NORTH CAROLINA -- Republican incumbent Ted Budd has won the highly contested 13th congressional district race.

Budd was up against Democrat Kathy Manning, in which she conceded the race.

Budd thanked his family and his supporters and guaranteed voters he will remain the same Ted Budd he's always been. He promised to continue to work hard for North Carolina. 

"We're in NASCAR country, and we can't let our foot off the gas," said Budd. 

Budd also thanked Manning and said, though they had very different views, he has tremendous respect for her. 

Late on Tuesday night, shortly before the race was called, Manning also spoke, thanking her supporters and saying she was “honored and humbled” by their support.

Budd, who has served one term in Congress, is currently a small business owner.  He says experiences through his time in the church, on the farm, and now in the nation's capital, have shaped him, and he believes he has the qualities to make a good member of Congress.

He overcame a field of 17 candidates the last time he ran for office. But, he says even with that challenge, he had been looking for an opportunity to serve for some time.