Houston County voters made their way to the polls to pick their state representative for House District 146.
Shaw Blackmon defeated Larry Walker III in Tuesday's election.
Out of 4,425 total votes, Blackmon received 57 percent, and Walker got 43 percent.
Blackmon and Walker are both Republican and both grew up in Houston County.
Blackmon is president of National Bank Products.
He has served on the state Technical College Board and has been involved in the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce.
He says to spread his message of what he calls "smart, simple and effective government," he went door to door, wrote letters, and had a real "grassroots" campaign.
About 200 people celebrated with him at Houston Lake Country Club.
The Representative-elect told us he is humbled by the results, and he intends to get right down to business.
"I just feel incredibly fortunate," Blackmon says. "There were two outstanding candidates that we were up against, and I give them all the credit in the world. I know we ran a hard, clean, positive campaign. It's exciting to be here but also we've got work to do now to serve the people accordingly."
To his supporters, Blackmon says: "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope I can repay you with good service up in Atlanta."
Blackmon says some of his main goals are supporting Robins Air Force Base, improving public education, and promoting business and industry.
This election fills a seat left vacant when Larry O'Neal accepted an appointment to a judgeship last year.
Blackmon will have to run for re-election in 2016.
