Nov 7, 2012 3 min read

Three familiar faces will be representing residents in Washington and Greene counties in the state legislature and senate come January.

Incumbent Democrat Peter Daley of California beat out his opponent 51-year-old Republican Richard Massafra of Monongahela to win his 16th term in the state House 49th District seat by 11,155 votes to 9,451, according to unofficial election results. This was the second time the men faced off for the post.

In Washington County, Daley won 9,675 votes to Massafra’s 8,574, while in Fayette County Daley got 2,145 votes and Massafra got 1,246.

Daley won the race despite a glitch in Donegal Township’s third precinct where voters in that precinct were asked to vote for the 46th House seat, in which Democratic incumbent Jesse White was running unopposed, instead of the 49th House seat race.

“I’m very happy and pleased,” said Daley about his win, adding he beat Massafra more than he did two years ago although Daley said he knows his opponent spent more than $400,00 on campaign advertising.

Massafra could not be reached late Tuesday night for comment.

In the 39th House seat, retired lawmaker Democrat David Levdansky narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Rick Saccone by only 125 votes. Unofficial election results show Levdansky receiving 13,460 to Saccone’s 13,235.

Vote totals in Washington were 2,850 for Levdansky and 3,226 for Saccone.

Saccone, of Elizabeth Township, unseated Levdansky, also from Elizabeth, from the seat two years ago by 151 votes in Saccone’s first campaign for state office.

In the 37th Senatorial race, current state Rep. Matt Smith, a Democrat from Mt. Lebanon, won over former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner D. Raja by 63,436 to 56,489 votes.

Peters Township was the only area in Washington County included in the district. Unofficial vote totals from the township were 6,829 for Smith, 40, of Mt. Lebanon, and 4,409 for Raja, 47, also of Mt. Lebanon.

After conceding the race to Smith, Raja said, “It was a hard fought race, I congratulate Matt Smith and wish him the very best as our state Senator.”

Raja addressed a crowd of about 60 supporters including Congressman Tim Murphy and Allegheny County Republican Committee Chairman Jim Roddey.

Smith was exuberant on winning the seat, crediting his volunteers and campaign staff for the hard work.

During the campaign, Raja outspent Smith by a 3-to-1 margin.

“We are all really gratified with the results,” Smith said after addressing his supporters. His win reinforced “all the work we put in the race.”

Smith also ran unopposed for re-election in the 42nd Legislative District.