Voters head to the polls to elect mayoral primary candidates in Pennsylvania’s biggest cities

by John Cole, Pennsylvania Capital-Star
May 19, 2025

Pennsylvania voters head to the polls on Tuesday for the 2025 primary election. 

In the first election since Donald Trump won back the White House, Democratic voters across Pennsylvania are selecting who they want to be their mayoral candidates in several of the state’s biggest cities. 

After suffering significant defeats in 2024, which included losing a U.S. Senate seat, all three statewide row offices and two congressional districts, the primary races may indicate which direction the Democratic Party will be taking over the next few years.

Most of the state’s largest cities have contested primary elections, with the exception of York, an outlier in this cycle, with only one candidate being on the ballot for mayor. Since most of these cities are Democratic strongholds, the winner of the primary election will likely have an easy path to victory in November. (In Pennsylvania’s closed primary system, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their party’s primaries.)  

Here are a few cities where voters will select nominees for mayor on Tuesday. 

Pittsburgh’s primary

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey made history four years ago by defeating incumbent Bill Peduto – becoming the city’s first Black mayor and the first challenger to defeat a sitting mayor since 1933.

Now, he is trying to avoid becoming the second incumbent mayor in a row to lose a re-election bid. 

Gainey faces a strong challenge from Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor in tomorrow’s Democratic primary, which will likely determine the next mayor in the heavily blue city. (Pittsburgh hasn’t had a Republican mayor since 1934).

O’Connor, a former city councilman and the son of former Mayor Bob O’Connor, has out-raised Gainey, received big support from developers and has been endorsed by the city’s trade unions. He has drawn some heat for accepting support from mega-donors to Donald Trump. 

In ads, O’Connor has targeted Gainey over blight and crime. He’s also gone after the police chief’s sudden decision to retire after public controversy because he was working part-time on the side as NCAA basketball referee. 

“Our city needs stable, dedicated leadership, not revolving door appointments or part-time commitments,” O’Connor told WESA last month. “I will ensure we have a chief who is focused on rebuilding trust, strengthening Pittsburgh’s public safety and delivering real results for our community.”

O’Connor did not respond to requests for comment. 

Gainey supporters have shot back that homicides and nonfatal shootings have dropped due to Gainey’s use of more community-based violence prevention programs. Several prominent African-American groups have accused O’Connor and his allies of using “racist tactics” by focusing heavily on crime in his attacks against the Black mayor. The city is about 22% Black.

They’ve also sparred over development, with O’Connor saying Gainey has slowed housing growth in the city. O’Connor disagrees with Gainey’s push for citywide “inclusionary zoning,” which creates affordable housing requirements for developments in the city, in favor of a more neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach.

Noting developers have supported O’Connor by a margin of 4-to-1, Gainey said attacks on his zoning initiatives are yet another sign that O’Connor is the candidate of the developers. 

“For decades, the rich and developers have ruled things in this city and now with Corey O’Connor, they want to take back that power because I am trying to help poor people,” Gainey told the Capital-Star. 

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has also played a role in the race. In August, Gainey’s communication director, Maria Montaño, resigned after blowback stemming from her signature on a petition calling on the city to avoid firms with ties to Israel. 

Gainey also apologized for “mistakes” in a statement he signed onto on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that was criticized as “victim blaming” by the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh. 

“We have asked time and time again for (Gainey) to be our ally and to stand up for us — and unfortunately, we have been met with great disappointment,” Jeremy Kazzaz, executive director of the local Beacon Coalition, a pro-Israel Jewish advocacy group, told Jewish Insider earlier this year. 

Allentown

Voters in the state’s third largest city will also cast their ballots to determine if their incumbent mayor will serve a second term. 

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and Allentown City Councilmember Ed Zucal are both vying for the Democratic Party nomination. 

Tuerk, seeking a second term, made history in 2021 when he became the first Latino mayor in the city’s history. He writes on his campaign website that he “will continue to bring a fresh voice to City Hall, maintaining a focus on the power of partnerships and building coalitions, not tearing it down and trying to build it back up.”

