Report: Steve King Defeats Christie Vilsack in Iowa's 4th Congressional District

The Associated Press called the 4th District race for Steve King, R-Kiron, at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

King led returns with 55 percent of the vote to Christie Vilsack's 43 percent, according to the Iowa Secretary of States Office. That was with 88 percent reporting.

"To those who supported our campaign and drove us to victory, thank you.  Our message through this campaign was clear and tonight voters made it clear they agree – it’s time for conservative solutions to restore our American Dream," King said in a prepared statement.

His opponent Vilsack and her husband Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa governor, walked out during her election night party to a John Cougar Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" and lots of cheers from her supporters at the Gateway Inn in Ames about 11 p.m. Tuesday. About 400 people were in attendance.

“Whether you win or not, if it's a cause worth fighting for you should get caught trying and you caught me trying,” Vilsack said refering to a statement President Bill Clinton made. “I know all of you in this room tried along with me.”

Vilsack thanked her supporters, volunteers and the media.

“I have absolutely no regrets,” she said.

The voters have decided Vilsack said adding that it's now time to move forward, she said.

“I accept the results of the election and commend King on his win in this hard fought fight,” she said.   

The mood in the room was one of mixed emotions. Guests cheered through the night as Obama was declared the winner of a long line of states and the ultimate winner. And local house candidates Rep. Beth Beth Wessel-Kroeschell and Rep. Lisa Heddens appeared to have won their seats.

"I'm very sad. She would have been such a good Congresswoman," Wessel-Kroeschell said of Vilsack's loss. 

She would have become the first woman to represent Iowa in higher office had she won.

"I wanted that glass ceiling to be broken. I wanted a woman in higher office in Iowa," Wessel-Kroeschell said.