Jordan Botta, who made history earlier this year as the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Allegheny County Council, is officially the Democratic nominee for the District 13 seat in this fall’s special election.
Botta has been holding it down on council since May, when he was appointed to temporarily fill the seat vacated by David Bonaroti. Now, he’s looking to make it official and finish out the remaining two years of Bonaroti’s term, representing a district that includes Bellevue and a solid slice of the City of Pittsburgh, including Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, the North Side, and Downtown.
“I’ve just been doing my best to show up,” Botta told WESA, speaking from Little Italy Days in Bloomfield. “I’ve been trying to attend as many events in the county and the district as I can and just be a good public servant.”
Botta faced competition from two well-known community voices, Jon Hanrahan, a resident of Fineview, and Daylon Davis, the former president of Pittsburgh’s NAACP chapter. All three had also been in the running for the interim appointment earlier this year. Botta received 79 out of approximately 140 votes cast by Democratic committee members in District 13.
Botta spent the summer engaging with committee members face-to-face, leaning on his track record of steady leadership and unapologetic Democratic values. “I’ve just been trying to be a good Democrat,” he said.
Botta previously ran for Pittsburgh City Council in 2023, challenging incumbent Deb Gross in District 7. While that campaign didn’t land him the seat, it did establish him as a rising progressive voice. One who’s young, queer, and deeply rooted in the community. Botta is a fifth-generation Lawrenceville resident.
While Botta has the Democratic nomination locked in, he’s expected to face Republican Todd McCollum, the city GOP chair, in November.
