Charlie Wolfson

Pittsburgh & Allegheny County government reporter, @PublicSourcePA

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Costa will be the first pro tem from Allegheny County since 1970, and the first Allegheny Democrat ever in the role

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Jay Costa has been working in the Pa. Senate's minority for 30 years. Now, he's poised to lead the Senate as president pro tem after the Democrats' midterm gains.

Who is Costa, what do his colleague's think of him, and what's it all mean for the Pittsburgh region? (Story below)

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

After 30 years in the minority, Jay Costa steps into Senate spotlight https://t.co/xg9t57NkYH

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Allegheny Co municipality closest to countywide gov margin: Ingram, Shapiro +45

Municipality closest to 50/50: Sewickley Heights, Shapiro +1

Among the 24 munis with >10,000 registered voters, the closest was North Fayette at Shapiro +17.

Avg. Garrity-won muni had 1,853 RVs.

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Links to interactive maps:

2024: https://t.co/4zjMKAYLLZ
2026: https://t.co/iYv2EfuOnu

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Here are maps comparing the 2024 and 2026 elections for HD-44, the only seat to flip in Allegheny County this year.

14 of 15 municipalities swung left this year. Third image lists margins by municipality.

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

@lara_putnam Do you attribute this to relative lack of downballot campaign spending in SWPA?

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

@StephenJ_Caruso And Costa got the seat that opened up

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

https://t.co/fQrXtABzb9

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

ICYMI: Here's what Summer Lee said about what Democrats should do in the next Congress (link below)

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Pittsburgh Councilwoman Deb Gross won’t seek reelection. We’re onto 2027 https://t.co/DnXw4AcUqV

[𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗺 @chrisbriem]

If you ever want one chart to explain what is really different about Pittsburgh (the region)... this is it:

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

New Q&A with Summer Lee, who’ll be part of the House majority for the first time next year https://t.co/fQrXtABzb9

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Tangentially related: The City of Duquesne voted 821-299 to adopt a Home Rule Charter on Tuesday.

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Municipal govt news: Wilkinsburg's council voted to increase earned income tax for residents from 1% to 2%, and to impose a 1% tax on nonresidents working in the borough.

This was enabled when the borough adopted a home rule charter in 2024. https://t.co/wDmJWEGmjn

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Municipal govt news: Wilkinsburg's council voted to increase earned income tax for residents from 1% to 2%, and to impose a 1% tax on nonresidents working in the borough.

This was enabled when the borough adopted a home rule charter in 2024. https://t.co/wDmJWEGmjn

[Stephen Caruso @StephenJ_Caruso]

BTW Dems would net 10 House seats if all current leads holds. Many close races so could change but that's the potential high water mark of Democratic gains in the lower chamber.

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Election maps: How the blue wave rippled in Allegheny County https://t.co/FxOBEaKdSv

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

The AP has called 108 state House seats for Dems (102 is a majority) and Dems lead in 5 of 9 uncalled ones.

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

PA Dems have declared victory in the state Senate, though the AP currently has the chamber 24-24 (26 needed for true majority). Dems lead in both uncalled races.

Dems haven't controlled the Senate and had trifecta in 30 years, and even then was for just a brief period.

[Charlie Wolfson @chwolfson]

Republican Scott Timko has a 2-point lead in the Cranberry-based HD12 with >90% of vote in. This is a historically Republican and Trump +18 seat but Dem nominee Brandon Dukes won it in an August special. No call yet but Timko looks to be in good shape.