5 takeaways from Election Day in Western Pa.

Tuesday’s election didn’t produce any of the drama or tumult that we saw in 2020, but it turned out to be historically significant in other ways.

Republicans shined in countywide races in Westmoreland County and races for the state’s appellate courts, while Black and women candidates came up big in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Here’s a look at 5 key takeaways from the election:

Pittsburgh elects first Black mayor

It took 205 years, but Pittsburghers finally elected a Black mayor.

Lincoln-Lemington’s Ed Gainey, a progressive Democrat in his fifth term as a state representative in Harrisburg, collected more than 70% of the votes counted Tuesday to trounce the GOP candidate, former city police officer Tony Moreno.

Gainey’s historical win was somewhat anticlimactic in the sense that everyone saw it coming after the 51-year-old defeated two-term incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto in the May primary. Pittsburghers haven’t elected a Republican mayoral candidate since the 1930s, and Gainey’s win seemed so assured that some inside city government already have been talking informally with Gainey about city business in anticipation of him becoming the city’s 57th mayor.

That didn’t temper the enthusiasm of supporters at Gainey’s victory party Tuesday night. “Let me tell you why this is beautiful,” he told the crowd. “Because you proved that we can have a city for all.”

Peck sent packing

History also was made in Westmoreland County, where Lower Burrell Republican Nicole Ziccarelli is poised to become the county’s first female district attorney after easily defeating longtime District Attorney John Peck of New Kensington.

Ziccarelli collected nearly 57.6% of votes counted compared to Peck’s 42.3%, according to the unofficial results.

Peck, 74, became district attorney in 1994 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy and voters elected him to serve six full terms after that. While he tried to highlight his experience during this year’s campaign, Ziccarelli, 40, an attorney who has focused primarily on family court cases, ran an aggressive campaign in which she said the DA’s office needed “fresh leadership” that she could provide.

This isn’t the first time Ziccarelli tried to take down an entrenched Democrat. Last fall, she fell 69 votes short of ousting incumbent state Sen. Jim Brewster of McKeesport.

GOP now controls all Westmoreland row offices

Ziccarelli’s win helped Republicans gain control of the last three Westmoreland County row offices that had been occupied by Democrats.

In the race for coroner, Scottdale Republican Tim Carson collected more than 51% of the votes counted Tuesday night to knock off five-term incumbent Democrat Ken Bacha of Greensburg.

And in the prothonotary’s race, Unity Republican Gina O’Barto held a comfortable lead over New Kensington Democrat Tom Murphy in the race to replace Democrat Christina O’Brien, who did not seek reelection.

Makeup of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to shift

Tuesday’s unofficial results were a tectonic shift for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

In the race for 10 seats, the four leading vote-getters were Black and six of the top 10 were women.

To put those numbers into perspective, the court currently has 14 women judges and four Black judges — one of the judges who is Black, appointee Elliot Howsie of Churchill, was elected to a full term Tuesday.

GOP sweep in Pa. appellate court races

Republican candidates appear poised to sweep Tuesday’s appellate court elections in Pennsylvania, according to Tribune-Review partner Spotlight PA.

Republican Kevin Brobson edged out Democrat Maria McLaughlin in a contentious race for state Supreme Court, while the GOP’s Megan Sullivan was projected to defeat Democrat Timika Lane in a race for Superior Court, according to Spotlight PA.

On the Commonwealth Court, Republican Stacy Wallace won a seat on the bench and fellow Republican Drew Crompton, already an appointee to the court, also appeared to be on his way to secure a permanent spot, Spotlight PA reported.