State Sen. Joan Huffman projected winner of District 17 seat

Posted 12:09 a.m. CST

With 179 of 210 precincts reporting, Republican State Sen. Joan Huffman has defeated Libertarian Austin Page and Green Party candidate David Courtney with 78.2 percent in the race for Texas Senate District 17, according to unofficial results.

Huffman has 175,492 votes to Page's 29,483 votes and Courtney's 19,386 .

Huffman, a Republican, will return to Austin for her second full term. She was first elected in 2008 after winning a special election to fill the vacated District 17 office. She was re-elected in 2010. Prior to serving in the Senate, Huffman was a prosecutor in Harris County, and was twice elected judge to the 183rd Criminal District Court.

" It is an honor to be re-elected by voters in Senate District 17," she said in a statement. "As always, I will serve my constituents and all citizens of Texas as a committed conservative with an independent voice they can trust. I am energized and excited heading into the next legislative session. I will stand strong on conservative principles as I seek sensible solutions to the state's education, fiscal, law and order, and health care challenges. My heartfelt thanks to everyone whose efforts made my re-election possible."