After six years, Western North Carolina voters have returned a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives. Mark Meadows appeared to be on an easy ride into a Congressional seat,  with an expected lead over Democrat Hayden Rogers at press time.

Meadows took a commanding lead in the early voting with more than 56 percent of the votes, a lead he maintained as the precinct reports rolled in. When all precincts reported, Meadows gathered 57.4 percent of the vote, 188,227 to 139,673.

Since 2006, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a Waynesville Democrat, has represented the region in the 11th Congressional District. When Shuler decided not to run, Rogers won a three-way primary to represent the party in the General Election.

Meadows emerged as a winner out of an eight-way primary, but not with enough of a margin to win without a second primary.

During the fall campaign, there were clear differences between the candidates. Meadows Meadows campaigned on repealing the health care reform act; Rogers advocated a fix. Meadows supported the Medicare reform plan proposed by U.S. vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, which will provide vouchers for those age 55 and younger to use toward senior health care; Rogers said he opposes “voucherizing” Medicare and privatizing Social Security.

Meadows wanted the U.S. Department of Education abolished, Rogers didn’t.

Rogers, like his former boss, wanted a balanced budget and a balanced approach to addressing the federal deficit.

Meadows campaigned on spending cuts and a balanced budget amendment.

Regarding fixing the problems in Washington, Meadows said the best medicine was the defeat of Barack Obama and said he was unwilling to compromise with the other side of the aisle on an agenda that includes a government takeover of healthcare, tax hikes for small business owners and reckless spending sprees.

He said he would work with Democrats on tax reform that removes corporate loopholes and new energy sources that reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Rogers emphasized that gridlock is one of the most pressing issues facing the nation and stressed the need for all in Congress to work together.