Pestka wins 3rd District primary

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Steve Pestka earned victory in the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House 3rd District Tuesday night.

Pestka gathered supporters at his home in Ada, while opponent Trevor Thomas was at a spot in downtown Grand Rapids.

In his victory speech, Pestka said Thomas ran a good race and stressed that Democrats need to unite.

"This district has not elected a Democrat in 38 years," Pestka told 24 Hour News 8. "We have a real chance to do that now."

Thomas called Pestka at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday to congratulate him on his victory.

Thomas released the following statement on the results: "I spoke with Judge Pestka tonight and congratulated him on his victory in this hard-fought campaign. I told him that I look forward to working together to defeat Justin Amash in the fall. Democrats and folks from across the political spectrum are united in feeling that Representative Amash is out of touch with West Michigan values, and we need to make sure that we unseat him in November."

Pestka will take on Republican Congressman Justin Amash in November.

Amash of Kent County's Cascade Township defeated Democrat Pat Miles in the 2010 to replace the retiring GOP Rep. Vernon Ehlers in the traditionally Republican district.

24 Hour News 8's Dani Carlson contributed to this report.