Pennsylvania airport-area House race sees $2 million in campaign spending
New disclosures show Democratic nominee Hadley Haas outspent her opponent by a factor of three in the 44th District.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Campaign finance reports filed with the state reveal that three competitive state House races in Allegheny County have attracted over $3 million in spending ahead of next week's midterm election. The district surrounding the Pittsburgh airport has absorbed nearly $2 million of that total, with Democrats targeting a seat that President Donald Trump won by a four percentage point margin in 2024.
Hadley Haas, the Democratic nominee in the 44th District, reported spending more than $760,000 between June 9 and Oct. 19. This figure is more than triple the amount spent by incumbent Republican Rep. Valerie Gaydos. Haas' campaign received $100,000 from a political action committee supported by the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and $67,000 from the PAC for America’s Future. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party and its associated House campaign committee provided over $860,000 in support, covering mail and television advertising.
The Pennsylvania Republican Party spent approximately $120,000 on mailers for Gaydos. Her largest direct contribution was $10,000 from the PA Aggregates and Concrete Association PAC. Gaydos, who was first elected in 2018, criticized Haas for accepting out-of-district support. She argued that Haas accepts help from outside the area because her values are outside the district's mainstream. Gaydos specifically cited the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers' PAC, stating that those donors have driven up healthcare costs through the roof.
Haas responded in a written statement that most of her donors reside in Pennsylvania. She said her financial advantage reflects greater enthusiasm for her campaign and that Gaydos will try to spin the numbers to hide from the facts. Haas added that she has earned the support of important Pennsylvania leaders, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, which helped build a strong statewide platform.
Financial disparities are also evident in the 12th District, a seat Democrats won in a special election in August. Rep. Brandon Dukes reported more than $825,000 in in-kind support from Democratic committees. Republican nominee Scott Timko reported only $50 in in-kind support from the state Republican Party. Timko's campaign consultant Chris Nicholas said the House Republican Campaign Committee funded a television ad but did not specify the cost. Nicholas described the influx of money for Dukes as an attempt by Philadelphia Democrats to conceal a candidate who is out of touch with constituents.
In the South Hills 44th District, incumbent Republican Rep. Natalie Mihalek outspent Democratic challenger Jon Lloyd by a factor of three. Lloyd received $98,000 in support from Democratic committees, but the spending gap remained wide. These races are influenced by the state governor's race, where Shapiro has raised over $63 million since 2025. Republican nominee Stacy Garrity raised $9.6 million in the same period. Shapiro has directed $8.6 million to state legislative committees since September, while Garrity's campaign raised $5.4 million from Sept. 15 to Oct. 19, with $4 million coming from two specific sources related to skill games and vending.
Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters in Allegheny County will decide the fate of these three state House seats as well as the governor's race. The final spending totals for the gubernatorial campaign will be reflected in disclosures filed before the election.
