Here's why some experts believe Bill Peduto lost Pittsburgh's mayoral primary

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto may have been too complacent in his bid for a third term leading the city, political analysts say, as he fell short in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

The mayor also was hurt by a national trend against incumbents that played out locally during the primary election. State Rep. Ed Gainey bested Peduto, winning 46.2% of the vote to the incumbent’s 39.3%. Nine precincts remain uncounted.

RELATED: Ed Gainey defeats Bill Peduto as incumbent concedes in Pittsburgh mayoral primary

“It seems that in this era of political transition/political turmoil, that the voter is far more impatient than he or she was years ago,” said Joe DiSarro, a veteran political science professor at Washington & Jefferson College. “Bill Peduto didn’t offer any new ideas or any new solutions to present-day problems.”

That said, he was still surprised at Peduto’s loss.

“I assumed he was going to win big. I didn’t think anybody had a chance. All these years of observing politics, I should have known better that anything can happen,” DiSarro said.

Other Pennsylvania political scientists agreed.

“It was clearly not a great night for incumbents in the state. This was one of the key examples of that,” said Chris Borick, a political science professor and director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion in Allentown.

Another prominent pollster, G. Terry Madonna, senior fellow in residency at Millersville University, said Peduto’s loss was part of a trend against incumbents that also saw mayors in Allentown and Harrisburg come up short in reelection bids.

“Mayors can get out of touch. They don’t understand the change that’s taking place in their city,” Madonna said. “Obviously, Gainey’s conversation about unifying and moving the city forward struck a chord.”

State Rep. Sara Innamorato, who endorsed and campaigned for Gainey, noted that the lens of progressivism isn’t just about policy.

“Arguably, Peduto has put forth some progressive measures as it pertains to the environment and things I’m also supportive of,” said Innamorato, a Democrat from Lawrenceville. “But there’s also a progressive way to do politics.”

Part of that means being forward-thinking in the people and the energy one brings to the campaign and the political office, she said.

“It is about the policies but it’s about who you bring to the table, too,” she said. “Where was the progressive energy? It was behind Rep. Gainey. You saw that in the endorsements he got.”

Gainey earned endorsements from state Rep. Summer Lee, state Rep. Jake Wheatley, the Center for Popular Democracy Action, the Unite PAC, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee and others.

Innamorato said Gainey’s message of everyone having a seat at the table resonated. Gainey is poised to become the city’s first Black mayor.

She said elected leaders should be hearing out their constituents, not dismissing their concerns or their activism.

“Whether you’re agreeing or not, as an elected leader, you’re supposed to listen to folks,” she said.

Let me say this one again.

There are NO progressive orgs, progressive Blk leadership, mvmnt leaders, grassroots energy or excitement around Bill. Why is that?

Bc he represents where weve been and NOT where we're going! & certainly NOT who's leading us there

Go vote tomorrow!

— Summer Lee (@SummerForPA) May 17, 2021

Madonna described Gainey as a rising star in Pennsylvania Democratic politics who has had increasing stature in the legislature.

“He’s someone with the prospects of a very solid political future,” Madonna said.

A five-term state representative, Gainey rose in the ranks of the House Appropriations Committee and also served on the Education, Labor & Industry and Policy committees.

Prior to that, Gainey was a legislative aide to longtime state Rep. Joseph Preston Jr. of East Liberty. He went on to run against Preston three times for the seat, prevailing in 2012.

Before winning the House seat, Gainey was a community development specialist for former Pittsburgh mayors Tom Murphy and Luke Ravenstahl.

Gainey is vice chair of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. It oversees many of the city’s housing and economic development programs, which he promised to invigorate if elected mayor.

Those experiences meant Gainey posed a formidable threat to Peduto, Borick said.

“Often insurgency challengers, what they lack is organization strength,” Borick said. That wasn’t the case with Gainey, whom Borick called “battle-tested” and someone who was able to translate the energy of a progressive campaign into a victorious outcome.

In seeking a third term, Peduto touted his reforms and focus on equity and transparency during nearly eight years in office.

Just wanted to start this morning with a heartfelt THANK YOU, to all of those who worked, gave & sacrificed to allow me to have the opportunity to fulfill my dream. I love each & everyone of you and will remain eternally grateful of your support & friendship. Wishing you peace.

— bill peduto (@billpeduto) May 19, 2021

Gainey called for more actions and fewer words in the mayor’s office, and said that if Peduto hadn’t accomplished what he wanted in eight years, he didn’t deserve another term.

The message obviously resonated with voters, DiSarro said.

“The voter is now a bit more impatient and probably wants to have more political turnover,” DiSarro said. “We’re in an era of transition. Incumbents won’t be comfortable in the future.”

Voters want “direct action,” he said.

The coronavirus pandemic also likely added to the hunger for change among many voters, because it exposed problems in cities like Pittsburgh, DiSarro said.

“The pandemic has devastated the core of Pittsburgh,” he said. “The voter understands that is a serious problem.”