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U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson defeated his Democratic challenger, former state Supreme Court justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, Tuesday night to retain control of the state’s 8th Congressional District.

Statewide, Hudson, who has been in Congress since 2013, received 201,181 votes, or roughly 53 percent of the electorate, compared to Timmons-Goodson’s 175,891 votes. The race was not nearly as close in Stanly County, where Hudson easily won by a healthy 25,000 to 8,145 margin.

While both candidates received roughly the same number of mail-in ballots in Stanly, Hudson dominated in early voting, where he received roughly 13,000 more votes than Timmons-Goodson, and Election Day voting, where he received almost 3,600 more votes.

Hudson also defeated Timmons-Goodson in neighboring Cabarrus County, where he received 56 percent of the vote.

“I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to continue serving our community,” said Hudson Tuesday night at his headquarters in Concord. “As I vowed during this campaign, I will work for everyone in our community and continue focusing on priorities including rebuilding our economy and improving health care. As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I will also continue to work every day for our veterans, our troops and their families.”

Hudson also thanked Timmons-Goodson for running a hard-fought campaign.

“I am proud of the effort we put together,” said Timmons-Goodson in a statement after the results were announced. “We ran a strong campaign and gave the voters the information they needed to make an informed choice and they have spoken. I wish Representative Hudson well in his next term.”