State Rep. Dick Stevenson beat back a primary challenge Tuesday with 95 percent of the Mercer County vote, but the freshman Republican came up more than 700 votes short in the larger Butler County portion of his district.

In the two-county 8th District, Stevenson, of Grove City, defeated challenger Stevie Mick, of Zelienople, Butler County, in the Republican primary by 18 percentage points -- 2,878 votes to 2,028 -- according to unofficial tallies.

While the overall results were convincing, Stevenson's performance in southeastern Mercer County was overwhelming. The unofficial vote totals there: Stevenson, 1,656; Mick, 91.

"I was very encouraged by the numbers in Mercer County, and by the returns in the portion of Butler County that was in the 8th District prior to reapportionment. It indicates support for what I have done for the district," said Stevenson, who is serving his first term.

"I felt it was a very decisive win," Stevenson added.

The 8th District was redrawn last year to reflect 2000 Census changes. It no longer includes Armstrong County but now has a bigger chunk of Butler County.

Nearly twice as many Republicans voted in Butler County -- 3,159 -- as they did in Mercer County --1,747, but Stevenson's popularity among Mercer County voters was too much for Mick to overcome. Stevenson, who lives in Grove City, is a former Grove City councilman and former chairman of the Mercer County Board of Commissioners.

Mick carried Butler County, with 61 percent of the vote, but mustered only 5 percent of the vote in Mercer County. Mick and Stevenson were separated by 1,565 votes in Mercer County.

"I couldn't overcome that deficit. Dick's base in Mercer County was extremely strong ... it was remarkable," Mick said. "I didn't campaign much in Mercer County and it showed."