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City Cast Pittsburgh

Ready to do your civic duty Nov. 4? Below is a breakdown of your ballot ⬇️

⏰ Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

. If you’re in line at 8 p.m., they have to let you vote!

✅ If you're voting at a new polling place, you may need to provide an 

. If you're a returning voter, you don’t need an ID.

📬 If you’re voting by mail, your ballot must be received by election officials by the time polls close.

Send your ballot by USPS or drop it off at the Allegheny County Office Building or 

 during their designated dates and times.

Want to make sure your ballot was received? 

If this feels annoying, we hear you. Go vote anyway! And check out 

 here in PA. Now let's dig into the races.

Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. The positions are elected in 10-year increments, and once on the bench, judges can run for retention — similar to re-election. Three of seven justices are up for a retention vote. State Supreme Court judges have made influential 

, education funding, health care, and guns.

 This election could determine whether Democrats keep their majority, and both parties are pouring money into this race. Democrats say Pennsylvanians' 

 hinges on voting “yes;” Republicans 

say the current justices are “too radical.”

 All three judges have been recommended for another term by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

the most important question on your ballot

Commonwealth Court is an intermediate court, above the local level and below the state Supreme Court. Its nine judges hear civil cases in Harrisburg, Philly, and Pittsburgh involving state and local governments — deciding on issues related to election laws, education funding, environmental regulations, labor issues, and more. They can have an outsized impact on public policy. The current makeup is five Republicans and three Democrats; one seat is open.

Democrat Michael Wojcik is also up for retention.

Superior Court is an intermediate court, above the local level and below the state Supreme Court. Judges handle appeals from the local Court of Common Pleas. And while this court doesn’t make news very often (

Meek Mill’s case was a notable exception

), it’s the state court Pennsylvanians are most likely to interact with, since its 15 judges consider business disputes, child custody, and probation and parole. The current makeup is eight Democrats and six Republicans; one seat is open.

Democrat Alice Beck Dubow is also up for retention.

In all three courts — Supreme, Commonwealth, and Superior — judges serve 10-year terms and must retire at age 75.

Elected every four years, our city mayor serves as chief executive, oversees day-to-day operations, represents the city, proposes budgets, signs legislation, and appoints department leaders.

Pittsburgh’s finances don’t make sense

 — the city’s expenditures in 2025 vastly exceed our ability to pay, tax revenue is down, overtime is up, and the proposed 

 and will represent us during major events like the 

🎧 Listen to our interviews with the candidates:

 is the current Allegheny County Controller. He served on City Council for 11 years — where he championed paid sick leave and gun control — and is the son of a former mayor, the late Bob O’Connor, who died in office. He says he wants to make it easier to build homes and grow small businesses and would like to expand youth and senior programming.

 is a retired police detective who served in Pittsburgh for over 20 years. He’d like to cut taxes, reduce regulation, and offer more mental health supports for public safety. This is his second time seeking office. Moreno is running without support from the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County GOP committees. If Moreno prevails, he’d be our first Republican mayor in a century.

Voters choose nine City Council representatives every four years, alternating even and odd districts. Councilors propose, debate, and vote on legislation; approve contracts; and allocate millions of dollars for city resources. They’ve all been Democrats for many years.

, and more. There’s always debate about what some councilors consider the inequitable distribution of resources across city neighborhoods, and their decisions often inform how the rest of us live. 

➡️ Even districts are up this year. Here’s who’s on the ballot:

: Incumbent Theresa Kail-Smith is retiring after 16 years. The race is between her longtime chief of staff, Democrat Kim Salinetro; Republican Erin Koper; and Independent David Tessitor

: Incumbent Democrat Anthony Coghill, Republican Tracy Larger, and Independent Brian Naughton

: Council President, incumbent Democrat Daniel Lavelle, and Republican Jacob Dumont

: Incumbent Democrat Erika Strassburger is unopposed

Five of nine Pittsburgh Public Schools seats are up for election — the candidates are all Democrats, all unopposed. School board members serve four years per term, and they’re responsible for setting district policy and programming, budgeting, considering charter school petitions, and hiring the superintendent. The PPS board will ultimately decide when and how to 

Allegheny County councilors serve four-year terms. They work with 

 to create, amend, and approve county ordinances, as well as appoint board positions and approve 

. There are 15 seats — 13 by district and two at-large; eight are up for grabs. While many races are pitting incumbents against challengers, fresh faces are guaranteed in Districts 1, 3, and 9.

