State Rep. Cary Condotta captured nearly 65 percent of the votes to win a sixth term in office.

Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, defeated challenger Stan Morse, a Chelan attorney, for the 12th District seat. Condotta garnered 22,425 votes in Chelan and Douglas counties and parts of Okanogan and Grant counties, to Morse's 12,259 votes.

"I'm thrilled," he said. "We decided to run a low-profile campaign. I'm very, very happy tonight."

He was still waiting to hear results on the governor's race. He said he was hoping to work with a Republican governor — instead of a Democrat — for the first time since he's been in the Legislature.

Condotta was sharing a private dinner with friends and family tonight, and then planned to visit an event at the Republic Party headquarters in Wenatchee.

Morse was at home awaiting election results tonight. Earlier in the day, he took down his campaign signs, "and that felt good," he said.

He said he wasn't as disappointed with the general election results as he was after the primary election, when Condotta held a similar lead over him.

"I thought the people were more in tune with what Cary had and hadn't accomplished," Morse said. "I wasn't expecting any different results tonight."

Condotta, 55, has held the seat since 2003. In earlier election interviews, he said he believes he has worked hard for North Central Washington and the whole state, particularly on issues pertaining to small business.

Condotta is the ranking Republican on the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee and serves on a number of other House committees. He was recently named legislator of the year by the Association of Washington Business.

Morse, 58, a former City Council member, said in earlier interviews that he believes Condotta has not been an effective leader. Morse said he believes Condotta has focused too much attention on business issues, and said he has had little success getting his legislation passed.