainey in Democratic Committee endorsement". 90.5 WESA . Retrieved March 10, 2025.
30. Pitt College Dems [@pittcollegedems] (February 15, 2025). "Announcing our official endorsements for the 2025 primary election". Facebook . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
31. "2025 Primary Endorsements". Pennsylvania AFL-CIO . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
32. Potter, Chris (April 28, 2025). "Gainey camp says its polling demonstrates he's driving Pittsburgh's mayoral race". WESA . Retrieved April 28, 2025.
33. Potter, Chris (April 18, 2025). "Gainey, trailing O'Connor in polls, tries to nationalize the race for Pittsburgh mayor". WESA . Retrieved April 18, 2025.
34. Deto, Ryan (March 3, 2025). "Scoop: O'Connor up by 12 points in mayoral race". Axios . Retrieved March 10, 2025.
35. "Dem Mayor Pittsburgh". Allegheny County, PA Election Results. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
36. Sasso, Kelly (January 24, 2025). "Tony Moreno will make another run for Pittsburgh mayor". WTAE-TV . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
37. Gunderson, Kalea (January 28, 2025). "Pittsburgh business owner Thomas West launches Republican bid for mayor". WTAE-TV . Retrieved January 29, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Tony Moreno (R) for Mayor
• Corey O’Connor (D) for Mayor