FITCHBURG — Incumbent Democratic state Sen. John Cronin secured his Worcester and Middlesex district seat, defeating Republican rival and political newcomer Nicholas Pirro with about 59 percent of the vote.

Cronin, a Fitchburg resident and U.S. Army veteran, will now serve his third term in the state Senate after receiving 49,153 votes to Pirro’s 34,206, according to unofficial results.

On Wednesday, after the dust settled, Cronin expressed his gratitude for the support he received during his campaign, while adding that there is still much to do on Beacon Hill.

“I am very grateful to all the voters for giving me another opportunity to serve our region in the state Senate,” Cronin said. “It’s humbling to go through a tough, tough race and come out victorious.”

Cronin said among his goals for the upcoming term is to continue investing in economic development and to support and strengthen community development efforts, particularly in gateway cities like Fitchburg and Leominster.

“I think we can do a lot more to build a vibrant 21st century economy in some of the most economically depressed corners in the state,” said Cronin, who chaired the state Senate’s Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus. “This is the work I’m most passionate about, as well as creating economic opportunity for people and families, and I think that will continue to be my focus.”

Despite being in good spirits on Wednesday, Pirro admitted he was “a little disappointed and a little surprised” by the election results, noting that he had anticipated a much better turnout in his favor.

Pirro, a business owner who lives in Lunenburg with his wife and two children, expressed hope that Cronin will recognize the desire for change among some members of the district and address their concerns.

“Being a senator or a representative means being a voice of the people for your district in Boston, so that would mean doing what the people want,” Pirro said.

When asked if he would consider running for district seat in the future, Pirro, who has never been involved in politics, did not commit either way. He added that he “really enjoyed the process” and “doesn’t feel like he’s done,” while noting that he plans to be more involved in the future than he has been in the past.

In addition to Fitchburg and Leominster, the Worcester and Middlesex district consists of the towns of Westford, Groton, Shirley, Townsend, Ashby, Clinton, Lancaster, and Lunenburg. Long before ballot counting began, both Cronin and Pirro left Tuesday morning, touring each town and city in their district, greeting voters and expressing gratitude to campaign supporters.

“I want to make sure I thank everyone who helped us,” Pirro said as he stood outside the Shirley Town offices around 10:15 a.m., surrounded by family and supporters waving campaign signs. “I’m not running nervous today. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”

Among those holding signs in support of Pirro on Tuesday was Colleen Harper of Lancaster, who said she spent three hours talking with Pirro when his campaign began and found they shared views on “just about everything.”

Harper stressed the importance of making sure money is spent properly and scrutinized, along with the need for more transparency on Beacon Hill — issues he said Pirro has promised to address. Harper said her biggest concern is the high cost of housing migrants who want to settle in Massachusetts.

“I don’t have a problem with immigration, as long as they come through a port authority, they’re vetted, they’re vetted,” Harper said. “I don’t agree with people who just come across the southern border and then bussed all the way here to Massachusetts. We cannot bear such costs and not affect the state.”

Meanwhile, Cronin arrived at the polling place at Stony Brook School in Westford late Tuesday morning, where he spoke with supporters as well as U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who was there to vote and show her support for Cronin.

“I work with John every day on issues that matter to people in this part of the state, whether it’s economic development, veterans issues, health care,” Trahan said. “I know how hard he works. He is a great voice on Beacon Hill and I am proud to have him as my state senator.”

Cronin, a West Point graduate, was honorably discharged as a captain in the U.S. Army in 2018 after serving five years of active duty, which included two deployments to Afghanistan. At the same time, when he was running for the seat in 2020, he had also just started at the Faculty of Law at Suffolk University.

“I think people are hungry for a unifying message,” Cronin said in Westford on Tuesday. “They are hungry for leaders who bring people together, and they are hungry for people who are tackling the issues our community faces on the ground.”

State Rep. Michael Kushmerek of Fitchburg and Fitchburg Ward 4 City Councilman Andy Van Hazinga were among those standing at the corner of Wallace Avenue outside Monument Park in Fitchburg holding signs in support of Cronin on Tuesday.

“We are here supporting democracy,” Kushmerek said. “This is about supporting a candidate in a close race. Senator John Cronin is not only a legislative colleague, but also a close friend. He has been a fantastic partner for the city of Fitchburg, making impactful strides with us.”

Van Hazinga echoed the sentiment, noting how Cronin’s dedication has helped propel the city forward.

“We have been fortunate to have a leader who has invested in supporting the growth and success of our city,” he said.

Michael Burns, student at Fitchburg State University, contributed to this report.