What’s ‘progressive’? A brief chat with Pittsburgh’s mayor on election day

On the morning of Pennsylvania’s primary election day, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey sat in a bright room on the second floor of a building in East Liberty and gave his list of reasons to reelect first-term U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale. “She’s never missed a day; she’s built relationships,” he said at one point.

Canvas workers gathered around a table nearby. Signs reading Biden/Harris covered the walls. This would be a long day at this PA Democratic Coordinated Campaign field office — some workers had started at 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Lee is facing challenger Bhavini Patel in the Democratic primary in what is the Pittsburgh region’s marquee race, and Gainey talked of the programs and resources Lee has brought to the 12th Congressional District. But when asked about the progressive shift in local politics, he winced ever so slightly and shook his head, which prompted the question “Are we making too much of this?”

“When you talk about the progressive agenda, people want that,” he said. “The one thing it’s doing is bringing opportunity. It’s saying we’re a city and a county for all, and we want everyone to have a right to have opportunity here. There’s been a change in how people are voting and who they’re electing. They’re voting for people they believe open the doors and create opportunity. We know this region hasn’t always been this way.”

Then, another question: “Are we using the right language to talk about political movements and identities?”

“I use ‘The people,'” he replied. “I don’t care if you’re a socialist or progressive or moderate or right wing. If you need help from the city, we want to help you. That’s also ‘progressive,’ right? We’re not saying we don’t want to do business with people. We’re making a statement; we want to serve the people.

“Everyone’s not going to think alike, but that doesn’t mean you don’t treat everybody with kindness. I’m not into the business of hate.”