MARQUETTE – Voters in the 1st Congressional District on Tuesday returned U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, to Washington for another term.

Benishek defeated Jerry Cannon, a Traverse City Democrat. The vote totals, with all but Antrim County reporting, showed Benishek with 124,597 to Cannon’s 109,010. The term of office is two years.

“As a doctor from the U.P., I never thought I would run for Congress, but representing northern Michigan has been a privilege and I want to thank the hardworking people in this great district for their continued support,” Benishek said. “Washington needs a dose of commonsense, so we can enact reforms that strengthen the economy and bring jobs back to northern Michigan. I’m committed to doing that and ensuring our children and grandchildren have their chance at the American Dream, like many of us did growing up.”

The sprawling 1st Congressional District includes the entire Upper Peninsula and 17 counties in the northern Lower Peninsula. Benishek carried all but Alger, Marquette and Gogebic counties in the U.P.

In Marquette County, Benishek tallied 9,028 votes, compared to 12,676 votes for Cannon. In Alger County, Benishek had 1,542 votes to 1,626 for Cannon. In Gogebic County, Benishek received 2,430 votes and Cannon had 2,520.

Cannon and his campaign manager could not be reached for comment before press time today.