Bernie Sanders endorses Sara Innamorato in race for Allegheny County executive

The country’s most prominent progressive politician is endorsing state Rep. Sara Innamorato in the race for Allegheny County’s highest elected office.

The endorsement from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., came Tuesday as a poll in the race for county executive showed Innamorato surging into the lead among Democratic candidates.

Sanders, 81, said he is backing Innamorato because of her experience in the state House fighting for affordable housing, clean air and water, and higher wages for workers.

“I know she will continue to wake up every day fighting to improve the lives of people in Western Pennsylvania,” Sanders said in a statement.

I'm proud to endorse @Innamo for Allegheny County Executive. As a state legislator, Sara has been a consistent advocate for affordable housing, clean air & water, & to raise wages. I know she will wake up everyday fighting to improve the lives of people in Western Pennsylvania.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 3, 2023

Innamorato, 37, of Lawrenceville, said her campaign aligns with Sanders’.

“Senator Sanders and I both know that local government can be a powerful tool for justice where we can create opportunities for our communities to prosper,” she said.

Sanders and Innamorato are both progressive politicians on the left end of the political spectrum, so it’s unclear what impact the endorsement will have in persuading new voters to support Innamorato.

Sanders is one of the most well-known and well-liked Democrats nationally. YouGov polling from early this year showed that Sanders is known by 96% of Americans and has an approval rating of 51%.

His endorsement likely will come with calls to action to people on his extensive email list, which goes beyond the typical voter pool that is plugged into local Allegheny County races, said Abigail Gardner, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Summer Lee’s successful 2022 run.

Sanders endorsed and rallied for Lee just before the 2022 primary, and Gardner said it was important in boosting Lee in the final stretch. Lee won a close primary election by just under a 1-point margin.

“His campaign apparatus was able to reach thousands of local voters via text, social media, and email who otherwise didn’t know Summer,” Gardner said. “But they knew if Bernie Sanders was endorsing her, they should pay attention.”

Two polls from building trades consortium Pittsburgh Works Together show that Innamorato’s campaign has gained momentum.

A poll conducted between Feb 28 and March 5 showed a tight race in the Democratic primary, with 28% of Democrats backing Allegheny Treasurer John Weinstein, 24% supporting Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb and 17% siding with Innamorato.

A new poll, conducted between April 29 and May 1, shows that 32% of likely Democratic voters are supporting Innamorato while Lamb and Weinstein both have support from 20% of likely Democratic voters.

Both polls surveyed 400 likely Democratic voters and have a margin of error of 4%.

The primary election will be held on May 16. Vote-by-mail has already begun.