 There’s been a lot of debate about pursuing a 

, which would make your property taxes better reflect the current state of your home. For many of us, it would also mean our bills go up. The county is also in a precarious financial position right now. Council voted recently to freeze spending and hiring as the county continues borrowing from itself to cover bills typically paid by the state and federal governments — neither of which has passed a budget. 

At-Large: Democrat Alex Rose and incumbent Republican Mike Embrescia

District 1: Democrat Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling and Republican Mary Jo Wise

District 3: Democrat Lissa Geiger Shulman and Republican W. Christopher Lochner

District 4: Incumbent Democrat Patrick Catena and Republican Bob Doddato

District 8: Incumbent Democrat Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis and Republican Michael Dell

District 9: Democrat Aaron Adams and Republican Patrick Provins

District 12: Incumbent Democrat Robert Palmosina and Republican Leonard Iorio

Learn what’s on your ballot in Allegheny County, from Pittsburgh mayor to PA Supreme Court.

Your 2025 November Election Guide in Allegheny County

A Pittsburgh Voting Guide for the 2025 Election

Tips and tricks for living your best Pittsburgh life, by locals, for locals.

Pittsburgh Life Hacks

Ready to do your civic duty on April 23? 

 You can only vote in the primary in Pennsylvania if you are a registered Democrat or Republican. Some advocates and lawmakers are 

. According to SpotlightPA, the closed primary system disenfranchises more than 1.3 million voters in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s primary is late in the election cycle. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are already the presumptive nominees. While Biden already won enough delegates, there is a group 

 to protest the way he's handled the war in Gaza. Unlike in some other states, "uncommitted" is not a ballot option in Pennsylvania; organizers with Uncommitted PA are urging voters 

The U.S. Senate is made up of 100 senators who are elected for six-year terms.

The U.S. House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members who serve two-year terms. Pennsylvania has 17 representatives up for reelection.

 is in the 12th Congressional district between two Democrats, Bhavini Patel and incumbent Summer Lee. The winner will face Republican James Hayes in November.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is responsible for proposing and passing state laws and developing the budget. The chamber’s senators are elected to four-year terms. Democrats currently control the state House by two votes; Republicans control the state Senate by six.

We talked about Democrats’ 34th district primary race between incumbent Abigail Salisbury and challenger Ashley Comans on 

The Attorney General serves as the commonwealth’s top prosecutor.

Keir Bradford-Grey, Eugene DePasquale, Joe Khan, Jared Solomon,

➡️ Having trouble sorting through the candidates? SpotlightPA has a 

The auditor general monitors the use of public funds.

The treasurer oversees the state’s revenue and finances and acts as the chief banker.

🎧 Want more details on the offices and what’s at stake? 

Listen to today’s City Cast Pittsburgh podcast

Your 2024 Allegheny County Primary Election Guide

What Pittsburghers have been wondering. We break down why things in Pittsburgh are the way they are and how they work.

Pittsburgh, Explained

Even though there are already presumptive 

, Pennsylvania still has a primary on Tuesday, April 23 — and there are plenty of 

Voters will choose each party’s respective nominees for offices like attorney general, state treasurer, auditor general, and state representative. The candidates who win this April will appear on the general election ballot in November.

Make sure you’re ready to vote with this checklist ⬇️

✅ Check To See If You’re Already Registered

Find out if your voter registration is up to date using 

. You can also check your polling place and political party.

✅ If You’re Not Registered, Make Sure You’re Eligible

You’ve been a U.S. citizen for at least one month before the election.

You’ve been a resident of both Pennsylvania and your specific election district for at least 30 days before the election.

You’ll be at least 18 years old on or before election day.

Fill out your voter registration application 

 at the County Office Building at 542 Forbes Ave.

