**Pittsburgh Mayoral Race Heats Up: O’Connor Defeats Incumbent Gainey for Democratic Nomination**
*By Julia Burdelski, TribLive | October 31, 2025*
Just O’Connor, 41, of Point Breeze, a former city councilman and son of the late Mayor Bob O’Connor, has defeated incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey for the Democratic nomination in the May primary.
Meanwhile, Tony Moreno, 57, of Brighton Heights, who spent 24 years on the Pittsburgh police force, continues to make his mark. Moreno came in third in the 2021 Democratic mayoral primary behind Gainey and then-Mayor Bill Peduto. He later ran as a Republican in the general election but again lost to Gainey. This year, Moreno defeated businessman Thomas West in the primary.
### Candidate Positions on Major Issues
As President Donald Trump ramps up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions around the country, O’Connor has aligned with Gainey’s approach and vowed not to cooperate with ICE.
“Our job is to protect everybody’s rights and freedoms in the city, and I will continue to do that,” O’Connor told TribLive. “When it comes to ICE, we will not partner. We’re a welcoming city. We want people to live here and feel safe and secure.”
—
Pittsburgh has been a Democratic stronghold for decades, but Moreno’s campaign may begin to make some inroads in this year’s race.
—
*Read more at [TribLive.com](https://triblive.com)*
—
**Topics:** Government, Politics/Elections
**Location:** Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
**Keywords:** Mayor, Pittsburgh
—
*Support Free Republic*
Click here to donate by Credit Card
Or here to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to:
Free Republic, LLC
PO Box 9771
Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much, and God bless you.
—
*Disclaimer:* Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4350389/posts