Pisciottano defeats Dintini to fill Brewster’s Senate seat

He held a 7,000-vote lead late Tuesday night.

Pennsylvania’s 45th Senatorial District will remain blue as state Rep. Nick Pisciottano declared victory over Republican Jen Dintini Tuesday night.

Pisciottano led Dintini by about 7,000 votes with 90% of the ballots tallied, according to unofficial election results as of press time. Pisciottano garnered 53% of the votes, while Dintini collected about 47%.

Pisciottano celebrated his victory at American Legion Post 380 in Dravosburg surrounded by family and supporters. Dintini spent election night at Lokay Lanes in Monroeville.

John Inglis, who declared victory for Pisciottano’s former seat in the state House, introduced his fellow Democrat as “the next state senator” to the group of supporters at the American Legion.

Pisciottano thanked his staff, supporters and family as he addressed the crowd.

“There’s nothing special about me other than the fact that I have been blessed and lucky enough in life to surround myself with people who have been able to make me successful,” Pisciottano said.

Pisciottano and Dintini spent the day interacting with voters at various precincts throughout the district.

State Sen. Jim Brewster, who will retire at the end of his term after spending 14 years in the position, attended Pisciottano’s election night party to support the fellow Democrat.

“I hope that I can fill the shoes that Sen. Brewster has filled for so many years, and I hope that I’m worthy of the honor that you guys have given me,” Pisciottano said.

Pisciottano said his top priority in the Senate will be public education.

“Number one is to continue the good work Gov. Josh Shapiro has done funding public schools and fixing the unconstitutional underfunding of public schools, so that students in Allegheny County have the resources they need to succeed and learn and become adults without that burden falling on local taxpayers,” he said. “We’ve started that work; we need to keep getting that done.” Pennsylvania state Senate District 45 includes parts of Allegheny County consisting of the cities of Clairton, Duquesne and McKeesport and the townships of Baldwin, Elizabeth, Forward, North Versailles and South Versailles and the boroughs of Baldwin, Braddock, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Dravosburg, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Elizabeth, Glassport, Homestead, Liberty, Lincoln, Monroeville, Munhall, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Plum, Port Vue, Trafford (Allegheny County portion), Turtle Creek, Versailles, Wall, West Elizabeth, West Homestead, West Mifflin, Whitaker, White Oak, Whitehall and Wilmerding.