If you’re already registered but you moved, changed your name, or want to change your party affiliation, you 

❗ Important FYI: To Vote for Candidates, You Have To Register with a Party

Pennsylvania is one of 10 states that have “

,” which means you can only vote for your own party’s nominees. In other words, if you want to vote in the Democratic primary contests, you have to be registered as a Democrat, and if you want to vote in Republican races, you have to register as a Republican. If you’re currently an unaffiliated voter but you want to vote in partisan primary races, make sure you update your registration with your desired political party.

Make sure you're ready to vote in Allegheny County.

Your Voter Registration Checklist for the April Primary in Allegheny County

Your Voter Registration Checklist for the April Primary

Pennsylvania has more than 9,000 voting locations, and elections can’t run smoothly without volunteers at each polling place. Help your neighbors do their civic duty by 

You must be a registered voter and can only serve in the county you reside in. If you’re a current government employee or official, you probably can’t volunteer; exceptions include district judges, notaries publics, or members of the National Guard.

Poll workers set up, open, and close the polling place; record the names of voters; check them in; and assist with election equipment. There are a few specialized poll worker positions that are elected by the local election board. Volunteers must be available 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on voting day.

There’s a mandatory training session either in person or online, as well as 

The number one perk is getting to know your community and helping them during this important democratic process. But depending on your position, you can also get paid between $75 and $200 for the day.

this form through the Department of State

Apply to be an Allegheny County poll worker for the primary on April 23.

How To Be an Election Poll Worker in Allegheny County

In Mayor Ed Gainey’s State of the City address, he said that he wanted Pittsburgh to be the safest, most welcoming city in America with opportunity for all.

City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris sat down with him at the City-County Building to talk about what the administration is doing to accomplish that, plus 

his wish list for the second half of his term

Nearly 40 city-owned bridges have been rated as poor, and the city is repairing at least a dozen through the new Bridge Asset Management Program.

The bridges are so expensive, and you got $86 million plus some federal money? Is that enough?

Well, it's never enough, but it's the beginning, right? We went decades without a bridge management program. I mean, think about that. We're the city of bridges, and we don't have a bridge asset management program. So, I can't be upset about what we didn't have because we were not here yet. What I can do is begin to plan, talk about how we look at this crisis, and turn it into an opportunity so we have a promise of a better tomorrow.

Boosting Traffic Calming & Sidewalk Repairs

Vision Zero is a plan that “starts with the premise that all traffic fatalities and serious injuries are preventable” and works with multiple city departments to develop holistic solutions, 

Last year, the city launched a pilot to help homeowners repair critical sidewalks identified through the 

 The sidewalks are really complicated too just because in Pittsburgh it's unique that a lot of homeowners are in charge of sidewalks.

Sure, but we’ve also reached out to them and said ‘listen, it’s better to do business with us. We can offset the costs’ … So if it benefits people, it benefits the city. And those are the things that we're doing right now that don't get a lot of attention because they're not sexy, right?

Yeah, I think they are! Because here’s the reality: We're talking about mobility on so many different issues. That's why a part of it was moving [The City-County Task Force on Disabilities] out of City Planning and into the mayor's office so that we could have more of an understanding of exactly what's needed and get them involved at an earlier stage in development… We don’t want a city that grows old, we want a city that grows up.

 I saw you also threw in your support recently, 

, about the NFL Draft coming to Pittsburgh. Why make that a big priority?

 I think it's exciting to me because a lot of people's left this city. And wherever I go, you have what I call “Stiller bars.” We're all over. And a lot of them still love this city… We want people to come back to see the new city, the new Pittsburgh. We want them to come back and experience that we're not the smoky town we used to be. We're tech. We're meds. We're eds. We're inclusive. We're diverse. We're culture. We're sports. We're everything. Come on home and see why you miss home so much.

more than 170 children died from gun violence

 in Pittsburgh in the last five years; 30 of them were in 2023.

Mayor Gainey’s first concern is with legislation: 

We got more guns on the streets than we got children, and legislatively, we have to change that, because at the end of the day it's not how we protect guns, it's how we protect our children.

And that's why you hear us reach out to these parents and everybody else in the community. If you see something, say something. And we've seen a return on that. We've probably got more information and evidence from neighbors, from the communities, from people in the city than ever before.

Mayor Ed Gainey on budgets, bridges, and why he thinks sidewalks are sexy.

