More than a million ballots have already been cast and millions more are on their way as Pennsylvania voters render their verdicts in races that will set the course for the state and nation for years to come. Some polling places in the region were reporting strong turnout through the afternoon on this crisp, clear autumn day.
Voters have from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to weigh in on a U.S. Senate race between Republican Mehmet Oz and Democrat John Fetterman, and choose between Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican Doug Mastriano for governor.
At stake are the right to an abortion in Pennsylvania and, possibly, nationwide; the state’s and country’s role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions; and who will oversee the conduct of the 2024 election in a key swing state that’s been the target of baseless conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud.
A laugh among neighbors
7:30
A group of women gathered in the parking lot of the Pleasant Hills Community Church. They were neighbors who had accidentally passed each other after casting their ballots. Their high-pitched laughter was a way of releasing stress when they discovered they were all Democrats.
"I don't have to hate you now," said one woman, apparently in jest, eliciting a peal of laughter. She wouldn't give her name to a reporter, but insisted that the issues of the day for her were the economy and the Supreme Court, specifically abortion.
The women squealed in approval and high-fived a neighbor whose unexpected outspokenness had just elevated their relationship to a friendship.
Closer to the door, exiting Republicans said they hoped their votes for Doug Mastriano and Mehmet Oz would strengthen the economy, bring jobs to Pennsylvania and reverse what they called the "weakness" of the Biden administration.
Elsewhere, at dusk, the last parking space outside the voting precinct at the Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Department in Elizabeth Township was still filled. A Republican passing out Andrew Kuzma cards said voting had been steady throughout the day, and this was the first time the line snaked out of the fire hall onto the sidewalk.
Earlier, he said, a poll worker scooted him farther from the door, apparently after getting a complaint from a voter in this working class Democratic township on the bank of the Youghiogheny River.
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Voting smooth and steady in Upper St. Clair
6:30 p.m.
A drove of Republican voters came out to Boyce Middle School in Upper St. Clair late afternoon on Tuesday, although not all of them were voting straight GOP. Many said there was no wait to vote and that the process went smoothly.
Republican voters and poll greeters interviewed at Boyce Middle School and Fort Couch Middle School reiterated that the economy, inflation and safety were their main concerns, while Democratic voters centered on reproductive rights as their top concern.
Jill King, a representative of the Upper St. Clair Democrats, said she spoke to four couples in less than an hour who said they were registered Republicans who voted Democrat this election.
Sam Bertenthal, 64, of Upper St. Clair was one of Fort Couch Middle’s election judges. He mentioned a few comments he’d heard throughout the day about security concerns of the electronic scanners, but that he was able to provide reassurance. Another Upper St. Clair poll worker said the few security fears raised were easily assuaged.
This was Mr. Bertenthal’s third year as a poll worker.
“It’s been fun to get to meet people in my community and demonstrate to people that we just want as many people to vote as possible,” he said. “We don’t let voters know our opinions.”
Mr. Bertenthal also said he has seen more young people moving to Upper St. Clair, and that there has been a demographic shift. Polina and Gabby, both 23, also think the turnout among young voters is changing.
“I think everyone I know voted,” Polina. She is close friends with Josh Shapiro’s daughter.
However the votes sway, people feel strongly this election, and it’s bringing them to the polls. Kurt Salvador, 64, of Upper St. Clair, said he feels more strongly about his views than in past elections. Mr. Bertenthal said Fort Couch Middle usually gets just under 200 voters by around 5 p.m. By that time on Tuesday, they had processed 340 voters.
“People are definitely fired up about politics because of the contentiousness of this race,” he said.
“It’s a critical election,” said one anonymous voter at Boyce Middle School. “We’re only two votes,” he said, referring to himself and his wife, “but if one vote can make a difference, I want to be a part of it.”
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Deluzio casts ballot in Aspinwall
4:31 p.m.
Chris Deluzio, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, cast his ballot about 3:45 p.m. at St. Scholastica church in Aspinwall.
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Partisan concerns
4:15 p.m.
Voter turnout was high at the Center Township, Beaver County, fire department, where a couple who declined to be named for fear of being judged as partisan — both are small business owners — stopped to chat with a reporter.
"You're afraid to even say you're a Republican," the woman said.
Although the president was not on the ballot on Tuesday, he was top of mind for these voters, who blamed Joe Biden for high gas prices, crime and a loose immigration policy.
