Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce wins Steve LaTourette's former seat

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Republicans will hang onto a U.S. House seat in Ohio's northeast corner that opened up after the retirement of a longtime congressman.

Making his first bid for Congress, Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce beat Democrat Dale Virgil Blanchard in Tuesday's election.

"Tonight, obviously, the real poll in any election is the outcome in any election and I appreciate the fact that a large plurality of people voted for me," said Joyce after his victory speech at LaMalfa in Mentor.

A large applause at the Lake County Republican Party celebration in Mentor greeted Joyce as he was called up to the podium.

In his victory speech, Joyce told his supporters, "The one thing that is very important to me going forward is that you know that I promise you one simple thing: Every single day I represent northeast Ohio and the 14th District, I will do the best of my God given ability to make sure that your needs and that your votes are covered."

Republicans chose Joyce to run in Ohio's 14th District after nine-term Republican Congressman Steven LaTourette announced in July he wouldn't seek re-election.

LaTourette says he left Congress because of frustration over political gridlock in Washington.

Joyce has been a county prosecutor in northeast Ohio since 1988. He once was nominated to be U.S. attorney for northern Ohio but did not get the nod.

Blanchard, an accountant and Joyce's opponent, has been running for Congress for the past 12 years.