Jennifer Mazzocco faced Republican Joseph Leckenby in the race to replace former state Rep. Dan Miller in the 42nd District. Her win keeps the South Hills district blue.

Democrat Jennifer Mazzocco cruised to an easy victory in the special election Tuesday to represent a number of South Hills suburbs in the state House this year.

Mazzocco bested Republican Joseph Leckenby in a race in which the outcome was clear from almost the moment polls closed at 8 p.m. and the first mail-in ballot totals were released. The Associated Press called the race for Mazzocco shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, with 45 percent of votes counted.

“We knocked a ton of doors,” said Mazzocco. “Given the national climate, people were not only glad to have a Democrat come to their door, but just excited to talk about an alternative to what’s going on.”