ATLANTA — Republican Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah defeated his Democratic challenger Tuesday to win the U.S. House of Representatives 1st District race and an 11th term in Congress.

Unofficial election returns showed Kingston defeating Democratic newcomer Leslie Messinger with 74 percent of the vote. That’s with 23 percent of precincts reporting.

Kingston has become such a formidable incumbent that GOP lawmakers last year redrew his 1st District seat last year to add more Democratic voters.