FERRIDAY &8212; Shouts and cheers erupted from Andy Anders&8217; campaign headquarters Tuesday night as election numbers came in, naming Anders the state representative for District 21.

According to unofficial results, Anders received 6,531, or 60 percent, of the votes. Samuel Thomas received 40 percent, or 4,280 votes.

Anders won in Concordia Parish, 4,649 to 1,263, and in Tensas Parish, 1,198 to 682. Thomas received the most votes in East Carroll Parish, 773 to 293, and in Madison Parish, 1,562 to 391.

&8220;This is the largest team and one of the better teams I&8217;ve played on,&8221; Anders said in a speech just after the results were posted. &8220;I&8217;d like to thank everybody. We showed what playing on a team really is, and that&8217;s what we&8217;re going to do with District 21 from now on.&8221;

Anders said faith, friends and family helped him reach his goals.

He said he was overwhelmed by the win, and because it was a run-off, relieved.

&8220;I was always a distance runner, and these past weeks have been a marathon,&8221; he said. &8220;Now I&8217;ve gotten to the end of the marathon.&8221;

His opponent, Samuel Thomas, said Anders was more effective at motivating his constituents.

&8220;It appears Mr. Anders got his votes out, and I was not able to get mine out to the same level,&8221; Thomas said. &8220;We accept that.&8221;

Thomas said he was glad they both ran a clean campaign and that he was very pleased with his campaign workers&8217; efforts.

&8220;I&8217;m not saying I&8217;m not going to run again,&8221; Thomas said. &8220;This was an off-year election, so there was low turnout. That might make a difference next time.&8221;