Israel-Hamas War Now An Issue In Allegheny County Executive Race

PITTSBURGH, PA — International issues seldom play a role in local political races, but the Israel-Hamas war has become an issue in the Allegheny County executive race.

In a political battle on the former Twitter platform X, Democrat Sara Innamoroto and Republican Joe Rockey sparred over her former affiliation with the Pittsburgh chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The group, which endorsed Innamoroto in her successful state House bid in 2018, issued a statement Tuesday announcing its "continued full and unequivocal support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom."

"We continue to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees, the end of all U.S. military aid to Israel and all military cooperation with Israel, an end to all training exchanges between US police forces and police and military in Israel, the closure of all US military bases on foreign soil, and the immediate withdrawal of the US from NATO," the socialist organization release stated.

The release prompted a tweet from Rockey stating, "A lukewarm rejection of the attacks isn’t enough from Sara. She needs to renounce the enablers in DSA and stand with the Jewish people."

Innamorato responded with a tweet of her own, saying she hasn't been affiliated with the socialist organization since 2019 and that she strongly denounces the anti-Israel actions and statements of national and local DSA chapters.

"I urge my opponent to stay focused on who is actually being harmed in the conflict in Israel and Gaza instead of trying to score cheap political points off of people’s pain," she stated.

"Israel has a right to defend itself while minimizing civilian casualties. Additionally, I support a plan that offers safe passage out of Gaza for civilians because Hamas also uses innocent Palestinians as human shields."

Innamoroto and Rockey are vying to succeed current county Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who is term-limited and will leave office in January after 12 years in office.

The general election is Nov. 7.