Republican Dave Griffith is the new representative from Missouri House District 60.
Griffith defeated fellow Jefferson City resident Sara Michael for the seat currently held by Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City.
"I'm really proud and honored to represent the people of the 60th District," Griffith said. "The one thing that I hope really resonated with the voters is I promised them I would be responsive to them. I may not always vote the way they wanted me to vote, but I'll always be able to explain the reason I voted that way."
Barnes is completing his fourth term. Term limits prevent him from running for re-election to the district, which includes most of Jefferson City, with the exception of the southeast-most part of the city.
In unofficial totals reported by the Cole County clerk, Griffith captured 8,944 votes, or 57.59 percent of the total - almost two-thirds of ballots cast in the defeat of Michael. She received 6,567 votes, or 42.29 percent.
Griffith, the Republican who served in the U.S. Army, is a former director of the local American Red Cross chapter and is a former member of Jefferson City Council, rose to the top in the primary election against Jane Beetem and Pat Rowe Kerr.
He received about 51 percent of votes cast in the Republican primary.
The credit for Tuesday's win may go to his door-to-door efforts, he said. He and his wife between the primary and the general election knocked on nearly 9,700 doors.
"Dave's a nice guy, and I wish him the best," Michael said. "I hope he does what he promised to do for Jefferson City."
Michael - an attorney who owns her own firm - outdistanced Kevin Nelson in the Democratic primary. A nurse and business owner, Nelson had made runs at the seat before, but was defeated by Barnes.
Michael earned about 63 percent of votes cast in the Democratic primary.
She had run on a campaign aimed at showing that she is willing to fight - and fight hard - for her ideals.
"One of the things I really liked about the campaign - we ran a clean campaign," Griffith said. "I think we both worked hard. We didn't get nasty with each other."
It's tough to win as a Democrat in Cole County, Michael said.
"I was optimistic it would be closer," Michael said. "I got to meet a bunch of incredible people."
Through the campaign season, Griffith that he would give access to people whom he met every day as he went door-to-door. His conversations with voters, he said, educated him about what they believed was important.
Griffith said he would fix what's wrong with government.
Michael held during the campaign that Griffith was exactly what was wrong with government - and that he was likely to be another cog in the super-majority machinery.
Griffith said he's spoken with current legislators. They've told him what to expect. And, being a veteran, his priority is to serve on Veterans Committee. He'd also like to serve in Workforce Development or Transportation committees.
"Those go with what I talked with voters about," Griffith said. "(I thought that) Once I've got this hurdle cleared, I'll be able to really start moving forward. I've got a short list of committees I'd like to serve on."
One of the legislators who has advised him is Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, of the 59th District. Bernskoetter on Tuesday won the state Senate seat once held by now Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. Griffith said Bernskoetter had been a fighter for better state employee pay.
"Bernskoetter had been working toward the compensation they deserve," Griffith said. "I want to take up that voice."