“Our government will continue to be run effectively and efficiently, serving all of Allentown’s residents and reflecting the incredible diversity of the city,” the site says. 

Zucal, a two-term city council member, says on his campaign website that he’s “tired of seeing our residents get ignored.” 

“It’s time to get back to basics, put residents first, and deliver results for the people of Allentown,” he said. 

Tuerk has a fundraising advantage over Zucal, according to Armchair Lehigh Valley. The incumbent has raised $50,970 from January through May 5, while Zucal raised $21,279 in that same time period. Tuerk’s campaign had $32,981 on hand at the end of the filing period on April 30, while Zucal’s campaign had $31,022.

In 2021, Tuerk, a longtime economic development official, unseated incumbent Mayor Ray O’Connell in the Democratic Party primary by a narrow margin in the six-candidate race for the nomination. He cruised to victory in the general election over Republican Tim Ramos.

Depending on Tuesday’s outcome, it may not be the only time Tuerk and Zucal face off this year. No Republicans have filed to run for mayor, although Zucal is also actively seeking Republican write-in votes, which may pit the two candidates against each other in the general election.

Erie

Erie Mayor Joe Schember, who is seeking a third and final term, is facing two challengers in the Democratic primary.

“Despite the pandemic, despite the societal issues, and despite the financial challenges facing the city, my administration has made significant progress in positioning Erie for a more prosperous future,” Schember writes on his campaign website. “I remain committed to my mission: build opportunity, restore hope, transform Erie. In my first six-plus years, I have remained open, honest, transparent, and accessible, and that will continue as long as I am mayor.”

Daria Devlin, an Erie School Board member, and Sheila Woeger, a retired teacher, are also both hoping to lead the northwest Pennsylvania city. 

Devlin said in a campaign video that it’s “time for change” in Erie.  

“For too long, we’ve been sleeping on our potential as a city, and the time to act is now,” Devlin said. “Working families can’t wait four more years to find affordable housing. Can’t wait for jobs to come back. Can’t wait for the safe streets our kids deserve.”

Woeger told Erie News-Now that her top priority is to “look at the books and go over the budget line-by-line to see how the money is being spent and that it’s going to the appropriate places,” adding she also wants to meet with city employees one-on-one to see what Erie can do better.

According to Erie News-Now, the race is believed to be the first time two mayoral candidates in Erie have raised more than $200,000. Schember raised $203,841 from Jan. 1 to May 5, while Devlin’s campaign has raised $217,840 since launching her candidacy last year.

The Erie County Democratic Party endorsed Devlin over Schember and Woeger.

During his successful 2021 campaign, Schember cruised to victory over Democratic challengers Tom Spagel and Sydney Zimmerman. In 2017, he was first elected to the office after winning a crowded seven candidate race for the Democratic Party nomination. 

The Erie-Times News notes that the winner of the Democratic Party primary will be a “huge favorite” given the party’s registration advantage and that no Republican has been elected mayor since 1961. 

The winner of the Democratic primary will likely face Republican Matthew Thomas, an attorney and sole GOP candidate, in the general election. 

Scranton

The race to lead the Electric City includes several candidates, although just two are featured in the Democratic Party primary: incumbent Mayor Paige Cognetti and Robert Sheridan, a former Scranton School Board member. 

Cognetti is seeking her second full term in office. She was first elected to the office as an independent in 2019 in a seven-candidate special election to fill the seat previously held by Mayor Bill Courtwright, who was sentenced to prison on public corruption charges.

She ran as a Democrat in 2021 and coasted to victory in the primary election over Scranton City Controller John Murray. Cognetti went on to defeat Republican Darwin Lee Shaw II in the general election. 

Prior to winning a school board seat in 2009, Sheridan ran for multiple offices in the past, including the Republican nomination for mayor in 2001, although he lost in the primary election. Sheridan is also the Scranton Democratic Party chairman.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a lifelong Scranton resident, has backed Cognetti’s campaign.

