Altemara wins Democratic nod in 39th District

He’ll challenge state Rep. Andrew Kuzma in the general election.

Dylan Altemara won the Democratic House nomination in the 39th District on Tuesday and will face state Rep. Andrew Kuzma this fall.

Altemara and Kellianne Frketic, both Elizabeth Township residents who ran for Allegheny County Council last fall, were looking to secure the spot against Kuzma, R-Elizabeth Township, who has held the position for more than three years.

“I want to congratulate Kellianne Frketic for running a very tough and spirited campaign,” Altemara told The Mon Valley Independent. “I think without her involvement in this race, it wouldn’t have pushed me and my volunteers and teams as much as it did. I would like to go ahead and congratulate her on really getting us primed for the general, and now that it looks like we’re gonna go on the other side of the primary.”

In Washington County, Altemara votes, while Frketic received 37.31% with 453 votes. In Allegheny County, Altemara had 3,062 votes and Frketic received 1780 votes.

“I just want to go ahead and extend my gratitude to those who came out and supported us, specifically the Democratic Committee folks, who really gave us a chance from the jump in South Park, in Jefferson Hills, in the Elizabeth Forward area,” Altemara said.

He also thanked former state Rep. and current Forward Township Supervisor David Levdansky, who he said has been “pivotal” in his election journey.

Altemara said the biggest issue facing the 39th District is the rising cost of living, noting that people of all backgrounds are having issues with property taxes, utility bills, housing costs, health care, groceries and gas prices as they continue to rise.

He added that there needs to be tax relief, investment in infrastructure and essential services and honest, practical leadership focused on opportunity and community stability.

In terms of his leadership, Altemara said if he wins the seat, he will be consistent, have open communication and accountability to the community. He promised to stay focused on practical solutions instead of partisan performance.

Frketic called the results “disappointing,” and expressed appreciation to all the voters that came out to support her.

Kuzma, who ran unopposed, received 1,068 votes in Washington County and 2,742 in Allegheny County.

Altemara said District 39 has been in the hands of Republicans for about a decade, and in that time, property taxes, gas prices and the cost of living have gone up. At the municipal level, he said common-sense Democrats are breaking through in these elections.

He hopes to redefine how people think in the district ahead of the general election later this year.

“I really look forward to the opportunity to prosecute the case against Republicans, and really speak to a broad group of people, not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans, and really make the case why we need a change in this seat going into 2027,” Altemara said. “I think this is going to be a campaign that redefines what it means to be a Democrat in the Mon Valley and South Hills.”