Shapiro wins Allegheny County by 43 points, flipping one state House seat
Democrats gained ground in suburban districts where turnout matched 2022 levels, while Republican incumbents held four of five legislative seats.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Gov. Josh Shapiro defeated state Treasurer Stacy Garrity by 43 points in Allegheny County on Tuesday. This margin is four points larger than his 2022 result and more than double the margin achieved by Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Shapiro improved his 2022 vote share in 112 of the county's 130 municipalities.
The election results show a clear pattern linking voter turnout to Democratic gains. In districts where turnout remained high or increased, Democrats made inroads into state House races. Conversely, in urban and diverse areas with lower energy, the swings were less pronounced. Allegheny County Democrats successfully flipped one legislative seat despite facing adverse political winds that helped Republicans defend four of their five seats.
The 44th District served as the primary target for local Democrats. Nominee Hadley Haas spent more than $1 million on her campaign to boost engagement. Her strategy worked, as five of the municipalities with the highest turnout compared to 2022 were located in this district. Moon, the largest population center there, posted 94% of its 2022 turnout, while Findlay matched its previous level. Haas unseated Republican Rep. Valerie Gaydos by six points, and the district voted 14 points more Democratic than in 2024.
Other districts saw shifts without full flips. In the northern part of the county, turnout exceeded averages. Democratic nominee Jeremy Ferderber swung the vote eight points to the left from 2024 but lost to Republican Rep. Jeremy Shaffer by six points. In the Allegheny County portion of the 46th District, turnout held steady in South Fayette. Democratic nominee Mike Crossey shifted the local vote 26 points to the left, though the adjacent Washington County portion secured re-election for Republican incumbent Jason Ortitay.
Republican Rep. Andrew Kuzma of Elizabeth Township retained his seat in the county's southeast corner. His margin of victory dropped from 24 points in 2024 to seven this year. Kuzma attributed the shrinkage to historical midterm backlash against the party in power nationally. He stated that he worked hard to demonstrate his merit for re-election despite the swing state dynamics.
Voters cited different issues for their choices. Marvin Robinson, a Swissvale resident, voted early to oppose the Trump administration. Paul Whale, a registered Republican in Springdale Borough, considered supporting Shapiro because he believed Garrity was more likely to promote data center development. Overall voter turnout in the county fell compared to the 2022 midterms, a factor that influenced the final legislative outcomes.
Shapiro's victory included carrying 38 municipalities that Donald Trump won in 2024. This list includes Liberty, Elizabeth Borough, West Deer, and Jefferson Hills, where Trump had won by more than 20 points. Tom Duerr, a Democratic operative in the South Hills, said the cycle showed a breakthrough for the party in moving top-of-ticket support down to legislative candidates.