Patricia Beynon, an accounting executive, and Lynn Labrosky, a business owner, are vying for the Republican Party nomination, while Scranton Councilman Gene Barrett is running as an independent.

Bethlehem

William Reynolds, seeking a second term in office, is going up against city Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith in the Democratic Party mayoral primary. 

According to Armchair Lehigh Valley, the incumbent has the fundraising edge. Reynolds had $123,379 in total funds from Feb. 1 to May 5, while Crampsie Smith’s campaign had $73,945. Armchair Lehigh Valley has also reported the two “have often clashed on city issues, especially when it comes to creating more affordable housing.”

In 2021, Reynolds, then a Bethlehem City Councilman, won the Democratic party nomination for mayor over former city administrative employee Dana Grubb and later won the general election. In that same year, Crampsie Smith was the top vote getter for the four open seats on Bethlehem City Council, per Armchair Lehigh Valley.

No Republicans have filed for the race, meaning the winner of the Democratic Party primary will likely be elected to the office for the next four years. 

Lancaster

The race for mayor of Lancaster is one of the contests that is an open race after Mayor Danene Sorace announced in July 2024 that she would not seek a third term. 

City Council Vice President Jaime Arroyo and Councilwoman Janet Diaz are seeking the Democratic Party nod, while no Republican challengers have filed for the race.

Arroyo has been endorsed by the Lancaster City Democratic Committee, the Pennsylvania Working Families Party, and Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC, and several local elected officials, including Sorace. Diaz’s campaign website lists endorsements from two Philadelphia City Council members, plus an attorney and a cardiologist in Lancaster.

Harrisburg

The state’s capital also features an incumbent Democrat running for a second term. Wanda Williams, then Harrisburg City Council president, won the Democratic Party nomination in 2021 over incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

On Tuesday, Williams is facing Harrisburg’s City Treasurer Dan Miller, Harrisburg City Councilman Lamont Jones and community activists Lewis Butts Jr. and Tone Cook Jr. 

PennLive reports that Miller is significantly outraising and outspending the rest of the field. 

There are no Republican candidates that have filed for the primary election. 

What about Philly?

Cherelle Parker made history in 2023 when she was elected to become Philadelphia’s 100th mayor and the first woman to hold the position. Although Parker isn’t up for reelection until 2027, the state’s largest city will be voting on a few citywide races on Tuesday, including district attorney.

Democratic primary voters will decide between incumbent Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and former Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan.

Krasner is seeking a third term and has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, Our Revolution, a progressive political organization, U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-2nd District), and several other Philadelphia lawmakers aligned with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. 

Dugan, who is more moderate, has been largely backed by influential building trades labor unions, as well as multiple elected officials, mostly representing Northeast Philadelphia.

For the second election in a row, the Philadelphia Democratic Party decided to not issue an endorsement in the district attorney race, which the Philadelphia Inquirer described as a “snub” for Krasner. Instead, the party is leaving it up to the individual ward leaders to determine who they want to support in their respective wards. 

Both candidates have raised more than most of the mayoral primary candidates across the state, although Dugan has outpaced Krasner since he declared his candidacy. WHYY reports that between November 2024 and May 2025, Dugan raised about $900,700, while Krasner’s campaign raised more than $499,900 during the same time period.

In 2021, Krasner coasted in the Democratic primary, securing a roughly 30 point victory over challenger Carlos Vega. He won by more than 40 points in the general election over Republican candidate Chuck Peruto, to formally secure a second term. 

Running as the progressive outsider, Krasner was first elected in 2017 after winning a seven candidate primary and later defeating Republican Beth Grossman in the general election.

No Republican candidates have filed to run for district attorney. 

While Tuesday’s primary election will likely be decisive, Republicans have started a write-in campaign to nominate Dugan for the general election despite his commitment to not run as a Republican.

Freelance writer Mike Elk contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.

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