COCOA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., won election to his fifth term in Washington Tuesday by soundly defeating his Democratic opponent, Jim Tso.
With 70 percent of the precincts reporting, Weldon had a lead of 62 percent to 37 percent.
Weldon, a conservative, pointed to his successful effort to bring a veteran's clinic to Viera, helping to widen a key highway and securing beach renourishment money for Florida's Space Coast.
The physician has been critical of White House cuts to NASA funding and said that could result in a reduction of Space Shuttle safety.
Tso has never held public office, but has been active in government.
He was a management adviser to legendary Florida Rep. Claude Pepper, D-Fla., and worked as a strategic planner and investment adviser.
He spent his early years in China and then was a refugee immigrant in New York City. He had a successful career in government and business in Northern Virginia before moving to east-central Florida.
He said he would work for a more generous prescription drug plan and opposed privatization of Social Security.