With 86.4 percent of the vote as of 1:15 a.m., Democratic incumbent Barbara Lee won the race for the 9th Congressional District Tuesday, easily defeating Republican candidate Charles Hargrave and Libertarian candidate James Eyer.

The 9th District, which includes cities such as Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville, among others, has traditionally elected a representative from the Democratic party in the past. Sixty-five percent of residents in the district identify as Democrats.

"I'm really excited because I think it's a good testament to the fact that as a free thinker, she can represent us," said Oakland resident Elizabeth Becker. "I think she has the moral backbone to ask the tough questions and to stand to her convictions and represent the people she's been elected to represent rather than special interests."

Lee was first elected as the district's representative in 1998 after winning a special election due to the retirement of then-Congressman Ron Dellums.

Lee, who has sat on congressional committees such as the House Appropriations Committee, is best known for being the sole dissenter of granting President George Bush the permission to wage war after Sept. 11.

Past voting record as well as Lee's incumbency status was a contributing factor in many UC Berkeley students' decision.

"I voted for her because she introduced Sudanese legislation and I agreed with her policies," said freshman Annie Moore.