The 92nd district state representative race between Democrat Jehan Gordon and Republican Joan Krupa got nasty in the final weeks of the campaign. But it was Gordon who reclaimed the former Republican seat.

However, Gordon says she tried to stay focused on the issues rather than a lot of negative campaigning.

Democrat Jehan Gordon spent Wednesday morning thanking supporters and volunteers who helped her win the 92nd District House seat over Republican Joan Krupa.

Gordon says she spent a lot of time campaigning all over the district for votes.

"Hard work trumps all. I know what we did. I don't know what the other team did but I know that we worked hard every single day and it wasn't just me. This room, this office was full every day of folks who worked hard over the past months," said Gordon.

Gordon estimates she spent at least 200–thousand dollars on her campaign. Volunteers are also proud of efforts to register 27–hundred new voters.

Their hard work paid off but was not enough to boost voter turnout in Peoria County, officials expected 80 percent but only saw 71.

While Peoria city and county did not see record turnout numbers election officials say it was the early voting that impressed them the most.

"We had 25–percent which was tremendous. We had gone through some extra effort to promote early voting. We mailed out a calendar to every registered voter, as did the city election commission," said Steve Sonnemaker, Peoria County Clerk.

Gordon says she's grateful to reclaim a seat previously held by a Republican who won it over a fellow Democrat.

"Democrats did not win all the way up and down the ballot this year, so we see that people are willing to still go back and forth and they vote for the person who they think is right for the job," said Gordon.

Gordon will not be returning to her job, and plans to become a full time state representative. The 27–year–old says she wants to try and make a difference in spite of the gridlock in Springfield.