Where did all the Democrats go? In suburban Pittsburgh counties, they're harder to find in elected office
Democrats are disappearing from elected office in the six counties surrounding Allegheny County.
Just 13 Democrats combined serve as county commissioners or row officers in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties, compared to 57 Republicans. Only about a decade ago, nearly three times as many Democrats — 38 — served as commissioners or row officers in those counties, representing more than half of the 70 officeholders.
It’s not just that Democrats aren’t winning as many races. In many cases, they’re not even trying. Democrats mustered just three candidates for 17 row offices in primary races across the six counties this year, while Republicans fielded more than two dozen. No Democrats are on the ballot for row offices in Armstrong, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Democrats from the six counties are even harder to find in Harrisburg. Just one of the 20 state representatives in the six counties today is a Democrat, while none of the area’s six state senators is.
“It’s bleak,” said Michelle McFall, who has chaired the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee since 2022.
https://triblive.com/local/regional/where-did-all-the-democrats-go-in-suburban-pittsburgh-counties-theyre-harder-to-find-in-elected-office/