Republican Tim Huelskamp gets a hug from supporter, Joyce Knott, of Plains, Kan., at the watch party in Dodge City, Kan. He is running for the Kansas 1st District Congress Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Conservative Republican state Sen. Tim Huelskamp has won the race to represent Kansas’ 1st District in Congress.

Huelskamp entered Tuesday’s election favored to win. He replaces Republican Rep. Jerry Moran, who was elected to the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sam Brownback. Brownback did not seek re-election to the Senate and was elected governor.

Huelskamp was declared the winner over Democrat Alan Jilka, the former mayor of Salina.

The 1st District covers 69 counties of western and central Kansas. Huelskamp is a fiscal and social conservative who campaigned on repealing the federal health care law and shrinking the federal government.

9:04 p.m.update

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Tim Huelskamp wins Kansas’ 1st Congressional District, to replace Sen.-elect Moran.

9 p.m. update

Huelskamp now has 73.8 percent.

8:55 p.m. update

Huelskamp is gaining more votes with 73 percent.

8:48 p.m. update

Huelskamp’s lead is climbing with 71.2 percent. Jilka has 25.5 percent.

8:42 p.m. update

Huelskamp continues to hold the lead with 70.5 percent.

8:32 p.m. update

Huelskamp still holds the lead with 69.4 percent of the vote. Jilka is at 27.3 percent.

8:06 p.m. update

Huelskamp still has 72 percent of the vote. Jilka is at 25.3 percent of the vote.

7:55 p.m. update

Huelskamp is still maintaining a big lead over Jilka. With nearly 3,000 votes counted, Huelskamp still has 72 percent of the vote.

7:22 p.m. update

As the first election results trickle in, Tim Huelskamp is taking an early lead over Alan Jilka and Jack Warner with 72.1 percent of the vote.