Cities across the Commonwealth will elect mayors this year.
Pennsylvania’s 2025 municipal elections have much in store for the state. Voters in cities across the Commonwealth will participate in elections for mayors, including those in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Bethlehem, Scranton, and Lancaster.
Harrisburg
In Harrisburg, current Mayor Wanda Williams is making a bid for reelection to the post. In 2021, she ousted longtime incumbent Eric Papenfuse and is now running for a second term. She previously served as president of Harrisburg City Council from 2010 to 2021 before making a successful run for mayor. Her areas of focus have included affordable housing development, youth programs, and traffic improvements across the city.
During a second term, Williams plans to prioritize rebuilding the city’s historic Broad Street Market after a catastrophic fire destroyed part of the structure. She also plans to focus on improving city finances and the downtown economy. Williams said, “We can no longer be simply a hub for just state workers. We must develop a downtown that appeals to the masses, far and wide.”
Several challengers plan to face off against Williams in the Democratic primary. Harrisburg City Councilmember Lamont Jones, Harrisburg City Treasurer Dan Miller, and gun violence prevention advocate Tone Cook have launched mayoral campaigns. As mayor, Jones plans to reduce crime, gun violence, and economic development. He has been endorsed by Harrisburg City Council President Danielle Bowers and Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas.
Miller has served as city treasurer since 2016. He was previously seated on the city council. He plans to rebuild the Broad Street Market, improve public safety, and focus on community policing initiatives.
Cook is also running on reducing crime. He wants to improve the relationship between the public and the police, attract new businesses to Harrisburg, and expand educational programs.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey will be running for reelection. During his first term, he received 12 low-income housing tax credits from the state, secured a $30 million bond for affordable housing construction and preservation, and implemented traffic calming measures throughout the city.
Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor announced that he will be challenging Gainey for the Democratic nomination. He is a former City Councilmember. O’Connor said the city is “going backwards” and has promised to take on the city’s crime and housing affordability issues.
Republicans Tony Moreno and Thomas West will be facing off for the Republican nomination. Moreno is a retired police detective who ran for mayor in 2021. He plans to prioritize public safety and bring transparency and accountability to the city government.
West is a local business owner in Pittsburgh that has a men’s clothing store. He is also prioritizing public safety and wants to improve the city’s business climate and finances.
Allentown
Mayor Matt Tuerk of Allentown is running for reelection after being mayor since 2022. During his first term, he kept tax rates flat, secured federal funding for the city, and the city saw a decrease in crime according to analysis. He said, “Our police department, under Chief Charles Roca’s leadership, has cut violent crime down to almost half of what it was 10 years ago – and by 25% from when he and I started… We saw just four homicides in 2024 and that’s the city’s lowest number since 1989. That’s a fact.”
Allentown City Council President Cynthia Mota and City Councilmember Ed Zucal have made bids for city mayor. Mota said in a recent interview that she is running for mayor “because Allentown deserves a leader who will prioritize prosperity and inclusion and economic opportunities for every resident.”
Zucal has said the city is “going backward” and plans to prioritize public safety should he be elected mayor in Allentown.
Erie
Mayor Joe Schember of Erie, Pennsylvania is running for third term as mayor this year. During his first term, he prevented tax increases for six years, secured over $120 million in grant funds, and obtained a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone designation from the state. He said, “In the next four years, my team and I will continue to work on initiatives to increase jobs, develop more quality housing, reduce the City’s debt and structural deficit, and decrease crime.”
Daria Devlin, the director of social impact at the Hamot Health Foundation and a member of the Erie School Board, is challenging Shember. She is focused on housing, economic and workforce development, youth engagement and balanced, responsible budgeting.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds is running for reelection. He said he will continue to prioritize sound budgeting and fiscal restraint. He referred to Bethlehem as “a city you want to invest in”.
Grace Crampsie Smith, a City Councilmember challenging Reynolds, said she is “committed to leading Bethlehem toward a future that balances smart development with the preservation of our rich history and unique neighborhoods.” She plans to prioritize public health and safety, economic and community development, access to housing, and fiscal responsibility.
Scranton
Incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti of Scranton is seeking reelection after winning a special election in 2019 and elected to a full term in 2021. She has focused on fighting against water rate increases, improving the city’s financial standing and economic climate, and investing in law enforcement.
Former Scranton City Councilmember and former director of the Scranton Sewer Authority Eugene Barrett is running against Cognetti, as well as former Scranton School Board President Robert Sheridan.
Lancaster
Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace has chosen not to seek another term as mayor. Lancaster City Vice President Jaime Arroyo and City Councilmember Janet Diaz are running for the Democratic nomination.
Arroyo’s work on the city council has focused on lead abatement and housing issues. He said, “While we have made great progress in our city, there are still challenges we need to tackle and problems to solve.”
Diaz is focusing her race on debt reduction, economic growth, government transparency, community safety, and affordable housing. She said, “I will fight for truth, justice and opportunities for all, ensuring transparency and accountable leadership that Lancaster’s resilient community deserves.”
