A couple people with ties to the University of Pittsburgh threw their hats in the electoral ring for the May 16 primary, with varying results.
Chris Deluzio, a lawyer who focuses on voting rights and policy director of Pitt’s Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security, won the Democratic primary for the 17th Congressional District. The district, which covers Beaver County and large parts of Allegheny County, is currently represented by Conor Lamb, who lost in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Toomey.
Deluzio is a Navy veteran who served in the Iraq War and an adjunct professor in the School of Law. He’s also been involved in the faculty unionization effort at Pitt. He defeated LGBTQ organizer Sean Meloy and will face former Ross commissioner Jeremy Shaffer in this fall’s general election.
Jerry Dickinson, an associate professor in the School of Law who specializes in constitutional and property law, came in a distant third in the Democratic primary for the 12th Congressional District. A tight race between state Rep. Summer Lee and Squirrel Hill attorney Steve Irwin was not decided until May 25, with Lee winning.
The new 12th District replaces the 18th District, which covers many of the city’s southern and southeastern suburbs, as well as the western edge of Westmoreland County. Mike Doyle, who will retired at the end of the current term, has represented the area since 1995. Another Mike Doyle, who shares the name but not the party of the incumbent, will face Lee in the fall.
— Susan Jones
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