Pittsburgh, our twice-annual opportunity to shape the future of local politics has arrived.
Every election is important, and the 2025 general contest is no different. From critical judicial elections at the top of the ballot down to contested races within the City of Pittsburgh, 2025 general election voters will have a major say in how the next decade looks in council chambers, state and local courts, and on Grant Street.
But there’s one big difference this time: what’s happening in Washington, D.C. As of this writing, the federal government is shut down. ICE raids have shaken area communities. Federal funding for numerous projects has been slashed. Abortion care and transgender rights have come under attack. Economic pain continues for many Americans. And a compromised information environment leaves people unsure of whom to trust.
Election Day is a chance for Pittsburgh-area voters to express how they feel about the above and shape Pennsylvania’s response in the short and long term. The Pa. Supreme Court has issued rulings in recent years protecting privacy rights, cannabis decriminalization, and mail-in voting. Below them, the Superior and Commonwealth courts have a major say in civil and criminal matters affecting all Pennsylvanians. The races below these, from county sheriff down to school boards, will determine who is in place here in Greater Pittsburgh to steer the ship as pressure from Washington continues.
Off-year elections are seldom bombastic, high-turnout affairs, but they’re where the proverbial sausage gets made. This year, regardless of the outcomes in individual races, retirements mean Allegheny County Council will have at least two new faces. Pittsburgh will have a new mayor and at least one new city councilor. The Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas will also get an infusion of new jurists.
In sum, Election Day 2025 is likely to bring about changes in the region. Your vote — or lack thereof — will determine the nature of those changes.
If you’re not registered to vote, you have until Mon., Oct. 20 to do so. If you’re a newcomer or have moved, make sure to check your registration status and find your polling place ahead of time. Mail-in voters have until Tue., Oct. 28 to request a ballot. And in-person voters, we encourage you to show up at your polling places Nov. 4.
Democracy depends on all of you.
Colin Williams
Pittsburgh City Paper News Editor
This Election Guide was fact-checked by Tory Basile and Ember Duke of Pittsburgh’s Public Source, a nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region.
This article appears in Election Guide Oct. 8-14, 2025.
