click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Lisa Middleman is greeted by supporters at her election party inside the Savoy restaurant.
This year's biggest election in Allegheny County is the contest between incumbent District Attorney Stephen Zappala (D-Fox Chapel) and challenger Lisa Middleman (I-Highland Park).
Middleman's campaign raised more money than Zappala, who has served as the country's top prosecutor for more than 20 years, and the race has featured several high profile stories. Zappala, the Democratic nominee who also cross-filed as the GOP nominee, has campaigned on his record and his efforts to add surveillance cameras and other security measures to the county, even garnering
support from Republicans. His independent challenger, meanwhile, has focused her campaign on progressive reforms to the criminal justice system, criticizing Zappala for the stark
racial disparities that currently exist in the county's system.
This has garnered her a substantial amount of
grassroots and national support, and even has had some
Democratic officials willing to break ranks to support her. As the county eagerly waited for the results, Middleman's campaign held an Election Night party at Savoy bar in the Strip District.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Supporters of Lisa Middleman check their phones for election results.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Lisa Middleman checks on results with her staff members.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Lisa Middleman speaks with supporters at her election party.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Supporters check their cell phones for the latest election results.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Cell phones with the latest poll results lay on tables throughout the election party.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Lisa Middleman gets another update from her staff.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
The staff for Lisa Middleman continue to stay glued to their laptops and cell phones checking results.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Lisa Middleman gives a speech toward the end of the night at her election party.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Summer Lee starts a chant of "Lisa! Lisa!" during the election party for Lisa Middleman.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Summer Lee hugs Lisa Middleman following her speech.
click to enlarge CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
Ed Gainey speaks to the crowd during Lisa Middleman's election party at Savoy.