Democratic progressives dealt blow in Pittsburgh mayoral election

Pittsburgh’s Mayor Ed Gainey, who had allied himself with progressives, has lost a Democratic primary challenge, according to the Associated Press.

The AP called the race for Alleghany County controller Corey O’Connor at 10:05 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

O’Connor is the son of a former Pittsburgh, who had won the local party’s endorsement.

He has accused Gainey of being reckless with city finances, falling short in expanding affordable housing, and failed to restore downtown after the COVID pandemic.

O’Connor is all but assured of winning November’s general election in a city that hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in nearly a century.

Gainey conceded Tuesday night and called himself a “mayor of change” who had worked to boost affordable housing and reduce the murder rate.

“It wasn’t the popular message, but it was the populist message,” Gainey told KDKA-TV.

Gainey became mayor in January 2022 after ousting incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto in a Democratic primary contest, then winning the subsequent general election.

In office Gainey focused on infrastructure projects and what he said were the root causes of crime, though critics accused him of mismanaging the city’s budget.

This breaking news article will be updated.