Updated: Cassis Concedes, Bentivolio Wins Republican Race for 11th District

has declared victory in the Republican race for Michigan's 11th District seat.

According to unofficial results from county clerks, Bentivolio received 66 percent of the vote while Cassis received 34 percent. 

Bentivolio gave an acceptance speech to a group of supporters gathered at the in Novi Tuesday night around 11 p.m.

Shouts of "Kerry! Kerry!" welcomed him to the stage as "Eye of the Tiger" played.

"We did it!" Bentivolio said. "You did it!"

Cheers broke out after he accepted the candidacy.

"It looks like Mr. B is going to Washington," he said.

Opponent released a concession statement just before noon Wednesday.

"When we entered this race my husband Victor and I knew we were undertaking a monumental task," Cassis said in the statement. "No Republican candidate has ever waged a successful write-in campaign to win a primary nomination in electoral history. We fought the good fight, but in the end we were unable to overcome this fundamental challenge."

Bentivolio will face the in the November election.

Wayne resident William Rushlow said he was very happy with the victory, even though he is no longer in the . He volunteered for the Bentivolio campaign.

"I am happy that there is going be somebody in Washington who is going to represent me, the working man, the common man, who will fight for my interests instead of special interests or the money interests," Rushlow said. "I feel like today I won."

Earlier in the night, Cassis gathered with supporters in the clubhouse of in Novi.

She said that she always knew that having a write-in campaign was a rough road to hoe.

"Honestly, we know that had I been on the ballot, I would have overwhelmingly won," Cassis said around 9 p.m. before Bentivolio claimed victory.

In her concession statement Wednesday, Cassis wished Bentivolio luck.

"Congratulations are in order for my opponent Kerry Bentivolio. I thank him for his service to our country on the battlefield and I wish him well in his upcoming campaign," she said. 

Cassis added that she does not regret the challenging write-in campaign and would do it again.

"Our party grows stronger when we are given the benefit of debating our differences and I believe we will be stronger in November for this undertaking," she said in the statement. 

In his acceptance speech, Bentivolio also concentrated on the race ahead of him.

"With your help in the next few months we will stand together to make sure that we remain free and prosperous for decades to come," he said.