AUSTIN (KXAN) — Incumbent Congressman John Carter has won the race for House of Representatives seat 31. As of 11:24 p.m., preliminary results showed Carter had 51 percent of the vote against challenger MJ Hegar, who won 48 percent of the vote.

U.S. House District 31 covers all of Williamson County and most of Bell County. It’s been held by Carter since 2002. Rep. Carter was first appointed to be a district judge in 1981. He was the first Republican officeholder elected statewide since Reconstruction in Williamson County. 

National Democrats placed their hopes of flipping the Central Texas Congressional district on MJ Hegar. Hegar is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, where she earned the Distinguished Flying Cross medal and a Purple Heart for her service under fire.

“I think he’s acting as if he’s already retired. In the military, we call that ‘R.O.A.D.’ – Retired on Active Duty – and that’s how he’s behaving,” Hegar said early in on the campaign trail. “I think the people of this district are hungry for someone to represent them by engaging with them and collaborating with them.” 

One of Hegar’s main attacking points against Carter were her claims that he had become out of touch with voters and his district. It’s an argument that Carter was quick to put down.

“I’ve been representing this district for a very long time,” Carter said. “I’m the same person I was the first time I ever ran for office. I haven’t changed,” said Carter.