Ed Gainey won the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee in his challenge to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, becoming the first Black Pittsburgh mayoral candidate to earn the party’s endorsement.

Peduto didn’t compete for the committee’s formal support, which was announced after a meeting Sunday.

Gainey, 51, a five-term state representative from Lincoln Lemington, held off a challenge from retired Pittsburgh police officer Tony Moreno, 51, of Brighton Heights. The vote was 326-224 in favor of Gainey, said Eileen Kelly, the committee’s chairwoman.

They’re the two main Democratic challengers to Peduto, 56, of Point Breeze, who is seeking a third term as mayor. If he wins it will be his last term, Peduto has said.

No Republican candidates have come forward and the city hasn’t had a GOP mayor since John S. Herron in the 1930s.

“I’ve spent the past six weeks talking to committee members in every corner of our city about their priorities for our city, and it’s clear from today’s result that we share a common vision for a brighter, more prosperous future for all Pittsburghers,” Gainey said in a statement released by his campaign.

Moreno, who has campaigned as a political outsider, saw things differently.

He questioned the mail-in ballot process and the way in-person votes were also accepted Sunday at the Steamfitters Local 449 hall in Duquesne Heights, saying it was “interesting” the way the vote totals changed to tip the vote to Gainey.

Moreno called his showing “strong” among committee members in the southern hilltop neighborhoods.

“I’m the people’s candidate on the street,” Moreno said.

Gainey and Peduto represent the party’s establishment, Moreno said.

Peduto sat out the endorsement because of a dispute with the committee’s process last year when a state House candidate who made posts supporting former President Donald Trump was endorsed.

In the days before the endorsement vote, Moreno came under fire because of old social media posts that supported Trump, which he said he made to stir political fires. Before he announced his candidacy in September 2019, Moreno had briefly been a registered Republican.

Kelly said she was happy committee members came together to put out a balanced ticket that includes women and Black candidates.

“It’s a perfect ticket. It’s a very diverse ticket,” Kelly said.

Peduto has the support of a bevy of incumbent Democratic leaders, including Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and state Senate Democratic leader Jay Costa.

On Friday, Peduto also earned the endorsement of the Allegheny Fayette Central Labor Council, the umbrella union organization of the region.

Thank you, @AlleghenyLabor! We are proud to have this endorsement. We will always stand with the people of labor, and are looking forward on continuing our work together to build a better Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/6qnSSziqdi

— Peduto for Pittsburgh (@PeopleForPeduto) March 7, 2021

In a statement released by his campaign, Peduto said the Democratic committee’s endorsement vote went “as expected” in choosing Gainey over Moreno.

The Labor Council’s endorsement is “recognition of the work that we have done for fair wages and contracts, paid sick days and raising the minimum wage to $15/hr for city workers,” Peduto said.

Will Parker, 41, a businessman from the North Side, is also seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. Parker has not run an active campaign.

The Primary election is May 18.

Endorsements

The candidates receiving the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee are as follows:

Pittsburgh Mayor

Ed Gainey

Pittsburgh City Council

District 2

Theresa Kail-Smith

District 4

Anthony Coghill

District 8

Erika Strassburger

Pittsburgh School Board

District 1

Sylvia Wilson

District 5

Terry Kennedy

District 9

Veronica Edwards

Allegheny County Sheriff

Kevin Kraus

County Council

District 1

Jack Betkowski

District 3

Anita Prizio

District 4

Patrick J. Catena

District 8

Paul Zavarella

District 9

Bob Macey

District 12

Bob Palmosina

Court of Common Pleas

Elliot Howsie

Sabrina Korbel

Chelsa Wagner

William (Bill) Caye

Tom Caulfield

Jessel Costa

Bruce Beemer

Wrenna Watson

Patrick Sweeney

Magisterial District Judges

Magistrate District 05-2-04

Matthew Rudzki

Magistrate District 5-2-19

Lisa Borrelli Dorn

Magistrate District 5-3-13

Nick Martini

Magistrate District 5-2-40

Jehosa Wright

Magistrate District 5-2-42

Mark Scorpion

Magistrate District 5-3-10

Tony Ceoffe

Magistrate District 5-3-12

Kevin Cooper

Magistrate District 5-2-06

Anthony L. DeLuca

Magistrate District 5-2-18

Ralph Kaiser

Magistrate District 5-3-09

Armand A. Martin

Magistrate District 5-2-38

Jim Motznik

Magistrate District 5-2-02

Richard Opiela

Magistrate District 5-2-11

Roxanne Sakoian Eichler

Magistrate District 5-2-47

Scott H. Schricker

Magistrate District 5-2-22

Craig Stephens

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