State Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins was re-elected Tuesday to a fourth term representing the 50th District by defeating Hermitage businessman Kyle Klaric.

Robbins, a Republican who campaigned on a theme of "proven leadership," garnered a majority of votes across the district, which includes all of Mercer and Crawford counties and parts of Butler and Lawrence counties.

Klaric, president and CEO of Premier Hydraulics, Farrell, and Klaric Forge, Atlantic, pressed an agenda of aggressive economic development and hammered on Robbins, a 20-year veteran of the General Assembly, as a career politician. Klaric, a Democrat making his first run for office, framed the race as a choice between the status quo and change.

Voters apparently preferred the status quo.

In Mercer County, Robbins garnered 18,729 votes and Klaric 12,062, according to unofficial results. Vote totals for the entire district were not available Tuesday.

Robbins celebrated victory Tuesday night at Hempfield Station One with a crowd of happy Republicans. Robbins supporters were feeling confident early in the evening after reports showed the incumbent overwhelmingly winning in Crawford County. In tiny Townville, Robbins' campaign aide Ann Coleman said her boss won 112 to 0.

Emotions ran high in the banquet hall, with some bursting into tears when it was announced Robbins had won Mercer County.

Robbins, 58, dismissed Klaric's claim to be the candidate of change.

"For the last eight years we have been changing the policies of the last 70," he said, referring to the time Republicans have been in control of the state house. "Government has become more user-friendly, lower-income people keep more of their money and I would ask him if he wanted to go back to heavy-handed government or to encourage people to move forward."

Robbins attributed his win to the work he's done in the past in Harrisburg for his constituents.

Klaric, 40, who watched early returns come in at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Sharpsville, was initially heartened by support from Shenango Valley communities. He won Sharpsville, South Pymatuning Township, Sharon, Wheatland and Farrell.

"I think we ran a pretty clean campaign," Klaric said before leaving the post about 10 p.m. Messages left for Klaric at home were not returned.