The 2025 Pennsylvania municipal election will take place on Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While a non-presidential or Congressional election, this year’s vote has received extra attention in the region for two main reasons. One is the Pittsburgh mayoral race, and the other is a retention vote for three members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Northside voters can also expect several judicial elections on the ballot, as well as a vote for Allegheny County Council and county sheriff. Some Northsiders may also see a ballot for Pittsburgh City Council.
To find your polling place, visit
Below is an explainer of several of the major races:
Mayor of Pittsburgh
Democrat Corey O’Connor and Republican Tony Moreno are competing to be named the next Mayor of Pittsburgh.
Neither candidate is the incumbent in the race, as O’Connor defeated Gainey in the Democratic primary earlier this year.
O’Connor, a Greenfield resident, grew up in Squirrel Hill. He is currently serving as the Allegheny County Controller since 2022 and was a member of the Pittsburgh City Council from 2012 to 2022. He is also the son of former mayor Bob O’Connor.
Moreno is a Brighton Heights resident and served as a Pittsburgh police detective. He ran in the 2021 Democratic primary, but ended up nominated to the Republican ballot in a write-in campaign, though he lost the subsequent election to Gainey.
The winner of the election will serve a four-year term.
Supreme Court retention
Christine Donohue, Kevin M. Dougherty and David Wecht are all up for a retention vote on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices serve 10year terms before facing another retention vote. However, the Court has a mandatory retirement age of 75 years old. While Dougherty (age 63) and Wecht (also 63) would be able to serve a full term, Donohue is 72 years old and would have to retire by Dec. 31, 2027.
Currently the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is made up of five Democratic judges and two Republican judges. Should retention fail, Gov. Josh Shapiro would be able to appoint a new judge to fill the seat. However, the appointment must be confirmed by two-thirds of the Pennsylvania State Senate, which is currently controlled by the Republican Party 27-23.
Pittsburgh City Council District 6
Northsiders living in Perry Hilltop, Marshall- Shadeland, the North Shore, Manchester or California- Kirkbride will have the chance to vote for their Pittsburgh City Council representative.
Democratic incumbent R. Daniel Lavelle is defending his seat against Republican Jacob Dumont and write-in candidate Lisa Freeman.
Lavelle was elected to Council in 2009 and is seeking a fifth term. He has served as Council president since 2024. Lavelle is from the Hill District.
Both Dumont and Freeman are from the Northside, with the latter known in the area for running Manchester Growing Together Farm and Freeman Family Farm & Greenhouse. City Council members serve four-year terms. Currently, all nine members of Council are Democrats.
In addition to the aforementioned Northside neighborhoods, District 6 also represents the Hill District, Uptown and Downtown.
Allegheny County Council
Democratic incumbent Jordan Botta will seek to defend his seat from Republican challenger Todd McCollum for the District 13 representative on Allegheny County Council.
District 13 covers the whole of the Northside, as well as Downtown Pittsburgh, sections of Uptown, the Strip District, Lawrenceville, much of Morningside, Bellevue and some neighborhoods south of the Monongahela.
Council people hold their seats for two-year terms. The Council is currently made up of 13 Democrats and two Republicans.
Pennsylvania Superior Court
Three candidates are vying for the Pennsylvania Superior Court seat left vacated by Democrat Daniel McCaffery, who was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The candidates consist of Democrat Brandon Neuman, Republican Maria Battista and Labor Party candidate Daniel Wassmer.
Justices served 10-year terms before facing a retention vote, and must retire at the age of 75.
In addition, Democratic Judge Alice Dubow is up for retention to maintain her seat on the Superior Court.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court is currently made up of eight Democrats and six Republicans.
County Sheriff
Democratic incumbent Kevin Kraus will seek to hold his position as Allegheny County Sheriff against Republican challenger Brian Weismantle.
Kraus was elected to the position in 2021. County Sheriff carries out various law enforcement duties, including executing warrants, overseeing security at courts, carrying out sheriff’s sales, transporting incarcerated individuals and pursuing fugitives.
Kraus is an Ohio Township resident, while Weismantle is from the Northside. Both served with the Pittsburgh Police.
Judge of Commonwealth Court
A seat in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court is up for grabs, due to the retirement of Democrat Ellen Ceisler.
Running for the position are Republican Matt Wolford and Democrat Stella Tsai. Judges are elected for 10-year terms before facing a retention vote.
The Commonwealth Court currently has five Republican judges and three Democratic ones. The court rules on matters involving taxes, elections, state agencies and zoning.
In addition, Democratic Judge Michael Wojcik is facing a retention vote for another 10-year term.
