2013 Pittsburgh mayoral election

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl initially announced that he would run for re-election, but later reversed his decision.

Several candidates expressed interest in running in the May 21, 2013, Democratic primary election.[13] Incumbent Luke Ravenstahl officially announced in November 2012 that he would seek re-election to a second full term.[14] In addition, Bill Peduto, who had run for Mayor of Pittsburgh in 2005 (losing in the primary to fellow Democratic City Councilman and eventual winner Bob O'Connor) and again for a short time in the 2007 special election before dropping out prior to the primary, announced his candidacy in December 2012 and was immediately endorsed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.[15] City Controller Michael Lamb, who stated that he had "every intention"[16] of running for mayor, declared his candidacy in mid-January 2013.[17] Jack Wagner, former Auditor General of Pennsylvania, also publicly expressed interest in the race and filed a petition to run in March.[16][18] Wagner also reportedly considered an independent general election campaign.[19]

Polling conducted between late December 2012 to mid-January 2013 by Civic Science found that a race between Luke Ravenstahl and Bill Peduto would be within single digit percentage points. The polling firm, however, emphasized that the poll was not intended to provide two-way race numbers and that the polling (which was completed on January 16) did not include Michael Lamb, who had entered the race the next day. According to the poll, blue-collar primary voters were more apt to support Ravenstahl while white-collar primary voters were more apt to support Peduto.[20][21]

On March 1, 2013, Ravenstahl announced that he would not seek reelection, reversing a prior decision to run for another term.[14][22] The announcement came amid an investigation of fund use at the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, although Ravenstahl did not make any indication that this had contributed to his decision to withdraw. In addition, Ravenstahl alluded in his announcement to the medical condition of his mother, who had been suffering "medical issues,"[23] but did not indicate that this had contributed to the decision either. Ravenstahl stated that he would serve out the remainder of his term, ending in January 2014.[23] Shortly thereafter, City Council President Darlene Harris confirmed her intention to run. In addition, Jake Wheatley, Jim Ferlo, and Ricky Burgess became speculated candidates.[24][25]

After Luke Ravenstahl's withdrawal, the race evolved into a two-way contest between Bill Peduto (left) and Jack Wagner (right); both had run for mayor in prior elections.

In early March 2013, following the withdrawal of incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl, a poll conducted by Keystone Analytics found that Bill Peduto was leading the race, garnering the support of 30 percent of respondents. Jack Wagner was second with 20 percent of respondents voicing support. Nearly a quarter of respondents, 22 percent, remained undecided.[26]

The filing deadline to appear on the Democratic primary ballot was March 12, 2013, at 5:00 PM EDT. At this point, seven candidates had formally filed petitions to run for Mayor of Pittsburgh: Jim Ferlo, Darlene Harris, Michael Lamb, Bill Peduto, A. J. Richardson, Jake Wheatley and Jack Wagner. Allegheny County Councilman Bill Robinson stated that he would run for mayor despite not meeting the deadline for petitions to appear on the ballot.[18] Jim Ferlo, despite filing to run, dropped out of the race three days later, on March 15.[27] On March 27, Darlene Harris dropped out of the race.[28] On the same day, Jack Wagner received endorsements from Pittsburgh police and firefighter unions, as well as former candidate and State Senator Jim Ferlo. Also on March 27, Bill Peduto was endorsed by State Representative Ed Gainey.[29]

Michael Lamb ended his campaign on April 1, 2013, and endorsed Jack Wagner.[30] Shortly thereafter, on April 3, a judge ruled that Wagner could use the approximately US$300,000 in his statewide campaign account, left over from his campaigns for state auditor and Governor of Pennsylvania, after the usage of these funds was challenged by fellow candidate Bill Peduto.[31] Also on April 3, local media reported that candidate A. J. Richardson was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence after having been found by police passed out in his vehicle. Following his release from jail, Richardson dismissed the allegation as an attempt to sabotage his candidacy for mayor and expressed an intention to continue his campaign. However, Richardson stated at a mayoral candidates debate that evening that he would plead guilty to the charges.[32]

Another poll released by Keystone Analytics in early April found that the Democratic primary had become largely a two-way race between Bill Peduto and Jack Wagner, with Wagner taking the lead following Michael Lamb's withdrawal and endorsement. Wagner garnered 38 percent in the poll, with Peduto receiving the support of 31 percent of respondents. Candidates Jake Wheatley and A. J. Richardson garnered 4 and 1 percent, respectively.[33]

Two additional polls, released in late April and mid-May by Keystone Analytics, showed Peduto regaining the lead in the primary race. In the April poll, Peduto's lead was within the plus or minus 4.38 percent margin of error; he led Jack Wagner 38 to 36 percent. Jake Wheatley received 5 percent support and A. J. Richardson received less than 1 percent.[34] A poll released in mid-May, with a plus or minus 4.9 percent margin of error, suggested that Peduto had expanded his lead over Wagner. Peduto was supported by 39 percent of respondents, while Wagner had 36 percent. Wheatley and Richardson garnered 8 and 1 percent, respectively.[35] An additional poll, commissioned by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research and released in the final week before the primary, also showed Peduto leading Wagner, 42 to 33 percent. The same poll showed Wheatley with 6 percent and Richardson with 1 percent.[36]

• Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh City Councilman[15][16][37]
• A. J. Richardson, school bus monitor[18]
• Jack Wagner, former Pennsylvania Auditor General[16][18][38]
• Joshua Wander, Republican candidate, also write-in candidate for Democratic nomination[39]
• Jake Wheatley, State Representative[24]

• Jim Ferlo, State Senator[18][40] (withdrew March 15, 2013)[27]
• Darlene Harris, Pittsburgh City Council President[24] (withdrew March 27, 2013)[28]
• Michael Lamb, Pittsburgh City Controller (withdrew April 1, 2013)[30]
• Luke Ravenstahl, incumbent mayor of Pittsburgh (withdrew March 1, 2013)[22]

• Wayne D. Fontana, state senator[41][42]
• Dan Onorato, former Allegheny County Executive[41]
• Chelsa Wagner, Allegheny County Controller and niece of candidate Jack Wagner[41]

• ^ Internal poll for the Bill Peduto Campaign

Democratic primary results by ward.

  Bill Peduto

  Jack Wagner

  Jake Wheatley

In the end, Bill Peduto defeated Jack Wagner, Jake Wheatley and A. J. Richardson. Peduto gained a majority of the vote, with about 52 percent. Wagner, Wheatley and Richardson finished with about 40, 8 and 1 percent, respectively.[43] Peduto carried much of the vote in wards in and around Downtown and to the east, with the exception of one ward carried by Wheatley in the uptown section. Wagner was most successful in the South Side and portions of the North Side.[44]

• Joshua Wander[18]

• Bill Peduto (Democratic), Pittsburgh City Councilman
• Joshua Wander (Republican), Squirrel Hill resident
• Lester Ludwig (Independent), activist[50]

• Darlene Harris (Independent), Pittsburgh City Council President[48][49][50]