Pittsburgh activist La'Tasha Mayes joins race for state House seat vacated by Mayor Ed Gainey

Activist La’Tasha Mayes said she is joining the race for the state House seat vacated by now-Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

Mayes, 40, of the city’s Morningside neighborhood, advocates nationally for issues such as reproductive justice, human rights and leadership development for Black women and girls. She is the founder and executive director of New Voices for Reproductive Justice, an organization in Pennsylvania and Ohio that is dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women and girls.

A special election to fill Gainey’s former seat will be held April 5 and use the current layout for the House district. The subsequent May primary race will be based on new, redrawn district maps that will be taking effect.

Mayes said she plans to run in both races.

Mayes, who identifies as a Black lesbian woman with progressive political views, said she feels she’s the right candidate to represent a diverse district.

“I’m representing so many marginalized communities. We need to see ourselves in decision-making, in roles that impact the daily lives of people, their families and their communities,” Mayes said.

Mayes, who moved from Philadelphia to attend the University of Pittsburgh, said she’s been involved in community activism in the city since she moved here about two decades ago. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pitt and a master’s in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University.

“From the first day I stepped foot in this city to go to the University of Pittsburgh, my commitment has been service to my community. That is my compass to this day,” Mayes said.

If elected, Mayes said, her primary concern would be community health. The covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities, Mayes said, making it even more important to focus on easy access to affordable health care.

Mayes said she also would fight for abortion and maternal health care and community safety. She said other priorities would include workers’ rights, affordable child care, support for small businesses, environmental justice, criminal justice reform and voting rights.

Mayes previously lost a bid for Pittsburgh City Council in 2015 to Councilwoman Deb Gross.

Martell Covington, a legislative aide to state Sen. Jay Costa, also plans to run in the special election and subsequent primary race. Covington, 34, of Homewood, serves as vice president for the Young Democrats of Allegheny County.

NaTisha Washington, the environmental justice organizer for OnePA, is running in the special election. Because she lives in Wilkinsburg, the redistricting process may prevent her from running for the seat in the primary.

Community activist Ashley Comans, also of Wilkinsburg, has pulled out of the race, as preliminary maps suggest she will no longer live in the 24th State House District once new maps are finalized.