The Pennsylvania Senate race for the 45th District features two relatively new entrants

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – State Senator Jim Brewster of McKeesport is retiring from the State Senate's 45th District this year.

The district stretches from Plum and Monroeville in the eastern suburbs across the Mon Valley and west into parts of the South Hills, and the race to replace him features two relative newcomers.

“I’m not a career politician,” said Rep. Nick Pisciottano. “Immediately after graduating from college, I worked as an auditor and auditor for one of the largest accounting firms in the country for eight and a half years.”

Four years ago, the 34-year-old Democrat was elected to the state House of Representatives. Opposing him for the state Senate is Republican Jen Dintini of Plum.

“I’m a business owner and a mother,” Dintini said. “I own two security companies. One is AmGuard, which my grandparents founded. And the other is 3G Security Solutions. It is 100 percent women-owned and certified.”

Dintini says she is the candidate of change.

“I decided to run for State Senate because I believe the status quo is not serving our communities. That’s why I’m here,” she said.

Pisciottano says he can hit the ground running because he has experience in Harrisburg.

“On day one, I walk into the Senate ready to fight for my constituents with the experience but also a new perspective to make this happen,” he said.

Both candidates say the other side is lying about them in campaign ads. Contrary to the negative attacks, the Democrat says it's absurd to claim he only works 55 days a year as a state representative, while the Republican says current state abortion laws are fine and she has no desire to sue women for having an abortion to put in prison.

“These are outright lies,” Dintini said. “They are unfounded. I've never said anything like that before. It is being used as a weapon against me to win an election.”

“I’m not trying to limit or improve,” she added. “I think the way the law works has worked for a very long time.”

“For the 55 days a year that I was away from my family in Harrisburg and doing my job, you can see on my social media that I’m working even when I’m not in Harrisburg,” Pisciottano said. “Actually, that’s the biggest part of my job: being present in the community, talking to voters, finding out about issues, holding meetings. All these things that happen when we’re not in Harrisburg and I’m working 365 days a year.”

Although this state Senate seat has traditionally been Democratic over the years and no incumbent is running this year, it is completely open.