U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong has emerged victorious in the North Dakota gubernatorial race held on Tuesday. The Republican, who has served three terms in Congress and is also an attorney, surpassed Democratic state Senator Merrill Piepkorn in the ballot to take over from two-term Governor Doug Burgum, who chose not to run for a third consecutive term.

Armstrong’s win reinforces the Republican stronghold in North Dakota, a state where the party has maintained control of the governor’s office since 1992, and has not seen a Democrat win a statewide election since 2012. Notably, Armstrong previously held positions as a state senator and as the chair of the state party, further solidifying his political experience. The announcement of Armstrong’s victory was made by election officials at 9:00 p.m. EST.