Republican donors trying to unseat Pittsburgh's progressive Black mayor

[RandySF]

Several major Republican donors are throwing their financial support behind the primary opponent of Ed Gainey, who became Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor in 2022 and now faces a difficult re-election fight this year, in a seemingly concerted effort to oust the progressive leader.

The Democratic primary battle between Gainey and Corey O’Connor, the Allegheny county controller, is shaping up to be one of the biggest tests of the progressive movement since Donald Trump’s victory last November. The victor of the 20 May primary is widely expected to win the general election, and with few major races on the ballot this year, Gainey’s re-election could provide a morale boost for progressives still reeling from Democrats’ losses in the 2024 races.

The mayoral race may also offer insight into the broader political environment in Pennsylvania, a pivotal battleground state that Trump won by roughly two points last year. While Trump made marginal gains in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, his performance in Allegheny county, which covers Pittsburgh, remained virtually unchanged from four years earlier. Trump won just 22% of the Pittsburgh vote, while 77% went to Kamala Harris.

With so much attention on the mayoral race, prominent Republicans are now getting involved in the contest. According to campaign finance reports, several prominent Republican donors have already contributed the maximum allowable amount of $3,300 to O’Connor’s war chest before the primary.




https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/pittsburgh-primary-republican-donors

[Mc Mike]

1. Shame on O'Connor. I'm backing Gainey.

Thanks for the Guardian article.

[unweird]

2. Uncommitted here

Not really impressed with Gainey. He seems like he has been holding the office but not really getting much accomplished. And now suddenly to see the flood of email updates pleading for cash… not a fan here.

[Mc Mike]

3. I'm not with the Gainey campaign, so I can't answer for them.

But he's performed well enough for me, his infrastructure initiatives, the services from his admin, and their snow removal are all up to the level I'd like. The only thing I don't like is the increase of speed humps on many streets around me, but that started with Ravenstahl and continued with Peduto.

What I don't like is the flood of reich wing sponsored signage for O'Connor in the 19th ward (my ward), as well as the 18th and 20th wards (S. Side and West End) adjacent to me. There's no reason Corey can't wait to run, he's pretty young. But if he throws in with tRump hump repug money people to get into the Mayor's office, I'll never vote for him.

I'm not attempting to sway you, do what you think is right. But the repugs are targetting Gainey, because he's progressive and they have a ton of money.

[unweird]

4. Thanks for the reply

I do appreciate the feedback. We’re on the Northside 25th ward and only moved here 5 years ago. So still getting a feel for the local politics. And much appreciate the impression of neighbors and others including yinz south side folks.
Funny you should mention the speed humps, we had a neighbor put his own speed bump up for a couple of days a while back. We have speeding traffic in residential neighborhood with folks shortcutting thru. City ended up reversing the direction of a one way street to disrupt the shortcutters. Traffic enforcement doesn’t seem to exist in the city and pedestrian safety could use a lot of help. But again I am the new kid here and brought a different perspective on pedestrian traffic relations.

[Mc Mike]

6. I lived over on the North Side for a while when I was a kid.

On Television Hill (now Fineview). West End and Mt. Washington / Duquesne Hts. aren't considered South Side; we're the start, or the end, of the South Hills.

The speed hump proliferation is a really ham handed technocatic attempted fix. It plays havoc with all the first responders' vehicles and response times, ambulance fire police. Screws people's suspensions up, screws up shocks, tires, etc., just like a pothole does.

There are a couple of neighborhood streets that have wanted to slow down thru traffic for decades, but the people who are getting action on their requests are for the most part rich people who moved onto Grandview ave, or onto Bailey Ave by Grandview park.

[Deminpenn]

5. Not a city resident, but did hear

O'Connor's announcement he was running. He didn't specifically say these words, but it was clear to me his message was that only he, a white male, could fix the issues that are affecting the city. Then again, not really surprising because many people cannot stand it that a black man is the mayor. Brendan McGinley of the Post-Gazette editorial page and a rw catholic hates Gainey and his op-ed columns reflect that view.

There are actually 2 Rs running in the R primary, but whoever wins the Dem primary will very likely be the next mayor of Pittsburgh.