State Rep. Ted Speliotis (D-Danvers) will get to keep his seat on Beacon Hill and continue to represent Danvers' voters after all.

The 11-term Democrat defeated Republican Challenger and Danvers Selectman Dan Bennett by over 500 votes Tuesday night in the general State Election. Speliotis said he was "reenergized" by the close race.

Amidst a 60 percent turnout at the polls in Danvers, Speliotis garnered 5,400 votes to Bennett's 5,004. Speliotis similarly prevailed in Ward 6 in Peabody by about 350 votes, but lost to Bennett in Topsfield by about 240.

Celebrating his win with a roomful of family, friends and campaign supporters at the Polish Club on Cheever Street Tuesday night, Speliotis called it a "huge" victory, considering the strong anti-incumbent sentiments still sweeping through the nation, including here on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

"What more could you ask for?" Speliotis said, pointing to the Danvers and Peabody results and the smaller margin in Topsfield, which Bennett did win. Speliotis said he saw his victory as a testament to the "trust" and "personal relationships" he has established with constituents of the 13th Essex District over the years.

"There was nothing going for an incumbent," he said, noting a large segment of voters had appeared to be strongly anti-incumbent, anti-Democrat, and anti-establishment. "You couldn't have anything worse [this year]."

"Dan came by; he was very gracious – very, very classy," Speliotis said.

"It's back to business almost tomorrow," he added.

Bennett, when reached at his home Tuesday night, said his campaign message of "time for a change" apparently didn't resonate with enough voters.

"I just couldn't get the message to people out there," he said, adding voters seemed content to just back the incumbent.

As for whether he'll run again in two years, Bennett was noncommittal.

"You never know what will happen," he said, adding he did enjoy a great amount of support throughout the campaign.

On 10,721 ballots cast on Nov. 2 in Danvers, there were 306 blanks left on the box for State Representative.

Below are the results by precinct: