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April 30, 2025

Why Independent Voters Don't Get a Say in Pittsburgh's Mayoral Primary

City Cast Pittsburgh

Why Independent Voters Don't Get a Say in Pittsburgh's Mayoral Primary

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The mayoral primary is right around the corner, but just because you're registered to vote doesn't mean you'll get to choose a candidate. Pennsylvania is one of only 10 states with a closed primary system, which means independents and third-party voters get left out of the process. Spotlight PA's Kate Huangpu shares a few theories about why we're seeing such a sharp rise in independent voters and whether the state legislature might consider opening up our primaries.

Want to learn more? Tune into SpotlightPA's webinar about our closed primary system on May 6.

Check your voter registration status and party affiliation on Allegheny County's voter registration page or through PA Voter Services.

Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.Learn more about the sponsors of this April 30th episode:

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