Allegheny County state House Democrat Anita Astorino Kulik says she plans to retire and won’t be seeking reelection next year. Though she has held the district for nearly a decade, her retirement could bring about a spirited Republican challenge to the seat, as Democrats control the House with a slim one-seat majority.
“Being able to serve in the areas where I grew up and spent my life made my terms in office so very special,” Kulik, of Coraopolis, said in a statement. “The people and communities are amazing, and it was truly a privilege to be able to serve and represent them.”
Kulik, who announced the decision Monday, was elected in 2016 to represent the district centered on Pittsburgh’s western suburbs. A former campaign website says she became the only woman from Allegheny County serving in the state legislature at the time. She said she’ll serve the remainder of her term, which ends on November 30, 2026.
“I believe completely in representative government and, with that, I believe that those fortunate enough to be elected to office must understand that, after a certain period of time, new people should be encouraged to run and take their turn to serve,” the statement continues.
In her five House terms, she’s also backed several bills focused on preventing domestic violence and supporting survivors — an area of interest from her time as practicing as an attorney. She said she’s also proud to have advanced outdoor sports legislation, such as an expansion to Sunday hunting, as chair of the House Game and Fisheries committee.
Kulik has been among the county delegation’s more conservative Democrats when it comes to votes on issues that include abortion and gun control. Her legislation to clean up abandoned boats from state waterways was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro this summer.
A map of the 45th state House district.
Democrats in the district — which includes Bridgeville, Carnegie, Collier, Coraopolis, Kennedy, McKees Rocks, Neville Township, Pennsbury Village, Robinson and Stowe — enjoy a voter registration advantage over Republicans of slightly more than 1.5 to 1. But the district includes a number of working-class suburbs of the kind where enthusiasm for Democrats has lagged in recent cycles. Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris carried the district by just 4 percentage points last year; she won the county as a whole by 20. Similar dynamics were in effect in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick.
Kulik “really knows the district and she’s worked hard,” said Chartiers Valley Democrats chair Sean McCurdy, whose organization represents party leaders from communities in the 45th District and nearby. “Her views align with the people she’s represented, and it will be interesting to see what will happen here. Once you get outside of the city and Mt. Lebanon, it gets very competitive.”
McCurdy praised Kulik for her office’s constituent service and for the fact that “she has kept her foot on the gas in terms of doing things for her district. … These will be huge shoes to fill.”
Republicans have shown signs of mounting spirited campaigns in the area, with a well-funded challenger in a county council race this fall.
Kulik herself won reelection last year by a 16-point margin. Though a healthy buffer, it’s narrower than previous election wins in 2022 (by nearly 27 points) and 2020 (by more than 23 points) over Republican challengers. The GOP did not run a competitor in 2018.
Before serving in the state House, Kulik was a Kennedy Township commissioner for 13 years and worked as an attorney representing domestic violence survivors. She received her J.D. from Duquesne University.
Kulik was not immediately available for an interview after her announcement Monday.
Chris Potter contributed to this story.