2024 Political Q&A with Jay Costa: What You Need to Know About This Incumbent Candidate for PA Senate District 43

It’s my hope that Dems will control the Senate when we move into 2025, and then we can get to work on the hundreds of bills that the House sent us this session and the Governor promised he would sign. Early on, we’d pass LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination, an increase in the minimum wage, measures to prevent […]

Political Q&A Season is Here. Will Your Candidate Participate?

While Pennsylvania is known as a primary state, the upcoming General Election has a significant number of critical races. We’ve got their Q&A’s. Our blog has historically customized and distributed Q&A’s to candidates for political office. We want them to engage our readers, of course, but also to have information available for the general public. […]

This Year In Pennsylvania, These Openly LGBTQ Candidates Won Office

A list of openly LGBTQ people who won elected office in Pennsylvania in 2023. Each time I create a post like this, I am humbled to think of how much has changed since I began blogging in December 2005. At that point, an openly gay man won office on Wilkinsburg Council in the 90s, but […]

Election Outcomes Primary 2023

I am so pleased and/or relieved by the outcomes of the Pennsylvania Primary in Allegheny County. Note: It feels silly to congratulate candidates on winning a campaign or running a good campaign. I want to congratulate the residents of Allegheny County for not only a win, but a massive shift toward better models of government. […]

Q&A with Corey O’Connor, Candidate for Allegheny County Controller

I want the Controller’s office to go beyond simply pointing out problems and moving on and work in collaboration with County and City departments, as well as outside stakeholders, to set policy and provide a vision for the county’s future. Our next post in our 2023 primary election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive candidates […]

LGBTQ Electoral Victories in Pennsylvania

According to the Victory Fund,  at least 1,065 out LGBTQ people ran for office in the November midterm elections. At least 340 out LGBTQ won their races as of November 9, 2022 with more results yet to come in.  In Pennsylvania Jessica Benham, State Representative in Pennsylvania House District 36 and the first openly queer woman […]

My Essay About Voting

Day two of #NaBloPoMo This feels mandatory, a reminder to all of you about why you must vote and vote Blue in the elections next week. I like to think that anyone reading my blog would be familiar with these issues and already a regular voter. But since I don’t actually know most of you, […]

PA Senate Debate: Dr. Oz Says Abortion Decisions Should Be Between”a Woman, her Doctor, and Local Political Leaders”

“I don’t want the federal government involved with that at all. I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves.” Dr. Mehmet Oz

Update on How to Request Campaign Yard Signs in Pittsburgh

Earlier this week, I wrote a post outlining the convoluted steps to get yard signs for races that are deemed critical to democracy. I reached out to all of the campaigns and asked them 1. Do you have yard signs available for the community? 2. What options do you have for people to request a sign?  3. Is a […]

How to Request Campaign Yard Signs around Pittsburgh

I know, I know – yard signs don’t generate votes. My campaign staff friends tell me this and I say “phooey” to them. I notice signs. And I especially notice the signs in my own neighborhood (Manchester on the Northside) which is 70% Black and 30% white. I notice which candidates have support. I notice […]