UPDATED: Tom Petri Beats Newcomer Lauren Stephens in 6th Congressional District Primary

U.S. Rep. Tom Petri was named the winner of the 6th Congressional District race with about 83 percent of the vote on Tuesday, defeating challenger Lauren Stephens.

With 35 percent of the vote reporting, Petri had 31,386 votes to Stephens' 6,590, according to the Associated Press.

"I'm looking forward to campaigning in the fall to have the opportunity to represent the people in the 6th District … and deal with the challenges that our counties are facing, which are serious ones," Petri said, shortly after hearing of the race results.

Petri will face Democrat Joe Kallas, who ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary, in the November general election.

Petri said Kallas is a "worthy opponent," who seems to be a genuinely concerned citizen — and though the two don't always agree, Petri said Kallas still deserves to be heard in the race.

Petri has served the 6th District for more than three decades, having first been elected in 1979. He is a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforces, and its Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. He is also a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee and a member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Kallas has served on the Green Lake County Board, according to an article on the PostCrescent.com. Kallas lost to Petri in 2010, and cited a late entry into the race as a major factor in his defeat. Petri won with 71 percent of the vote to Kallas' 29 percent.

Port Washington and Saukville had been a part of the 5th District and were represented by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, but after the 2010 Census, the boundaries were redrawn and all of Ozaukee County is now in the 6th District (see attached map).

— Patti Wenzel contributed to this report.