Mayor Ed Gainey’s Hopes and Concerns for Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is facing some big issues and great possibilities in 2024. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris sat down with Managing Editor at 

 Monica Ruiz to talk about what Pittsburgh needs to take a hard look at this year.

The country is always watching the swing state of Pennsylvania during national elections – like this year’s on November 5.

“This [election year] seems to be tinted by the lack of confidence in democracy that unfortunately exists in so many corners. And I think it's going to be as much about whether democracy functions and how it functions and whether we can trust in the result. There will be a lot of people saying we can't trust the result, potentially including one of the presidential candidates, and that'll be as much of an issue as the policy differences.”

Voting officials are worried Pa. isn’t prepared for misinformation

“We have to stop thinking about voting every four years and just remind people that elections happen every single year … And we cannot forget to target our youth. We shouldn't start targeting 18-year-olds about voting when they're 18. Right? We should have these conversations and do a little bit of movement with them prior to so that they're excited and educated once they start voting.”

The city’s school district has a lot of bright spots, but it has a lot of problems too: funding is 

, and there are racial disparities creating 

“[These issues] have existed for quite a long time, but they've existed in an atmosphere that has not been considered a crisis because it's kind of been papered over with federal funds for the last three years since the pandemic. Now the federal funds are running out and all of a sudden you get a crisis that could be crippling, but it could also be an opportunity to address issues if there's leadership and public input and potentially, hopefully, consensus at some point.”

Lawmakers want to invest $5.4 billion to 

Pittsburgh is working to scale up its affordable units, but the immediate issues prevail: homeless shelters often 

 “Everybody wants to live in a nice neighborhood, right? But there's a big difference between revitalization and gentrification. If we're going to revitalize these communities, we have to do it in a way where we're including the people that are there and keeping them there… But more and more, we're seeing people moving outside of the city because they no longer can afford to live here. And they're living in areas where there are food deserts, no pharmacies, nowhere for them to get preventative health care.”

 “We're really struggling with the right balance of building new stuff, rehabilitating and preserving existing units, coming up with new models and new transitional housing options. It’s really kind of THE struggle, I think, for 2024 for this region.”

. Shuman, Pittsburgh’s juvenile detention facility, has been closed since 2021, but it is 

 “I think that we have to start thinking about the root causes of how people end up in jail. Right? So if we start funding better mental health services, better housing, which are many of the reasons why people end up in these places, we can avoid people going into [incarceration]. It's just such a complex situation, where it's not just one thing. People need to stop dying in the Allegheny County Jail. There's so many things that need to change… And the fact that we have juveniles in the Allegheny County Jail is so unfathomable.”

“Our country, including our region, incarcerates at a rate that just doesn't have other precedent in the developed world. Locally, we've had problems with healthcare and mental healthcare at the county jail. We've really struggled to figure out how to best deal with youth who are charged with offenses. And the impending reopening of Schuman is going to bring all that to a head where we have a contractor, Adelphoi, that has faced problems and accusations in some markets.”

Pittsburgh elections, public school problems, affordable housing, and challenges for incarceration facilities.

The Biggest Issues Facing Pittsburgh in 2024

Democrat Sara Innamorato won against Republican Joe Rockey to become one of the most powerful officials in Pennsylvania — and both the youngest and the first woman to hold the post.

County Executive controls an annual $3 billion spending budget, has a seat on the county elections board, and has the power to appoint officials to important decision-making roles.

Innamorato previously served as a state representative, vice chair of the Allegheny County Housing Authority, and treasurer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

In an unconventional path to victory, longtime incumbent Stephen Zappala (who has historically been a registered Democrat) won as a Republican in a rematch against Democrat and former public defender Matt Dugan. Zappala has been the DA since 1998, and this will be his seventh term in the county’s top law enforcement position. Zappala calls himself a “law-and-order Democrat” who is tough on crime.

Democrat Corey O’Connor, who has been serving as controller for more than a year, made his role official with a win against Republican Bob Howard. Controller oversees county employees and their pay, ensures compliance with labor laws, and sits on county retirement and investments boards, as well as the Jail Oversight Board.

