Sturgis educator Aaron Miller will be speaking to a much larger audience than his high school algebra classroom in the near future, as voters in Cass and St. Joseph county overwhelmingly selected him to become the next member of the Michigan House of Representatives in the 59th District.

The Republican captured 62 percent of the vote over Democrat opponent Mike Moroz, of Dowagiac, during the election Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press. In Cass County, Miller received 4,444 votes compared to Moroz’s 3,509 votes.

“I felt relief and joy at the end of a long nine-month journey,” Miller said, recalling his initial reactions to the results. “It was great to share that with my family and my friends.”

The teacher was the dark horse candidate during the primary election in August, defeating three other contenders to secure the Republican nomination. Current incumbent Matt Lori, of Constantine, will be stepping down from office following the election, due to term limitations.

This was the second time that Moroz has come up short in the 59th district. In 2012, the local business owner was defeated by Lori, a vote total of 22,510 vs. 13,640.

The victorious Miller attributes the success of his campaign to hard work, taking a grassroots approach to garner support from voters in both counties. One of his more controversial pledges during the campaign was his vow to not accept contributions from special interest groups, which he said would make him accountable solely to his constituents.

“It’s an unorthodox approach,” Miller said. “I think people are ready to sing on with a candidate who doesn’t necessarily do things the way they’ve always been done.”

This was Miller’s first campaign for public office. At only 27-years-old, he will be among the youngest members of the Michigan legislature.

The Sturgis man met with the administration of Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana, where he currently teaches Thursday morning to inform them he would be leaving his position on Dec. 19. Miller said his departure will be bittersweet, especially given the connection he feels with his students.

“Working with students is a passion of mine, but working with lawmakers in Lansing is also a passion I have,” he said.

His first priority in Lansing will be find a way to address Michigan’s ailing roads and highways.

“It will take a lot of work together with other members of the legislature to make that happen,” Miller said. “A solution needs to be worked out, and soon.”