Holding up against a wave of Democratic party momentum, Rep. Tom Latham earned his seventh consecutive term Tuesday night, defeating Democratic challenger Selden Spencer by a wide margin in the Iowa U.S. House of Representatives District 4.

Watching Democrats across the country secure victory after victory, Latham beat back a late-campaign challenge from Spencer, a neurologist from Huxley, and lessened the sting of Republican losses – at least locally.

“This is such a great night for a kid from Alexander,” Latham told the enthusiastic crowd gathered to celebrate with the congressman at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. “To think about the seventh term representing this great state of Iowa. It’s unbelievable.”

In a district with a near-even split of Democrats and Republicans, Latham won handily after early returns showed the relatively unknown Spencer was hanging tough. Spencer’s staff was optimistic before returns from precincts across Iowa began to report, and the reaction at Latham’s was subdued as the two candidates were locked in a dead heat.

“It’s been a tough race, and I think we’ve done very well with fundraising and getting our message out with fundraising,” said Kim Pieper, Spencer’s campaign manager. “Ultimately it comes down to the votes.”

The long-time incumbent outpaced Spencer in fundraising by nearly $700,000 – $1.057 million for Latham and just under $378,000 for the challenger, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings.

In the end, the fundraising deficit – as well as Spencer’s late entry into the race and lack of political experience – was too much to overcome despite the massive Democratic gains across the country.

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To win despite the large number of victories by the opposing party “speaks highly of Tom Latham,” said Russ Cross, chairman of the Story County Republicans. “I think he’s viewed as a congressman who represents all the residents of the 4th District in a fair and responsible manner. While he’s Republican, he’s not overtly partisan and really strives to do what’s good for the District, for Iowa and for the country.”

Latham said he is not deterred by the power shift in the House of Representatives, and won’t be less effective – despite sitting in the minority for the first time during his 12-year tenure.

“We always have to work both sides of the aisle on [the appropriations committee],” Latham said. “I really don’t think it’s going to change my effectiveness at all for the district or the state. Obviously there’ll be a different agenda in Washington than there would have been otherwise, but I’ll deal with that.”