U.S. Rep. Lee Terry fended off challenger Jim Esch's 2nd District challenge for a second time Tuesday, winning re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican Terry defeated Democrat Esch to secure a sixth term. It was a tight battle with Esch, who lost to Terry in 2006 by about nine percentage points.

"It was such a hard-fought battle," Terry said early Wednesday morning. "This probably equals in joy my first race."

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Terry had 52 percent of the vote while Esch had 48 percent.

Terry said he didn't take Esch lightly this time and put together what may be his best-run campaign. Terry said Esch was "a hundred times better candidate this time around than two years ago," but he had anticipated Esch being stronger and fought back.

"How sweet it is," Terry told his supporters, who chanted his name after he declared victory.

"Maybe third time's a charm," Esch halfheartedly told supporters who shouted that he should run again. But Esch said later he probably wouldn't challenge Terry in two years.

"This time, I think a lot of people thought we'd win, so a bigger disappointment this time."

Jeff Fortenberry won in Nebraska's 1st District as did Adrian Smith in the state's western, rural 3rd District.

Smith held off a low-key challenge from Democrat Jay Stoddard in the state's western 3rd District and said he's ready to tackle tough issues with a Democratic majority in Congress and a Democratic president.

The 47-year-old Fortenberry cruised to a third term, defeating 26-year-old Democrat Max Yashirin, an Iraq war veteran.