All politicians are crooks, they said, but "am I going to be here with safe crooks? Are they going to keep us safe?" the woman said.
"The Russians would never have gone into Ukraine if (Donald) Trump was president," her husband said. He hopes to have a chance to vote for him again.
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Not your typical midterm election
3:40 p.m.
In Ingram, poll workers estimated voter turnout by mid-afternoon Tuesday was running about double that of a typical midterm Election Day. About 20 people had lined up outside when the borough polling place on West Prospect Avenue opened at 7 a.m., said Mark Waitlevertch, judge of elections in the borough's District 1.
That queue is more typical of a presidential election year, he said. Mr. Waitlevertch reported steady foot traffic since then, with poll workers seeing few glitches.
"I get the sense that a lot of people are engaged and interested regardless of which side they're on," he said.
About 3,400 people live in Ingram, nestled among Crafton and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Fairywood and Crafton Heights. Poll workers estimated about 500 to 600 people in the borough had voted by about 2:45 p.m.
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Few problems in Allegheny County
3:40 p.m.
There have been very few reports of problems from the in-person polling places in Allegheny County this afternoon, county spokeswoman Amie Downs reported. A scanner was replaced at a poll in Hampton, and some calls were made to polling places where politicking was reported.
The Elections Court has issued a cease and desist order to a group calling themselves “The Commission Security” who were going to polling places earlier today indicating they were poll security. Sheriff’s deputies took the order to serve the individuals, but they could not be found, she said.
At the warehouse, employees continue to extract ballots from the secrecy envelopes and are flattening those ballots for scanning. Over 130,000 ballots have been scanned as of mid-afternoon.
This morning’s mail is being processed. It included one ballot without signature and two that were incorrectly dated. Those have been set aside and will not be counted. So far Tuesday, 60 voters have come into the Elections Division to cure their undated or incorrectly dated ballots.
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In Mt. Lebanon, strong turnout — and some crossing party lines
3:30 p.m.
Voters came out from across the political spectrum in Mt. Lebanon on Tuesday. A group of registered Republicans camped out outside Lincoln Elementary School to provide information on Republican candidates like Pat Tylka, running for state representative, and Jeremy Shaffer, running for the U.S. House.
Katherine, 58, from Mt. Lebanon, said that a patriotic love for her country and “keeping the country from devolving into Communism” were the main reasons she wanted to help.
“I think people appreciate that there are people out here for the Republicans,” she said.
Susan, 53, from Sunset Hills, said there had been a good turnout and a lot of smiles at the elementary school. The economy, energy independence and border security informed her vote in this election. Both her and Katherine said they were angry about how things in the country were going and motivated to push for change.
“I’m not going to call anyone names, either,” Katherine said. “That’s just not us.”
Stacey Shaffer, candidate Jeremy Shaffer’s wife, was also outside the school ready to provide information to curious and interested voters.
“We’re all in this vote together, so we’ve got to work together,” she said.
Other registered Republicans cited the economy and inflation as main drivers of their vote. Some crossed party lines and voted for a variety of candidates. An 80-year-old voter, who has been a longtime registered Republican, voted for all Democrats this election.
Rich, 73, who voted at Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, was also a registered Republican who flipped his ballot on a few candidates.
“I did what I thought would be best for our state,” he said.
Another voter at the rec center said polarization made it difficult for some to choose who to vote for.
“I’d like to see more moderates,” she said. She is a registered Democrat whose main concern was abortion and woman’s right to choose.
Democrats across the board at polling stations seemed concerned with the maintenance of reproductive rights and the preservation of the democratic process. Dan Givens, 37, hoped for the conservation of democratic health and worried about candidates trying to undermine elections. Mr. Givens brought his 9-year-old son Josh, who has Down syndrome, along. Josh said he was doing “perfect” and excited to vote one day.
“A lot of conservative policies would undermine the rights and opportunities afforded to kids with special needs,” said Mr. Givens. “And it’s under the guise of parental choice.” Josh is the oldest of four siblings, and Mr. Givens said educating children about voting and democracy was important.
Majority inspectors, poll workers and judges at both Mt. Lebanon Rec Center and Lincoln Elementary said voter turnout had remained high throughout the day, with a consistent stream of voters even into lunchtime and afternoon hours. Linda Binek, 73, is the Democratic Ward 1 chair and said she felt good about how things were going.
