After a midterm election with several surprising results, Southwestern Pennsylvania is poised to see a new class of politicians and a different political makeup beginning this year.

Some well-known incumbents and familiar names are out, and some political upstarts are in, including progressives who are left of the region’s prior status quo. Democrats gained ground in the area and will have more representation in Harrisburg and in Congress. That includes John Fetterman, the first Democratic U.S. senator to serve from the Pittsburgh region in more than 75 years.

Joining Fetterman in Washington, D.C., is progressive firebrand Summer Lee of Swissvale, who prevailed in the Pittsburgh-centered 12th Congressional District contest. She replaces Democrat Mike Doyle, who served in the seat for 28 years.

Combine that with other local progressive victories and Democrats flipping two local state House seats, and that changes the outlook for a region long known for political dynasties and moderate voices.

Mike Mikus, a political consultant who has worked on dozens of local Democratic campaigns, said the region’s politics are shifting and making room for representatives from a more diverse background.

“Previously, it seemed like the best way to get ahead was being the son of a prominent elected official, and that shouldn’t be disqualifying, but it shouldn’t be the sole thing on your resume,” he said. “That seems to be going away a bit, and I think it is a good thing that new voices are coming to the table.”

New representation

Having new representatives from Southwestern Pennsylvania will be a mixed bag in terms of what they can accomplish in Congress, Mikus said.

The House of Representatives is in Republican control, so Democrats Chris Deluzio, who won the 17th Congressional District seat, and Lee won’t be sitting in a majority and will have fewer chances to get priorities through for Allegheny County. Also, Mikus said, the county is losing seniority with Doyle’s retirement.

However, with Republicans now in charge of the U.S. House, that could provide a boost to areas represented by Reps. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, and Mike Kelly, R-Butler. Reschenthaler also is serving as chief Deputy Whip, a leadership position in the Republican caucus.

Mikus said the biggest change will come in Fetterman, the former lieutenant governor. Mikus said having a senator from Western Pennsylvania will help bring more resources and attention to the region. He said he also has been impressed with Fetterman’s choices for top staff positions, such as Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson and communications director Joe Calvello.

“That told me he is going to be serious about legislating, and working the system to maximize what he can bring back to the region,” he said.

Mikus is hopeful Congress can continue to provide support to Western Pennsylvania’s robotics industry as well as lobby for a hydrogen hub designation. He said Fetterman’s background as the former mayor of Braddock also should help to support towns outside of Pittsburgh.

“Fetterman also understands the old steel towns that haven’t come back,” Mikus said. “So many communities throughout the region have not come back and continue on the path of decline, and attention and focus on them is one asset that Fetterman brings.”

Republican void

In contrast to the Democrats moving into political seats, Republicans will be losing representation. Chief among them is the loss of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, who didn’t seek reelection.

Samuel Chen, an Allentown-based political strategist who worked with Toomey and former Republican lawmaker Charlie Dent, said conservatives in the state likely will miss Toomey’s presence, even if they didn’t always approve of him.

In 2021, Toomey was criticized — and even censured by some local Republicans — after he voted to convict President Donald Trump in the impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2020, Capitol riot.

However, Chen noted that Toomey had a conservative voting record and was a major player in crafting conservative legislation. Toomey was the chief architect of the 2017 Republican tax cut bill.

Without Toomey in the Senate, Chen said, Pennsylvania Republicans will lose a valuable voice in the chamber and conservative priorities will be harder to accomplish.

“Toomey frustrated Democrats and the GOP at times, but he was always pragmatic about his legislation,” Chen said. “That kind of thoughtful governance is decreasing in our body, particular in the Senate.”

Chen acknowledged the void Republicans will feel in the state — as Democrats control the governor’s mansion, the majority of congressional seats and likely the state House. But he said Republicans can rebound if they look at how the party failed to win over swing voters in the midterms instead of focusing on issues pushed by the party’s far-right base.

“There is a path forward for Republicans,” he said, “but it is not the path they are currently on. They need to look introspectively in Pennsylvania.”

Shifting left

Deluzio is replacing a familiar face in Conor Lamb. The Aspinwall resident and Navy veteran will represent the 17th Congressional District, which encompasses Beaver County and many Allegheny County suburbs. Lamb, who comes from a Pittsburgh political family, had shot into the national spotlight following an upset win in 2018.

Deluzio and Lamb share similar backgrounds. Both served in the military and have similar stances on energy and labor policy. Where they differ is Deluzio strikes a more populist tone.

He speaks openly about going after corporations for price gouging and monopolizing. Deluzio also joined the Progressive Caucus in the U.S. House. Lamb was known for pushing back against progressives during his four years in Congress.

Deluzio said he joined the Progressive Caucus because of its ties to the labor movement. He acknowledged that union support was the reason he won his race.

“I am standing here because of the labor movement,” he said. “I will be fighting for the union way of life. I don’t care what label it has.”

Deluzio, a former delegate for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, also noted he joined the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of congressional members who served as veterans. He said he will work with Republicans on any issue that can prop up Western Pennsylvania.

“People just want to see jobs being brought back to the country,” he said.

Deluzio’s victory signifies a district that is shifting left. Deluzio outperformed President Joe Biden in the 17th District.

Democrats also flipped two suburban state House seats in Allegheny County: Allegheny Health Network Dr. Arvind Venkat captured the 30th District seat and Mandy Steele won the 33rd District in the Alle-Kiski Valley. That was part of Democrats winning more seats in the state House than Republicans for the first time in 10 years.

Deluzio noted that, where local Democrats used to focus more on differences between factions, they now are uniting at times when it matters the most, especially around issues such as voting rights.

“I think what you are seeing in Western Pa. is a Democratic Party emerging from the Trump years that is more unified,” Deluzio said. “I am excited where the Democratic Party is heading in Western Pa.”

Editor’s note: U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, is in the For Country Caucus. An original version of this story missidentified the caucus.

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