ST. JOSEPH, Missouri (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Graves has been re-elected to  Missouri congressional district that stretches from border to border.

Graves won an eighth term in the U.S. House on Tuesday by defeating Democrat Bill Hedge and Libertarian Russ Monchil in the 6th Congressional District.

Graves is a farmer and chairman of the House Small Business Committee.

He first was elected to Congress in 2000 after serving eight years in the Missouri Legislature.