The Allegheny County Democratic Committee, whose members serve as the party's front-line troops come election time, picked their favorites in a number of races — but not Congress — at a South Side union hall on Sunday.
Among the winners was 38th state Senate candidate Lindsey Williams, a staff attorney with the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.
Ms. Williams is vying for a shot at a north-of-Pittsburgh seat currently held by Republican Randy Vulakovich. She’s been on a roll lately, having recently earned the backing of local labor leaders, the LGBT advocacy group Steel City Stonewall Democrats, and one of her two opponents, Michelle Boyle. To do so "all within one week shows there is tremendous support and momentum behind my campaign," she said in a statement.
But her remaining opponent, Stephanie Walsh of Highland Park, remained unbowed. In a statement of her own, she said she would head to Harrisburg to file her completed election petitions. "I look forward to talking to voters across the district to hear their concerns and share my ideas on how wee can work together to solve our challenges."
The ACDC endorsement is not binding on voters, who have been known to ignore its recommendations. But having the committee's endorsement gives a candidate bragging rights, not to mention an appearance on "slate cards" distributed by the party prior to voting. That can be especially useful in races that haven't attracted as much interest.
The committee did not issue endorsements for Congressional races, and it is unclear when it will do so, because of confusion resulting from a new map of Congressional districts imposed by the state Supreme Court. Republicans are currently challenging those maps in federal court, making the situation uncertain.
Party leaders previously told the Post-Gazette that candidates had until this past Friday to indicate their interest in running in either District 17 or 18 — the two districts overlaying Allegheny County in the new map. The plan was to hold a separate endorsement later. But leaders later changed their mind about the timetable, citing the ongoing uncertainty about which district candidates may ultimately end up running in.
That left a slew of state legislative seats, and party leaders did make choices in some contested races.
In another open primary, committee members backed Rueben Brock over Byron Timmons in the 46th District, a seat currently held by Republican Jason Ortitay. Mr. Brock briefly ran for the Democratic nod in the 18th Congressional District special election, and party figures say he impressed them even though they chose Conor Lamb as their champion in the 18th instead.
The party also backed Jacob Pavlecic over Kareem Kandil and Betsy Monroe in a race for the North Hills 30th District seat currently held by Republican Hal English.
But as with a round of endorsements by area labor leaders on Friday, the Democratic Committee largely stuck with incumbents in contested races. State Representatives Dom and Paul Costa, for example, each secured the endorsement in the face of challenges by Sara Innamorato and Summer Lee, who are each endorsed by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Chris Potter: cpotter@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2533.
First Published: March 5, 2018, 5:42 p.m.