With more than 54 percent of the vote, Derek Kilmer, a Democrat and state senator from Gig Harbor, has surged far ahead of his six opponents in the U.S. Congressional race for the 6th District.

He will face Republican rival Bill Driscoll in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Driscoll received approximately 17.9 percent of the vote.

A total of 51,879 voters cast their ballots for Kilmer, compared to 17,093 for Driscoll.

Kilmer hopes to succeed Democrat Congressman Norm Dicks, who announced his retirement as Washington’s 6th Congressional District Representative last March. Kilmer has served in the state Senate since 2007, previously serving in the state House.

Kilmer asserted that the voters trusted his ability to bring jobs to the state.

“We need someone who understands what middle-class families are going through and will fight for more jobs. Tonight’s results are a strong show of support for that,” he said in a press statement.