After three terms in office, state Rep. Jake Wheatley says he is hitting his stride and is growing into his role as an effective advocate for his constituents and the Pittsburgh region.

But Deidra Washington, his challenger in Tuesday's Democratic primary, contends Mr. Wheatley, 36, is out of touch with the concerns of people in the 19th District.

"I don't feel that he has represented our district the way it should be. There is a lot of division in the community, and that points to his lack of leadership," she said. "He could be helping us to come together as one, especially on issues like fighting crime and violence, and I don't think he is doing that."

Ms. Washington, 37, of the Hill District, who was Mr. Wheatley's office manager for about four months during his first term in office, said she felt compelled to challenge him because "he is no longer the kind of leader he once was" when he defeated a longtime representative of the district.

On his part, Mr. Wheatley, also a Hill District resident who cut his political teeth as an aide to former Pittsburgh City Councilman Sala Udin, countered that he has established a record of leadership on issues like education, reinvesting in urban communities and health care.

Ms. Washington, he said, does not have "a record of service that she can point to."

"Over the years, I have asked people to hold me to a certain standard and to judge me on my record," he said. "People will see that I have been very committed to issues like renovating the theater on the North Side; expanding health care access to the children of Pennsylvania and making prescription drugs affordable for the elderly."

The 19th District includes Downtown, the Hill District, North Side, South Side, Allentown, Hazelwood, the Bluff, Knoxville, Beltzhoover, Manchester, Arlington, Arlington Heights and West, South and North Oakland.

Because there are no Republicans on the primary ballot, the winner of Tuesday's Democratic election will almost certainly take the seat next year.

So far, the race has stirred the mix of local politicos with camps around both candidates and around issues like the planned arena adjacent to the Hill District that will house the Penguins.

Mr. Wheatley is aligned with ministers in a group recently named the Hill Faith and Justice Alliance, while Ms. Washington is a member of the One Hill Community Benefits Coalition. Both groups have taken vocal positions in talks involving the new arena, but seem to differ in how the community can best benefit from the facility.

Ms. Washington, a former site manager for the Pittsburgh Housing Authority, is also a Democratic committee member since 2002. She lost the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee to Mr. Wheatley by three votes in February, 55-52.

Such a showing for a first-timer, Ms. Washington said, gave her hope that the district is ready to change leadership after three terms under Mr. Wheatley.

"Have we really seen any change in the lives of people in the district since he has been in office?" she asked, denying that her candidacy is backed by Pittsburgh city Councilwoman Tonya Payne, an outspoken critic of Mr. Wheatley.

But Mr. Wheatley countered that the people he is talking to "have inspired me to keep fighting for the issues I'm passionate about. People tell me I have done some good work in the last five years."