“We even have people calling people to see if they need rides to the polls,” Ms. Binek said. Poll workers at both locations projected at least an 80% turnout for the town of Mt. Lebanon. Two separate poll workers said the 2018 midterm turnout was 67%, and many agreed that this year’s numbers were much higher than past election years.
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Steady stream of voters in Penn Hills
3:20 p.m.
Minority clerk Mary Brown had praise for today's turnout at the Penn Hills Municipal Building.
"It's good. It's steady, and I had a lot of first-time voters. Young voters, too," she said.
Voters had a mix of issues on their minds.
"I'm heavy with the union," said Corey Page, 33, of Penn Hills, a carpenter. "You got to vote your job first."
He said he was supporting Josh Shapiro and John Fetterman, even though the latter "kind of lost me with the last debate."
An elderly woman with a cane said the economy and inflation were key issues for her.
" I know that I'm going to vote for Shapiro for governor, that's all," she said.
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Motivated by SCOTUS ruling
2:45 p.m.
Today is the third time that Kelly Hickey, of Daugherty Township in Beaver County, has worn the T-shirt she bought on Amazon that says "My body my choice."
The first time was during a women's march in Washington, Pa., after the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion protections under Roe vs. Wade. The second was another march in Franklin, Pa., where she was accompanied by her "conservative, Trumping boyfriend" who held a sign that read: "I'm with her."
On Tuesday, Ms. Hickey pulled the shirt on again and went to pick up her son, Johnny Hickey, 19, who is voting for the first time today.
She brought a small wireless speaker to play music in the parking lot in front of the voting place. Her selection: Helen Reddy's feminist anthem "I Am Woman." Her son's is "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister.
Ms. Hickey said she was taught not to ask anyone who they vote for, which she adheres to.
"My parents never told each other how they voted," she said.
And Ms. Hickey won't ask her boyfriend, either, but given that he has daughters, she's pretty sure she knows the issue that would sway his vote.
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Quiet in Homewood
2:30 p.m.
Turnout at the Homewood-Brushton YWCA and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Homewood appeared light in the afternoon. Most of the few voters at these polls declined to comment about anything.
One woman at the library wearing medical scrubs on her way to work said, "Abortion's one of them," when asked what issues were on her mind this election.
A man who voted at the Homewood-Brushton YWCA said his goal was that "the Republicans don't rule the House," but declined to elaborate.
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Concern over a rigged election
12:57 p.m.
At the Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company in Jefferson Hills around 12:30 p.m., there were no long lines.
A Republican supporter who declined to give his name passed out literature. The big issue, he said, was whether the election would be rigged.
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‘You have to do your civic duty’
12:48 p.m.
Outside the Bon Meade Elementary School in Moon, a sign directed voters to the right, and parents arriving for teacher conferences to the left. The right side was decidedly busier.
"It's more like a presidential election," said George Kniss, a poll worker who has been doing this for 30 years, so he has a good sense of voter turnout.
A "good turnout" for a midterm election he said is around 43%. A presidential election might be some 20% to 25% higher. That's what the long line this morning and the steady stream of voters since then points to, Mr. Kniss said.
Even at that higher threshold, the number of voters who don't show up bothers him.
When people react to the Vietnam Veterans hat he wears -- when they thank him for his service -- he urges them to honor his contribution by voting.
"You have to do your civic duty," he tells them.
James and Georgia Evans of Moon said they are dutiful voters.
"We vote for everything," Ms. Evans said.
They're particularly concerned about the Senate race during this cycle.
"We don't like the direction" that things are going, Mr Evans said ticking off a list of issues that concern him: "inflation, crime, border."
So they've been watching the race closely, talking about the election with friends and relatives, most of them like-minded, but not all.
Even though she predicted that vote counts might drag on for a few days, Ms. Evans said she would nevertheless be plastered to the TV this evening to track the results that come in.
"Won't be much else on anyway," her husband said.
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Scramble in Downtown
12:24 p.m.
Lunchtime voters left their cars at the curb on Ross Street, Downtown, as they scrambled to cast their votes within their lunch breaks.
"It's about the same" turnout as in other modern elections, said Tim Auge, 61, a foreman with the Allegheny County Public Works. He was helping cars pull into the allotted right lane to temporarily park with their hazard lights flashing while they dropped off their ballots with the county. "It's steady."
