State Rep. Emily Kinkead holds off Democratic challenger in the 20th State House District
State Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Brighton Heights, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 20th State House District, according to unofficial results.
As of Wednesday afternoon, with 97% of precincts reporting results, Kinkead had collected 65.6% of the votes counted compared with challenger Nick Mastros’ 34.4%, unofficial tallies showed. Mastros, of Ross, owns and operates the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
No Republicans appeared on the ballot in the district that includes Avalon, Bellevue, Ross, West View and the neighborhoods of Brighton Heights and Observatory Hill in Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Kinkead declared victory on Wednesday on social media.
“Thank you to all my staff, supporters, volunteers and voters,” tweeted Kinkead. “This victory is for everyone and I am excited for the opportunity to continue to fight for a better PA for all.”
Despite losing out on the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee to Mastros, Kinkead was able to amass support from well-known local political figures like Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and some labor unions.
Kinkead was first elected in 2020, after she unseated former state Rep. Adam Ravenstahl, D-Ross.
Her campaign was focused on progressive policies such as increasing the minimum wage, improving air and water quality, creating more affordable housing, lowering costs of prescription drugs, decreasing childcare costs and protecting access to abortions.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
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