Peduto to face 3 challengers in Pittsburgh mayoral race, Will Parker out

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will likely face a challenge from three other Democratic candidates in his bid for a third and final term as leader of the city.

Peduto, along with a slew of other candidates seeking municipal, school board, judicial and Allegheny County council seats, filed nominating petitions Tuesday to be considered for the May 18 Primary Election ballot.

Peduto filed 2,021 signatures with representation from all 90 Pittsburgh neighborhoods, his campaign manager Schuyler Sheaffer said.

“Collecting 2,021 signatures is a demonstration of the broad support that he has in making Pittsburgh a more equitable, sustainable and livable place for everyone,” Sheaffer said.

To file a petition for mayor, 250 signatures are required. The petitions can be challenged through Tuesday and candidates can withdraw from a race through March 24.

Peduto, 56, of Point Breeze is facing challenges from Ed Gainey, 51, of Lincoln Lemington, Tony Moreno, 51, of Brighton Heights and Michael Thompson, 38, of Oakland.

Gainey, a a five-term state representative, is endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. He turned in more than 6,000 signatures on his nominating petition, according to his campaign.

Moreno is a retired Pittsburgh police officer who has run a populist campaign touting himself as an outsider to city politics.

They were joined at the petition filing deadline by Thompson, 38, of South Oakland.

Thompson is a math tutor at Butler County Community College who also drives for ride-hailing services. He touted his Brown University education and said he’s running a “grassroots” campaign and would bring fresh ideas to city government.

Another mayoral candidate, Will Parker, 41, hadn’t actively campaigned and didn’t file a nominating petition.

Two Pittsburgh City Council members also face primary challenges: Theresa Kail-Smith, the incumbent council president, is being challenged by Jacob Williamson of Crafton Heights, for the District 2 seat and Anthony Coghill, the District 4 incumbent, is being challenged by Bethani Cameron of Overbrook.

Incumbents R. Daniel Lavelle (District 6) and Erika Strassburger (District 8) are unopposed.

No Republicans filed petitions in city races, something that isn’t unusual as a GOP mayor hasn’t led the city since the 1930s.

There are also contested school board, county council and judicial races in the primary. For the full list of the candidates who filed nominating petitions, click here, then click on the “2021 Primary Election Candidates” link.