O’Connor will also have a seat on an advisory board that previously supervised the county’s juvenile detention center, which closed but is 

Democrat Erica Rocchi Brusselars won against Republican Herb Ohliger for the role that is in charge of billions of dollars a year — taking over for outgoing incumbent John Weinstein, who held the role for nearly a quarter-century. Treasurer collects revenue from taxes and spends and invests it on the county’s behalf, as well as manages pension funds for county workers.

How should county council members be paid? Allegheny County residents 

voted “yes” for members to receive a salary

 of $10,939 rather than a per-meeting stipend.

Democrat and Superior Court Judge Dan McCaffery won against Republican Carolyn Carluccio, giving the court a 5-2 Democratic majority. McCaffery fills the seat of Justice Max Baer, a Democrat, who died in 2022. The State Supreme Court is the highest court in the commonwealth and makes decisions that 

While the race doesn’t change the court majority, it is critical because of the upcoming 2024 presidential election and 

Democrats Jill Beck and Timika Lane won against Republicans Maria Battista and Harry Smail for the commonwealth’s intermediate appellate court seats, which can affirm or reverse decisions made in lower courts. Their rulings can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Democrat Matt Wolf won against Republican Megan Martin for a seat that could “shape Pennsylvania’s laws on everything from elections to firearms.” The court usually handles administrative and civil court law, like when a case involves a government agency.

The questions at the end of your ballot asked if state judges should 

, and all of the Superior Court and Common Pleas judges were confirmed for another 10 years.

Sara Innamorato won Allegheny County executive, Stephen Zappala stays District Attorney, and more election results.

Who Won Elections in Allegheny County?

Below is a breakdown of all of the voting guides on important races, sourced from our friends at SpotlightPA, Pittsburgh City Paper, PublicSource, and 90.5 WESA.

💰 Rockey’s campaign received nearly 

🌎 From fracking to the role of big steel, this race will 

 on public safety, incarceration, housing, and more.

 on crime, systemic racism, and the county’s juvenile detention center.

 on jail reform, transparency, and data and accessibility.

 on transparency, the county pension fund, and modernization of departments.

Eileen Lo Cunningham vs. Paul Klein vs. Robert McCune

What is the Supreme Court and why does it matter?

: ethics, philosophy, endorsements, and views on abortion.

Jill Beck, Timika Lane, Maria Battista, Harry Smail

What is the Superior Court and why does it matter?

Get ready to do your civic duty with a breakdown of Allegheny County and state-wide races.

elections

A Pittsburgh Voting Guide for the 2025 Election

Your 2024 Allegheny County Primary Election Guide

Your Voter Registration Checklist for the April Primary

Latest articles

A Pittsburgh Voting Guide for the 2025 Election

Your 2024 Allegheny County Primary Election Guide

Your Voter Registration Checklist for the April Primary

How To Be an Election Poll Worker in Allegheny County

Mayor Ed Gainey’s Hopes and Concerns for Pittsburgh

The Biggest Issues Facing Pittsburgh in 2024

Who Won Elections in Allegheny County?

Latest articles

How To Be an Election Poll Worker in Allegheny County

Mayor Ed Gainey’s Hopes and Concerns for Pittsburgh

The Biggest Issues Facing Pittsburgh in 2024

Who Won Elections in Allegheny County?

A Guide to All of the Voting Guides in Pittsburgh

What To Know Before You Vote Next Week

elections

A Pittsburgh Voting Guide for the 2025 Election

Your 2024 Allegheny County Primary Election Guide

Your Voter Registration Checklist for the April Primary

Latest articles

A Pittsburgh Voting Guide for the 2025 Election

Your 2024 Allegheny County Primary Election Guide

Your Voter Registration Checklist for the April Primary

How To Be an Election Poll Worker in Allegheny County

Mayor Ed Gainey’s Hopes and Concerns for Pittsburgh

The Biggest Issues Facing Pittsburgh in 2024

Who Won Elections in Allegheny County?

Latest articles

How To Be an Election Poll Worker in Allegheny County

Mayor Ed Gainey’s Hopes and Concerns for Pittsburgh

The Biggest Issues Facing Pittsburgh in 2024

Who Won Elections in Allegheny County?

A Guide to All of the Voting Guides in Pittsburgh

​​What To Know Before You Vote Next Week

What To Know Before You Vote Next Week