Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor will announce next week that he is running for mayor of Pittsburgh, looking to unseat Mayor Ed Gainey after his first term.
“I’m really excited,” O’Connor told TribLive on Friday. “I took the holiday to talk the decision out with family and friends, and we have an announcement coming Tuesday. I look forward to talking to not only media, but the residents of Pittsburgh about the future.”
O’Connor, 40, of Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood, will face Gainey in the Democratic primary.
Flyers from the Corey O’Connor for Mayor campaign indicate he will formally make the announcement Tuesday. Public events are scheduled at The Bulldog Pub in Morningside and Cafe 412 in West End.
O’Connor previously served as a Pittsburgh city councilman from 2012 until he was named controller in 2022.
He was sworn in as Allegheny County Controller in July 2022 after being nominated for the post by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and unanimously approved by the Pennsylvania Senate. He replaced former Controller Chelsa Wagner who was elected as an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge.
O’Connor was elected to his first full term in November 2023.
He also serves on Allegheny County’s Retirement Board, Investment Board, Depository Board and Jail Oversight Board.
His father, Bob O’Connor, was the city’s 58th mayor. He died of brain cancer on Sept. 1, 2006 after falling ill shortly after taking office.
Gainey has already announced plans to run for reelection.
