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Mayor Bill Peduto and Sheriff Bill Mullen won the Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsement Sunday, after a gathering of party elders at the IBEW Local #5 hall on the South Side.

Mr. Peduto beat his sole rival for the endorsement, District 1 City Councilwoman Darlene Harris, by a 372-245 margin.

"We took 60 percent of the vote, which is a pretty decisive victory," said Matt Merriman-Preston, a spokesman for the Peduto campaign. "It really speaks to the breadth of the mayor's support. People know that the mayor is continuing to deal with the challenges the city is facing, and they're pleased with what he's done so far."

This weekend, Mr. Peduto also formally garnered the support of a long-time ally, the service employees union.

Although Mr. Peduto has run for mayor twice before, in 2005 and 2013, this was the first time he sought the party's backing. Voters in the Democratic primary can and sometimes do ignore the endorsement, though the committees approval confers bragging rights, and the chance to appear on slate cards handed out at polling places.

Ms. Harris has not formally announced a mayoral campaign, even as she has sought the partys endorsement. She said Sundays result will play "a big part" in her decision about whether to launch a full-throated bid for office. As to her next step, she said, "I'll be making a decision on Tuesday," when election petitions are due.

Asked whether she was disappointed by the outcome, she said, "Why would I be? I didn't even announce I was running."

Another mayoral candidate, the Rev. John Welch, was escorted out of the IBEW hall after a brief sojourn inside in the morning.

Rev. Welch, of Homewood, was not seeking the endorsement, and as such was not entitled to appear at the event. He withdrew to the sidewalk outside. "I figured there would be some hospitality, he said. I had a chance to greet some people, and then I was greeted."

Sheriff Mullen, the top vote-getter on Sunday, garnered 1,137 votes, beating the 442 racked up by Pittsburgh homicide detective George Satler.

Sheriff Mullen said it was "gratifying to get the most votes. I had a lot of people working very hard."

"I was hoping to do better," said Detective Satler. "But I don't want to disappoint the more than 440 people who supported me. I will continue to run."

Sheriff Mullen took nothing for granted. While candidates often make last-ditch appeals to committee members by offering freebies before voting, Sheriff Mullens campaign provided an unusual boon: a golf cart to ferry less able-bodied committee members to the hall from the parking lots cross the street.

In other races, Anthony Coghill easily won the endorsement in City Council District 4, beating Gary McBurney. (Another contender, Ashleigh Deemer, did not seek the endorsement.) Pittsburgh school board member Terry Kennedy, who represents the 5th district, besting challenger Ghadah Makoshi. In Common Pleas Court races, Patrick Connelly and David Spurgeon won endorsement for the two judicial seats available.

"I think the results were predictable," said county committee chair Nancy Patton Mills. She called the event "exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. We had no issues. Everyone was cordial, and we're very proud of all the candidates.

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Peduto, Mullen win endorsements from county Democrats - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette