Pittsburgh Primary Election Set for May 20 Amid Low Voter Expectations

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — The primary election in Pennsylvania is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, with a significant focus on the mayoral race in Pittsburgh. Incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey, a Democrat, faces a challenging primary against Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor.

This year’s primary comes amid expectations of low voter turnout. Election officials predict only about 30% of registered voters in Allegheny County and up to 26% in Westmoreland County will participate, a stark contrast to the presidential election turnout last November, which approached 80%.

In Pennsylvania, closed primaries mean that only registered party members can vote for their candidates. However, all voters can weigh in on local referendums, with three questions appearing on the Pittsburgh ballot.

“We need to ensure our community is informed about the voting process,” said Allegheny County Elections Division Manager David Voye. He noted that the introduction of no-excuse mail-in voting has increased primary turnouts slightly since its implementation in 2020.

Democratic candidates in the Pittsburgh mayoral race have clashed over key issues such as public safety and affordable housing, with Gainey arguing he has delivered thousands of units of affordable housing in his term. However, doubts linger among voters about his performance.

“The energy isn’t the same as it was in the presidential race,” admitted Bob Charland, Pittsburgh City Councilperson, adding that candidate visibility has not captured the public’s attention in the same way. Voters can find polling places and verify their registration online.

On the Republican side, retired police officer Tony Moreno and businessman Thomas West are competing for the GOP nomination. Pittsburgh hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in nearly 100 years, making the upcoming primaries crucial for both parties.

As voters prepare for the contentious election, officials have urged those opting to vote by mail to ensure their ballots are submitted on time, with all mail-in ballots needing to be returned by 8 p.m. on the election day.