Sara Innamorato

Sara G. Innamorato is an American politician serving as the county executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania since 2024.

Innamorato is the prime sponsor of HB 1556, a bill designed to expand automatic voter registration services to all individuals who utilize state government and legislative services.

The bill was developed as part of a suite of electoral reform bills advanced by the House Democratic Caucus.

Innamorato opposes hydraulic fracturing, citing many public health concerns in communities near drilling sites and refineries.

She has voted against legislation to grant tax exemptions and incentives to new petrochemical plants, labeling such proposals "corporate welfare".

However, Innamorato has also organized public hearings to encourage dialogue between labor unions and anti-fracking organizations, saying she believes the choice between "the environment" and "good union jobs, family sustaining jobs" is "false and ... antiquated."

Innamorato has stated that she has worked to draft legislation to prevent the dumping of chemicals and waste water used in hydraulic fracturing into sewage treatments plants and public waterways, due to alleged radioactive contamination.

Innamorato has spoken in favor of Green New Deal legislation, as well as green and sustainable infrastructure development.

Innamorato has spoken in favor of Inclusionary Zoning and Affordable Housing initiatives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Innamorato joined with other lawmakers in calling for a moratorium on evictions.

After the 2008 economic crash, she secured a spot in a leadership program at Apple.

She then left the private sector to work in the nonprofit sector, focusing on issues of vacant land reclamation, food justice, and digital equity.

She started Innamo Co., an independent marketing firm focused on "social good".

Innamorato is a co-founder of She Runs SWPA, a non-partisan organization focused on encouraging women to run for office.

Then a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), she won the Democratic Party nomination for the seat by defeating incumbent Dom Costa in the 2018 primary election with over 64% of the vote.

Innamorato was unopposed on the ballot for the general election.

Costa launched a write-in campaign late in the election cycle.

Costa went public with the bid following a podcast interview in which Innamorato was quoted saying, "My district, which I know is like white working class, poor folk, who are racist, because it's so much easier for them to look to their side and say, 'I'm going to blame that person. Costa campaign head Gary Britcher argued that Innamorato had called the district "racist". Another interview quoted Innamorato in stating that the comment had been taken out of context and the Costa campaign's portrayal was "'not how I feel.

From the beginning of this campaign, I've talked about my experience growing up in that district, and about the kindness of neighborhood (sic) who helped me through the instability of growing up.' Her point, she said, was that white working class voters 'are being exploited from all sides,' by economic and political elites who play on racial tensions to distract them from issues of economic injustice.

'Racism exists everywhere,' she said.

'My job is to represent everyone, and to not shy away from tough conversations.

Innamorato received 85% of the vote in the general election.

After the election, allegations surfaced that two violations of Pennsylvania campaign finance law were committed by the PAC "Americans Against Socialism," the principle funding mechanism for the marketing firm employed by the Costa write-in campaign.

She was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 21st district from 2019 to 2023.

Innamorato was raised in Ross Township and attended the North Hills School District.

She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in business.

Innamorato's affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America ended in 2019.

In 2020, Innamorato was initially opposed by Stephen Zappala III, the son of the Allegheny County District Attorney, for the Democratic Party nomination.

Zappala quietly withdrew his candidacy the following month.

As a result, Innamorato was unopposed on the ballot for the Democratic Party nomination.

Innamorato defeated Republican challenger John Waugh in the general election.

In December 2022, Innamorato launched her campaign to become the first female County Executive of Allegheny County.

Innamorato won her primary and faced Republican Joseph Rockey in the November general election.

She announced her resignation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

She made the decision in order to dedicate more time to her campaign for the role of Allegheny County executive.

Her departure from office resulted in a tie between Democrats and Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, now both with 101 seats.

A special election to replace Innamorato took place on September 19, 2023.

Democrat Lindsay Powell defeated Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith with over 65% of the vote.

Innamorato was elected in 2023.

She is the first woman to hold the position.