Sam Hens-Greco is stepping down as chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee early next month, clearing the way for new party leadership as Democrats head into the pivotal midterm elections.
“I strongly believe in developing and making space for new leadership,” Hens-Greco, 69, of Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze, said in a letter to committee members.
Committee Vice Chair Kate Garfinkel will assume the role of chair when Hens-Greco steps down on Jan. 5. She will remain in the role until at least June, when the committee holds an election to pick a permanent replacement.
Hens-Greco, an attorney, has served as a county chair since being elected to the role in June 2022. He replaced Eileen Kelly, who did not seek another term. He assumed the new role as another pivotal midterm election year already was in full swing, with races for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the state Senate and House on the ballot.
He previously served as chair and vice chair of the 14th Ward Democratic Committee in Pittsburgh.
Among highlights of his tenure, Hens-Greco described last month’s election results for Democratic candidates as “remarkable — from the (state) Supreme Court to school boards.”
In the November election, Pennsylvanians voted in favor of retaining three Democratic justices on the state Supreme Court, a Democratic Superior Court judge and a Democratic Commonwealth Court judge. Democratic candidates also won contested races for Superior and Commonwealth courts.
In Allegheny County, candidates running only as Republicans earned victories in just 15 contested municipal races, the results showed.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have built together. Every success that I can highlight has a single common denominator: a strong team, executing a coordinated, thoughtful plan. None of this progress would have been possible without your support commitment,” Hens-Greco said in the letter to committee members.
