Pittsburgh General Election Guide 2021
This spring’s primary took many political forecasters by surprise: Pa. State Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Lincoln-Lemington) won the race over Mayor Bill Peduto, the first time in modern history that a Pittsburgh incumbent mayor was defeated. The win came against considerable odds, seeing as how Peduto had no apparent challengers as late as September 2020. But…
Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Maria McLaughlin vs. Kevin Brobson
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and has made many important decisions over the last several years. A ruling by the court in 2018 struck down the state’s partisan-gerrymandered Congressional districts. In 2020, the court also rejected a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting law. Five Democrats and two Republicans currently make up…
Pittsburgh City Council District 4: Anthony Coghill vs. Connor Mulvaney
Pittsburgh City Council District 4 represents the South Hills neighborhoods of Beechview, Bon Air, Brookline, Carrick, and Overbrook, as well as parts of Mount Washington. It is represented by incumbent Councilor Anthony Coghill (D-Beechview). Anthony Coghill (Democrat) Bio: Incumbent candidate. Born and raised in Beechview. Previously worked as constituent liaison for state Sen. Wayne Fontana.…
Allegheny County Council District 8: Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis vs. Eric Casteel
Allegheny County Council District 8 consists of Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Monroeville, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Plum, Rankin, Swissvale, Trafford, Turtle Creek, Wall, Whitaker, and Wilmerding. Incumbent councilor Paul Zavarella (D-Plum) is not seeking re-election. Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis (Democrat) Bio: Working in the nonprofit field for 20 years, Naccarati-Chapkis serves as executive…
Allegheny County Council District 1: Jack Betkowski vs. Joe Wise
UPDATE, Sat., Oct. 30: Joe Wise, the Republican candidate for Allegheny County Council District 1, has died. Wise will still appear on the ballot for Election Day, and mail-in voting has already begun. If he were elected and seated, members of county council have the authority to choose a candidate to replace him. ORIGINAL STORY,…
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judicial Elections
With 18 candidates running for 10 open seats on the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, this election cycle offers a paramount opportunity to remake the county’s criminal justice system. Common Pleas Judges are responsible for overseeing trials for criminal, civil, and family cases and delivering sentencing. Pittsburgh City Paper has highlighted three categories for…
Allegheny County Council District 3: Anita Prizio vs. Meredith Dolan
Allegheny County Council District 3 emcompasses some North Hills suburbs and Allegheny River towns including Reserve, Millvale, Shaler, Etna, Sharpsburg, Aspinwall, O’Hara, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Indiana, and West Deer. Councilor Anita Prizio is the incumbent. Anita Prizio (Democrat) Bio: Former O’Hara town supervisor and current Allegheny County Councilor. Served as a delegate for former presidential…
Neighborhood groups try to curb shootings as Pittsburgh’s mayoral campaign puts political focus on gun violence
The July 4 holiday has historically turned violent in some parts of Pittsburgh, but in a year of increased violence in the city and nationwide, one community group saw a breakthrough that day. MAD DADS, a group focused on street outreach, presided over a more or less nonviolent scene Downtown that night. When a confrontation…
