Republican incumbent Devlin Robinson retains state Senate seat

Republican Devlin Robinson has staved off Democratic challenger Nicole Ruscitto and retained his seat representing the state’s 37th Senatorial District.

According to complete, but unofficial, election results reported by the Allegheny County Elections Division on Election Day, Robinson collected 52.85% of the vote (79,014 votes) to 47.02% for Ruscitto (70,292).

Robinson was reached via phone shortly before the update, with supporters expressing delight in the background.

“It makes me feel good,” said Robinson, 41, of Bridgeville. “I’m relieved.”

He said the first order of business Wednesday was to take down all the campaign signs. The second is to get back to work.

Robinson credits the victory to his team and being engaged with the people.

“In all honesty, it’s just been the work that I’ve put in over the last four years and the work that our staff has put in with constituent services,” Robinson said. “I’ve really tried to work and touch and make better every municipality in my district, and I think that’s what carried us over. (From) Boy Scout meetings and ribbon cuttings and just really doing the job as a local senator and caring about your constituents and your community.”

Robinson, was first elected to state Senate in 2020.

Ruscitto, 53, of Jefferson Hills, told TribLive early Wednesday that she called Robinson to concede and congratulate him on his win.

The South Park Middle School teacher said she took an unpaid leave to run for office, and will be happy to return to her students.

“I just put myself out there and did the best I could,” she said. “(We) had a great team and we fell short. We worked hard and I congratulate my opponent and wish him well, and I’m back to doing what I love, teaching kids. Can’t say anything more than that.”

The 37th District curves along Pittsburgh’s western edge, encompassing various suburbs that include Sewickley and its surrounding communities, Franklin Park, Coraopolis, Bridgeville, Bethel Park and Jefferson Hills, among others.

Both Robinson and Ruscitto ran unopposed in their parties’ primaries earlier this year.

Robinson won out over Democratic incumbent Pam Iovino by a thin margin of about 3,000 votes in 2020.

Ruscitto, a public school educator and PSEA union leader, had an early lead over Robinson when the polls closed and even a little less than two hours afterward.

However, momentum began to swing as the night went on. And with about 80% of precincts reporting, it became apparent that the incumbent would win reelection.

Robinson, a Marine Corps combat veteran and business owner, was ahead in eight of the nine districts in Ruscitto’s home borough.

“I try to treat every community equally,” Robinson said brushing off his dominance in Jefferson Hills. “I try to really work on whatever needs and problems that every community has, and I’ve just been accessible and a hands-on senator in every single community.”

There have been concerns from both sides of the aisle about election integrity.

Former President Donald Trump has said multiple times that the only way the Democrats could win is if they cheat.

Robinson said he does not believe there was any fraud or shenanigans in any of the polling places in the 37th District.

“I want to commend the Allegheny County Board of Elections for a job well done and the individuals that work for the board of elections,” Robinson said.

Ruscitto also said it was a free and fair election.

“The people spoke, and I congratulate him and I hope he will do the best for the people in the 37th like I intended to do,” she said. “It was a win-win for me either way. I get to go back to the students I love and the kids that I love.”

Robinson said his focus will soon turn to job creation, infrastructure improvements and bolstering technology usage in Western Pennsylvania.

“We want to make sure we have good-paying jobs in the area, and that is making sure that we have good paying union jobs coming in,” Robinson said.