Gainey to take on Peduto in mayoral primary
Contending he’s the one who can fulfill Pittsburgh’s vision for “a better tomorrow,” state Rep. Ed Gainey announced Tuesday he’ll challenge incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto in this May’s Democratic primary.
Mr. Gainey, the LincolnLemington lawmaker who has served four terms in the state House, said he is running for mayor because he thinks city government “has the power to change lives, uplift communities, and fix what’s broken in our city” — which he deemed divided but united under a common vision for “our families, our children and our neighborhoods.”
“I’m running for Mayor because I know that the working people of Pittsburgh need opportunities for good union jobs with a living wage and benefits, affordable housing, genuine public safety, and a city where we can all belong and contribute,” Mr. Gainey said in a statement. “We can uplift the City of Pittsburgh for everyone if we start with those who have been left behind.”
Raised in East Liberty, Mr. Gainey was a community development specialist for the city before he became the representative for the 24th legislative district, which stretches from Highland Park to Wilkinsburg.
Mr. Gainey won a fifth term in the House in November, running unopposed in the primary and general elections.
Mr. Peduto announced last week he would seek a third term as mayor. He coasted to re-election in 2017, winning 68.9% of the vote in the primary over the Rev. John Welch and former city Councilwoman Darlene Harris.
Retired police Officer Tony Moreno also has declared he’ll run in the primary, which is expected to determine the overall winner of the election.