Voters included college students like Mia Scrabis, 22, at the University of Pittsburgh. "Definitely women's rights, reproductive rights" were her chief concern, she said.
Sky Wolff, 19, at Point Park University and Sean Kirby, 27, of Wexford had similar opinions.
Other voters cited other issues.
"Basically, I just don't want Republicans to win, I hate to say it," said Stephanie Boone, 41, of Wilkinsburg. Ms. Boone also wanted to oppose Wilkinsburg becoming part of Pittsburgh. "I rent, not own, so annexation is more expensive to me," she said, referring to how home renters were likely to pay higher taxes if Wilkinsburg joined Pittsburgh.
"It's just scary that they [Republicans] are trying to make it so things cannot be voted on fairly," said Audrey Portis, 57, of Monroeville.
Mitchell Baer, 34, of Scott, said he was "just doing my duty" in voting. He favored Mehmet Oz for Senate.
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Big Beaver jam resolved
12:21 p.m.
A jam in the only scanner at the polling location inside the Big Beaver Borough Volunteer Fire Company was resolved within a half hour before noon, said Ray Campbell, judge of elections there.
Mr. Campbell offered voters to leave their ballots to be scanned once the machine was repaired, but most stayed and did it themselves when the jam was resolved.
The problem might have been that the ballots were curling up at the bottom, he said, so Mr. Campbell is now advising voters to scan them upside down.
So far, the new method is working, he said.
A line of a few dozen voters had cleared by noon.
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Reports of politicking
11:39 a.m.
Allegheny County has received a few reports of persons politicking. One was inside a polling place and a polling place coordinator was dispatched to address, county spokeswoman Amie Downs reported. A second report was of persons politicking outside a polling place, stopping the voter to ask their name and address. "They are not blocking the entrance and are more than 10 feet away from the polling place. This is allowed, but voters do not need to stop or interact with the person," she said.
In addition, at 10:30 a.m. several flats of ballots were delivered that had been returned by voters through the ballot return Monday night and Tuesday morning. There are approximately 1,350-1,400 ballots in those flats. They will be entered into the SURE system as having been returned and then will start through the review process.
At the county's ballot tabulation warehouse, all declaration envelopes had been opened by 10 a.m. Ballots continue to work through the process, but a test deck of ballots was run at 10:30 and scanning of mail-in and absentee ballots began at 10:50.
At 11 a.m., there were eight authorized representatives in the warehouse. One representing the Republican Committee and the others from the campaigns of lieutenant governor candidate Austin Davis; U.S. senatorial candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz; gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano; state Rep. Emily Kinkead and her opponent Matt Kruth; and congressional candidate Jeremy Shaffer.
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‘They keep coming’
10:37 a.m.
Volunteers and poll workers at Shadyside's Calvary Episcopal Church were impressed with voter turnout on Tuesday. Two volunteers supporting the Democratic 12th District congressional candidate, Summer Lee, arrived at around 7:15 a.m. and said a line extended down the church’s entrance ramp.
“We’ve seen a very steady stream of people,” said Irene Clark, 60, a volunteer for the Shadyside Dems, who offered information about the Democratic candidates on the ballot to voters entering the church. Ms. Clark said the polls were much more active than she had anticipated. “It’s been really terrific,” she said. “I keep thinking this is going to be the lull, and then they keep coming.”
Voters at Calvary Episcopal felt cautiously optimistic about the election and were emboldened by the hope of preserving the right to vote. A Shadyside voter who asked to remain anonymous said he was a lifelong Republican who believed in the right to vote based on a person rather than by party lines. “I voted straight Democratic this election,” he said. Others said they were brought to the polls to save democracy and preserve individual rights.
Another anonymous voter, who brought her eight-year-old son along, was worried about Doug Mastriano, antisemitism and candidates “who aren’t doing or saying the right thing.”
“I am feeling concerned, but I’m trying to be optimistic,” she said. She has voted in every election since she was 18, even when she lived out of the country. “You can’t take this for granted,” she said.
Erin, 40, a voter who lives in Shadyside, came out to protect reproductive rights and said she was going to be more active in midterm and local elections going forward. Lydia, 27, also came concerned about abortion.
