The federal judge hearing the challenge regarding Pennsylvania’s 45th District Senate seat says to expect a ruling today. The district includes portions of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Democratic incumbent Jim Brewster was declared and certified as the winner by just 69 votes over Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli. Ziccarelli has challenged the results due to a difference in the criteria used by Allegheny County to count some mail-in ballots and the criteria used by Westmoreland County. Ziccarelli says that if Allegheny County had gone with the Westmoreland standard, she would be the winner of the race. Brewster was declined the right to be sworn in to office in Harrisburg pending the outcome of the challenge.