COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A longtime Republican incumbent defeated a new Democratic challenger, winning his fifth term representing District 15 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican Steve Stivers, first elected in 2010, defeated Democrat Joel Newby in the 2020 General Election, according to projections from the Associated Press.

Stivers is a former banker, current Brigadier General in the Army Reserves. Many consider him to be more bipartisan than others in the Republican Party, but he has sided with President Donald Trump on major issues such as health care and budget issues.

Stivers said Tuesday night following the race being called that it played out the way he expected it. He also said he spoke with Newby and the two agreed to work together to heal the divide in the district and across the country.

Newby, an Ohio University graduate, is a political newcomer in his first general election. The Pickaway County native and attorney said he would have better represented the people of his district, especially rural communities because he understands their problems.

The 15^th District represents Clinton, Fairfield, Hocking, Madison, Morgan, Perry, Pickaway and Vinton counties as well as portions of Athens, Fayette, Franklin, and Ross counties.