LEWISTON – Mike Michaud won a solid victory over Brian Hamel Tuesday night, giving him a second term as U.S. representative from Maine’s 2nd District.

With more than half of precincts reporting, the incumbent Democrat held a 59-39 percent lead over his Republican challenger as of 11:30 p.m.

Hamel called Michaud to congratulate the congressman on a “well-fought race,” said Ben Golnik, Hamel’s campaign manager.

In Lewiston, Michaud thrashed Hamel by a nearly 3-1 margin after all the votes were counted. Michaud also won in most outlying areas that traditionally tilt Republican.

Golnik said his candidate had hoped for 40 percent in Androscoggin County. But with 88 percent of precincts reporting there, he had garnered only 34 percent of the vote.

In Penobscot County, Michaud was running strong with 58 percent of the vote.

Michaud had raised a total of $1.25 million as of mid-October and outspent his opponent more than 2 to 1.

Hamel’s candidacy never gained traction until the final weeks of the the campaign when he narrowed the gap to within 13 percentage points. But it was too little, too late.

Although Hamel raised enough money to advertise in the Bangor market early on, it wasn’t until much later that he aired ads in the Portland market, which includes the Twin Cities and their suburbs.

Lewiston resident Tonya Cyr said she voted for Michaud because she didn’t know enough about Hamel and his positions. Some voters said they passed over the congressional race entirely because they hadn’t followed it closely.

The newly reconfigured 2nd Congressional District includes the city of Waterville. Seeing the need to introduce himself to an unfamiliar electorate, Michaud made his headquarters there, while sharing offices with the Maine Democratic Party in other 2nd District cities.

Michaud has been a fixture in Maine politics dating back to the 1980s. He served seven terms in the Maine House and four in the Senate, where he was elevated to Senate president his last year.

But Michaud touted throughout the race his credential as a paper maker in a Millinocket mill where he worked for 28 years. His labor union affiliation helped him secure the nomination in a tough six-way primary in 2002. He went on to beat Kevin Raye, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s former chief of staff, in the general election 52-48 percent.

In that race, the National Republican Congressional Committee poured money into advertising in an effort to boost Raye’s chances at winning the open seat. This time, they did not play as prominent a role, likely shifting resources to closer races in other states.

By contrast, the political neophyte, Hamel, 46, had never sought public office before.

A self-styled “independent Republican,” he said if elected he wouldn’t toe the party line if he disagreed with GOP leadership, including the president.

But he used those party heads to boost his name recognition. He hitched a ride with President Bush on Air Force One from Washington to Bangor and later sat on stage with his party’s leader.

Hamel also campaigned with House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other Republican notables from Washington.

Hamel, 46, anchored his campaign platform on the need for jobs in the 2nd Congressional District, which has suffered an economic downturn as mills continue to lay off workers and close doors.

For the past 10 years, Hamel, a certified public accountant by training, led the redevelopment of the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. He helped rebuild the local economy by working with state and federal lawmakers and a governing board to create more than 1,000 new jobs.

Before that, Hamel served as financial director at the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, N.H., one of the first base closure conversions.