Rep. Sherry Appleton didn’t have too much to say after her successful re-election to her District 23, Position 1 seat in the state House of Representatives.

But “thank you” seemed to cover it best.

“I love my constituents. They have been so loyal to me. And they came through for me again,” Appleton said.

“What more can I say, except that I appreciate them,” the incumbent lawmaker said. “I am so proud. I am so grateful.”

Appleton, a Democrat, was well in front of Republican challenger Tony Stephens, who was running in his first election for public office, in initial vote returns Tuesday night.

Appleton picked up 60 percent of all ballots counted so far, or 25,383 votes out of 42,013. Stephens earned 39 percent of the vote.

“My initial impression, of course, is disappointment,” Stephens said.

“I expected to do better,” he said, adding that he had hoped to get at least 45 percent of the vote.

The vote was a bit of a mystery, he said.

“I cannot properly guage the mood of the electorate,” he said.

Stephens said he had not yet talked to Appleton about the results of the race.

He did say, however, that he was planning to vie for the position again in the future.