As Pittsburgh heads into the November 4 election, residents have the opportunity to shape leadership at the local and state levels. From the mayor’s office to City Council and key judicial races, your vote directly impacts housing, development, and neighborhood well-being.
City of Pittsburgh: Mayor and Council
Mayor of Pittsburgh
This year’s mayoral race features Corey O’Connor (Democrat) and Tony Moreno (Republican).
O’Connor, a former City Council member and current Allegheny County Controller, emphasizes a “neighborhood-first” approach — including streamlined zoning, expanded affordable housing, and revitalization of vacant properties.
Moreno, a retired police detective, campaigns on public safety, fiscal responsibility, and amplifying working-class voices.
The winner of this race will guide policies shaping housing, infrastructure, the Pittsburgh Land Bank and partnerships with nonprofits and community developers — all priorities central to PCRG’s mission.
City Council
Council members oversee neighborhood planning, zoning decisions, and development approvals — key areas that affect equitable community investment and the pace of local revitalization.
District 2
Pittsburgh’s District 2, which includes the city’s southwestern neighborhoods, is the only open City Council seat this election cycle following Councilmember Theresa Kail-Smith’s retirement after 16 years of service.
Kim Salinetro (Democrat), Kail-Smith’s longtime aide, won her primary with broad support and emphasizes improving neighborhood infrastructure, expanding constituent services, and strengthening community investment. Her experience in local government and focus on day-to-day quality-of-life issues align with PCRG’s goals for equitable neighborhood revitalization.
Erin Koper (Republican) is campaigning on public safety, fiscal accountability, and transparent government, with an emphasis on ensuring city resources reach all neighborhoods—particularly those that feel overlooked by Grant Street.
District 4
Pittsburgh’s District 4, covering southern neighborhoods including the Beechview area, faces ongoing challenges with infrastructure, maintenance, and equitable investment in working- and middle-class communities.
Anthony Coghill (Democrat), the incumbent since 2018, is running for a third term. He emphasizes fiscal responsibility, maintaining essential city services, and leveraging his experience as a business owner to address neighborhood needs, including roads, public safety, and community investment initiatives.
Tracy Larger (Republican), a longtime Brookline resident, is running to unseat Coghill. Her campaign focuses on public safety, including strengthening the city’s police force, and reducing blight. She opposes expanding the city’s Land Bank, preferring to rehabilitate properties through smaller, community-based groups.
District 6
Incumbent R. Daniel Lavelle (Democrat) represents District 6, covering neighborhoods including parts of the North Side, Hill District, and Downtown. In his role as council president, he oversees council meetings and committee assignments while advancing policies centered on affordable housing, racial equity, and community safety. Lavelle has recently championed the creation of an anti-violence trust fund and expanded paid sick leave benefits for workers within the city.
District 6 challenger Jacob Dumont (Republican), a North Side resident with a background in construction and news media, emphasizes public safety, emergency management, and infrastructure as his top priorities.
Judicial Races: Courts That Impact Our Communities
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Voters will decide whether to retain (YES or NO) three Democrat justices: Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht.
Their decisions influence fair housing and its enforcement, municipal authority, developer rights, and equitable investment policies across Pennsylvania. For example, in a notable case, the Court ruled on a Pittsburgh ordinance aimed at preventing housing discrimination. The Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh challenged the law, and the Court ultimately invalidated the ordinance, citing the city’s Home Rule Charter. This decision illustrates how the Court can directly influence housing policies and local zoning rules.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has played a pivotal role in national cases, including its 2020 ruling allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received later that week — a decision that drew national attention and provoked lawsuits from President Trump.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Eight seats are on the ballot for this influential local court, which handles criminal, civil, family, and orphans’ court cases.
Its rulings impact property law, foreclosure proceedings, land-use disputes, and code enforcement — all of which directly affect community stability and neighborhood investment. For example, foreclosure rulings often determine whether residents remain housed, or properties enter vacancy cycles.
Why These Races Matter for PCRG’s Mission
Leadership shapes policy and practice
The mayor and city council do more than set agendas — they establish the vision and enforce policies that guide neighborhood growth.
Decisions on housing, zoning, permitting, and infrastructure investment determine whether affordable housing advances, and how community organizations can partner effectively with the city.
For PCRG and its members, leaders who prioritize equitable neighborhood investment can mean:
More resources for small-scale developers
Streamlined approvals for community-driven projects, including those that involve housing
Stronger support for and implementation of Registered Community Organization (RCO) programs and development incentives, influencing which neighborhoods benefit from reinvestment and revitalization
Judicial interpretation influences outcomes
Courts define the legal framework that shapes community investment.
Judges and justices interpret laws governing fair housing, zoning authority, and foreclosure protections; setting precedents that affect how equitably neighborhoods evolve.
For example, Supreme Court Rulings can alter how local governments enforce housing codes or regulate development incentives.
Community engagement matters
Municipal and judicial elections often see lower voter turnout, which means each vote carries more weight. Neighborhoods with less consistent participation risk being underrepresented in decisions that shape funding, investment, and opportunity.
For PCRG, civic engagement is central to advancing housing affordability, revitalization, and equitable distribution of resources.
Encouraging residents to vote ensures that local leadership remains accountable to community needs, and that underserved neighborhoods have a voice in shaping long-term investment priorities.
How to Engage
Review your ballot: Learn who’s running and what measures and issues are on the ballot.
WESA’s Voter Guide: A primer on voting information and who is running in the 2025 election for offices in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Pennsylvania. It also serves as a central page for resources, including finding your polling place and detailed breakdowns of all races.
Encourage participation: Help neighbors understand how to vote while staying nonpartisan.
Reflect on outcomes: After the election, consider how results affect housing, development, and equitable community investment.
Polls are open 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you’re in line by 8:00 p.m., you have the right to vote.