State Sen. Steve Ogden trounced Huntsville businessman Ben Bius and won the Republican spot to represent Senate District 5, according to incomplete returns.
The Bryan Republican won 68 percent of the 35,000 votes cast in the 276 of 386 precincts reported by press time. Bius said the counting wasn't finished, but conceded that Ogden would win.
Ogden, 59, will face Democrat Stephen Wyman in November's general election to represent the 14-county, heavily Republican region.
The winner faces a daunting state budget, which won't have the $12 billion in stimulus funds that helped balance this year's or as much sales-tax revenue.
But Ogden, who as chair of the Senate Finance Committee is one of the state's most powerful legislators, said that's why he decided to run again for the four-year term.
"I won a very significant political victory tonight," the Bryan Republican said, as he celebrated with supporters at the Longhorn Tavern in downtown Bryan. "This is a conservative district. We had a large voter turnout, and now it's up to me to deliver. ... I didn't sugarcoat anything. I said the next session is going to be hard, and I have the experience to protect this district."
Bius portrayed Ogden as out of touch and not conservative enough. He attacked his support of the Trans-Texas Corridor and opposition to legislation that would have allowed handguns on college campuses.
The strategy rode a wave of anti-government discontent embodied by the tea party movement. Ogden had said the approach to look more conservative than him would appear "silly" after the election was over.
"I went to the Republican voters and asked for their support, and I think they believed me more than my opponent," Ogden said.
Ogden earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1973 and a master's in business from Texas A&M in 1987. He was elected to the House in 1990 and Senate in 1997.
Ogden said he has no plans or intentions to ever run for higher office. His focus now, he said, is the November general election.
"We will take the November race seriously," he said, "but I would expect a win."
Bius said he's proud of the campaign he ran.
"We worked hard against stiff odds and stayed true to our principles," he said. "I'm proud of all the people who voted for me. ... I wish the Ogdens well."
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