Republican Tom Latham took Iowa’s 4th Congressional District on Tuesday, beginning his sixth term as a U.S. Representative.

With 42 percent of precincts reporting, Latham won with about 59 percent of the district vote. Latham received 103,582 votes, and his Democratic challenger, Paul Johnson, received 71,910 votes.

“I feel very good about [winning]. I want to number one say ‘Thank you’ to all the people who supported me throughout this campaign,” Latham said. “I want to compliment my opponent Paul Johnson for a clean race.”

Latham stressed that both campaigns were positive and focused on valuable issues.

Johnson took on Latham, who has served as representative since 1994. Johnson had a tough race in front of him facing, a decade-long incumbent Republican, as well as raising more than $750,000 less than Latham.

“We’ve said all along that it’s hard to beat an incumbent,” Johnson said as the precincts were being called. “We say what we believe, so we win either way.”

Jobs and health care for Iowans were the leading issues. Both candidates agreed the number of jobs in Iowa need to grow and keep them available for Iowa graduates.Johnson has said Latham has neglected the health care issue, although Latham said he has been trying to bring Iowa’s issues to Washington.

— Beth Loberg and Abby Penning

contributed to this report.