Poll workers were in high spirits at the church and were impressed by turnout. Eugina Bazier, 52, of East Pittsburgh, had come out into the cold for a quick smoke break. This is her first time as a poll worker and said she loved talking to people and seeing different faces come into the church. “This is the first time I’ve been hands-on,” said Ms. Bazier. “It didn’t bother me before until Roe v. Wade was overturned. I think a person should decide what they do with their body,” she said. “I want to make sure enough people vote and the right people get voted into office.”
Ms. Bazier said by 9:30 a.m., the church had already seen around 300 voters with no signs of a lull. “Everything is falling right into place,” she said.
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Deluzio hits Ben Avon
10:22 a.m.
Chris Deluzio, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in District 17, brought a brief flurry of excitement to the Ben Avon Firehouse when he dropped by with a sizable entourage around 9:30 a.m.
The crowd snapped a photo with Chris Cieslak, the chair of the Democratic committee in the borough, and got on its way to the next polling place. Mr. Deluzio said he's already hit a few polling places since starting this morning at 7.
More than 200 voters had already made their choice at the polling place by the time he left, taking the young and cheerful sign holders with him.
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‘I’m a pro-life guy’
10:20 a.m.
Poll workers reported high turnout for the morning hours at Pivik Elementary School in Plum.
"I would say definitely higher than usual for this time of day," said Anne Romanko, judge of elections.
Outside, Joe Delo, 84, campaigned against abortion, greeting voters by name. The son of a coal miner, he said this election was the first time he voted for no Democrats
"I'm a pro-life guy, as you can see, " he said. "When Democrats get in charge, they give everything away."
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Lines in Cranberry, Robinson
10:05 a.m.
At Good Hope Lutheran Church on Rowan Road in Cranberry, the line started before 7 a.m. and there was still a line of at least 50 people at 9:30.
At the Propel School on Route 60 in Robinson, 11 people were in line just before 10 a.m.
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Doyle in his Plum precinct
9:30 a.m.
At Plum Senior High School, some voters said they favored a straight Republican ticket.
"My values just align" with Republicans, said Madison Kokales, 26, of Plum, holding one of her two children.
People said economic issues weighed heavily in their decision.
Shad Henderson, 43, of Plum, voted for all Democrats for "just being welcoming and inclusive of all people. I feel like Democrats really embrace working class people."
A small group of smiling supporters greeted Mike Doyle, the Republican candidate running in the 12th Congressional District against Democrat Summer Lee, when he arrived at the high school to vote.
He and his wife, Kye-Won, hugged friends and family. A member of his campaign said he planned to go to 15 polling places today.
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Candidates for top jobs cast ballots
9:15 a.m.
The candidates for the major Pennsylvania races have cast their ballots.
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Mehmet Oz hit the polls in eastern Pennsylvania. Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman cast his ballot in Braddock.
Democratic candidate for governor Josh Shapiro also voted in eastern Pa., and Republican candidate Doug Mastriano cast his ballot in Franklin County.
Lisa and I were proud to cast our votes this morning - get out and VOTE, Pennsylvania! pic.twitter.com/N0PxdZ3VOV
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) November 8, 2022
We voted ???? pic.twitter.com/KjBZ03OGjg
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) November 8, 2022
I just voted, and you should too!https://t.co/wYtWzZOok0 pic.twitter.com/Ptf0EFxlp2
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 8, 2022
???????? Our Future Governor of Pennsylvania just VOTED ???? !! He did his part, now go do yours!! Spread the word to vote for #doug4gov!! ???????? We love you PA!! pic.twitter.com/7unqDWfYPj
— Doug Mastriano (@dougmastriano) November 8, 2022
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Working out the kinks
8:40 a.m.
Allegheny County reported several polling places opened late because buildings were not opened. The county also reported that a few judges did not show for work. All of those issues were resolved before 8 a.m., with additional workers deployed to locations with no-shows, county spokeswoman Amie Downs said.
Ms. Downs said there also were some reports that scanners were not working at one location. When the leadmen arrived, all scanners were functional, she said. Ballots cast during that time were secured into a locked box in the scanner and will be opened and scanned by the judge when opportunity arises, but before polls close.
Ms. Downs said the review of the declaration envelopes at the elections warehouse was complete and employees began opening those envelopes and removing the secrecy envelope around 8 a.m.
Authorized representatives for the following were at the warehouse:
- Mehmet Oz Campaign
- John Fetterman Campaign
- Doug Mastriano Campaign
- Emily Kinkead Campaign
- Republican Committee
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‘I believe in democracy’
8 a.m.
