Democratic challenger defeats Pittsburgh mayor in a primary after a clash over the party's future

Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor defeated Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in the city’s hotly contested Democratic mayoral primary, The Associated Press projected Tuesday.

Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor defeated Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in the city’s hotly contested Democratic mayoral primary, The Associated Press projected Tuesday, after a race that garnered national attention as a notable proxy fight between progressives and center-left Democrats.

With more than 96% of the vote in, O'Connor led Gainey 53%-47% in the nominating contest.

“I entered this race with a simple message: That Pittsburgh deserves better," O'Connor said at his election night party on Tuesday. "I looked around the city as a father of two young kids and I was concerned. Concerned about rising crime. Concerned about the lack of opportunity. Concerned about the looming financial crisis."

"Our message has always been that Pittsburgh should be every family’s first choice," he added. “We have to start believing in ourselves again, Pittsburgh. And we will do that.”

Tuesday’s election was one of the first major Democratic primaries since the 2024 election in which the party’s progressive and center-left wings faced off. And the mayoral race followed an election cycle in which Democratic governance of cities took center stage in Republican campaign messaging.