Welcome to the latest edition of Voices of Reason where we’ll recap exclusive news and data featured in our most recent podcast.
This new segment dives into conversation on the future of Democratic politics in PA. Exploring the ripple effects of the NYC mayoral race, nuisances between Pittsburgh and Philly, and the importance of funding state services.
Political analyst Jon Delano unpacks who’s running for what and why it matters with insights and views you won’t want to miss.
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Political analyst Jon Delano cautions against “reading New York as an indicator” noting that while traditional democrat candidates lost in both mayoral primaries, “the politics of Pittsburgh are quite different” than NYC. [Watch]
Political analyst Jon Delano explains how “public transit is essential and yet at the same time has become very expensive” with challenges such as the PRT (Pittsburgh Regional Transit) authorities closing down routes and raising transit fares due to lack of funding. [Watch]
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Elections
- Challenger Corey O’Connor (52.8%) unseated Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey (47.2%) in the Democratic primary on May 20, 2025. [SpotlightPA]
- Other successful primary races in PA came from R-Tony Moreno (70%), R-Matt Wolford (62%), R-Maria Battista (54%), and D-Larry Krasner (64.5%). [NYTimes]
- In the NYC mayoral Race, Zohran Mamdani (56.2%) defeated traditional Democrat Andrew Cuomo (43.8%) in the third round of ranked-choice voting. [NYTimes]
Voter Interests
- Governor Shapiro has “pledged" major support for public transit, proposing a $292 million funding increase in his February budget and redirecting $153 million in federal highway funds to help SEPTA avoid steep fare hikes. [MassTransit]
- Transit agencies tend to get around $1.5 billion in state tax revenue every year, which is allocated to items like paying for driver salaries and gas for buses. [SpotlightPA]
- According to several released policy briefs by the Allegheny Institute, the PRT’s bus expenses ranked sixth highest in the nation among 50 US transit agencies. [AlleghenyInstitute]
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What NYC Shake-Up Means for Pittsburgh Area Dems
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The Voices of Reason podcast has covered the most important issues in Pennsylvania politics – from education funding to trust in elections. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and House Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris are just a few of many influential guests who have joined us for exclusive interviews and roundtable discussions.
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