A steady trickle of voters approached the polls inside the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill.
Elvgren Gillette, 56, said he was favoring Republicans because he is anti-abortion and is thinking about the economy. His wife, Irina, 51, said she didn't want to defund the police, a common talking point by Republican candidates on Democrats’ future plans for policing.
Marjory, 64, who would provide only her first name, said she would be voting for Democrats "because I believe in democracy” and she believes “Democrats do a better job with the economy."
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‘We expect a high turnout’
7:35 a.m.
Voters began streaming into the fire station polling place on Northumberland Street in Squirrel Hill as soon as it opened. By 7:09 a.m., about 10 people appeared to have already gone inside.
"Many have already voted by mail, but we expect a high turnout," majority inspector Debbie Levy McKenney said.
Several voters said they intended to cast ballots for Josh Shapiro, John Fetterman and Summer Lee, citing legal abortion as one of the chief issues on their minds.
One man said his chief concerns are community safety and national security. He has two children in the military.
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Shaffer votes early
7:15 a.m.
Jeremy Shaffer, Republican candidate for the 17th Congressional District, cast his ballot at the North Park Ice rink, where about 20 people were gathered to vote.
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Opening the polls
7 a.m.
Polls have opened across Pennsylvania.
More than 1.2 million of the state’s 8.9 million voters have already returned mail-in ballots, which county election workers will begin processing when polls open. With a neck-and-neck Senate race, the laborious process of counting those votes could mean the winner won’t be known for days — a delay some have used to gin up false doubts about the election, similar to what happened after the 2020 presidential race.
Voters can track their mail ballots on the Department of State’s website. If they’re concerned their ballot won’t arrive in time, they can go to their polling place in person and cast a provisional ballot, which will only be counted if the mail ballot isn’t.
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Legal battle over mail ballots
Legal wrangling over those mail ballots has already reached the U.S. and state supreme courts as Democrats and Republicans battle over whether to count votes that come in envelopes with incorrect or missing hand-written dates on them. The state Supreme Court ordered counties to segregate those ballots rather than count them.
Allegheny County posted the names of people whose ballots have incorrect or missing dates on the Elections Division website. Anyone on that list can fix — or “cure” — their ballots by going to the Elections Division office at 542 Forbes Ave., Downtown, or they can cast a provisional ballot at their polling place, according to the county.
The legal fight over those ballots continues, with Mr. Fetterman and other Democratic organizations joining voting advocates in suing in the Western District of Pennsylvania to overturn the state court’s decision. They argue the hand-written date has no bearing on either the voter’s intent or whether the ballot arrived before the deadline of 8 p.m. on Election Day, and would result in thousands of people being disenfranchised over a technicality — something they say is illegal under the federal Civil Rights Act.
That legal wrangling could intensify if closely divided races hang in the balance, potentially dragging on for weeks before a winner can be declared.
Other big races
It’s not just the Senate.
The 17th Congressional District contest between Republican Jeremy Shaffer and Democrat Chris Deluzio is one of just a few toss-up House races in the country. Spanning the suburbs north and west of Pittsburgh, and covering all of Beaver County, the closely-divided district drew millions of dollars in outside spending from both political parties as Democrats scramble to hold onto their narrow House majority in an election year that favors Republicans.
Even the 12th Congressional District — representing Pittsburgh and suburbs to the south and east — could be closer than its deep-blue demographics suggest. The Republican, Mike Doyle, has the same name as the long-time Democratic incumbent he’s running to replace. That scared Democratic candidate Summer Lee’s campaign enough that it put on a full-court press late in the race to make sure voters know that the Mike Doyle on the ballot this year is not the one they’ve been voting for every two years since 1994.
Further down the ballot, Allegheny County voters will decide whether to allow members of County Council to run for another office without first resigning their post. The council was created as a part-time citizen-legislature when voters approved the Home Rule Charter in 1998, replacing the three-commissioner government found in most counties. Council members want to eliminate the restriction, known as “resign to run,” which was included to prevent council from becoming a springboard to higher office, but which doesn’t apply to other elected positions in the county.
Staff writers John Hayes, Anya Litvak, Laura Schneiderman, Adam Smeltz and Hanna Webster contributed.
First Published: November 8, 2022, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: November 8, 2022, 11:42 p.m.
