Congressman Fred Upton will be returning to Washington for his 27th year in office, defeating challenger Paul Clements in the race for Michigan’s sixth congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press.

The Republican lawmaker from St. Joseph captured 56 percent of the vote on Tuesday, versus 40 percent by the Democrat candidate. Third party candidates Erwin Haas, with the Libertarian Party, and John Lawrence, with the Green Party, only secured 3 and 1 percent of the current tallied votes, respectively.

“Our voters, you all, helped us accomplish want we really wanted,” Upton said during his victory speech at the Inn at Harbor Shores in his hometown. “Washington not only listens, but can govern, to take the issues that deal with us today and confront them and resolve them, to work together to get them done.”

With a victory, Upton will enter his 14th consecutive term in office. The congressman currently serves as the chair of the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee.

Clements, a professor with Western Michigan University, was the latest Democrat to attempt to dethrone the incumbent Republican. The candidate managed to amass the largest war chest of any of Upton’s challenger to date, raising around $660,000.