Democrat Paul Brodeur, a Melrose Alderman at Large, defeated Republican David Lucas on Tuesday in the race for the 32nd Middlesex District seat vacated by Katherine Clark, who won her race for state Senate.

In a midterm election year with unusually high turnout, Brodeur won by approximately 450 votes. Lucas garnered more votes in Wakefield, but Brodeur's margin in Melrose was enough to carry the day.

According to unofficial tallies, the total votes were 9,148 for Brodeur and 8,689 for Lucas. In Melrose, Brodeur received 6,186 votes and Lucas received 5,477 votes. In Wakefield, where Lucas' law firm is based, Lucas received 3,212 votes and Brodeur received 2,962.

At a victory party with family and supporters at the Dockside Restaurant in Wakefield, Brodeur got choked up as he thanked his family and friends.

Mentioning conversations he had with his wife about running for the representative seat, Brodeur said he wanted to continue the path he started as an alderman.

"We really thought that what I've done on the Board of Aldermen and what you all have helped me do, I can do at the state level," Brodeur said. "We can make things, even in hard times, just a little better."

Eric Wildman, Brodeur's campaign director, said he was most proud of the positive tone of the campaign from both candidates.

"They both took their best argument to the voters," Wildman said.

Before Brodeur arrived at the party at around 8:30 p.m. to announce the results, his supporters seemed both excited and anxious.

Kathy Pigott-Brodeur, the candidate's sister-in-law and Memorial Hall operations manager, frequently checked her phone for messages. She later introduced Brodeur as he made his victory speech.

Pigott-Brodeur cited the election of Mayor Rob Dolan in 2001, when he won by a single vote, in making the case that "every vote counts."

Brodeur cracked a few jokes about the margin of victory.

"I've never lost an election, but this was pretty damn close," Brodeur said.

He also praised his opponent Lucas, whom he called a friend.

"He called me when we had the results and was incredibly gracious," Brodeur said. "My hat's off to him and his family for their continuing contribution to Melrose."

Lucas told Melrose Patch at his campaign gathering at the Knights of Columbus in Melrose on Tuesday night that he made one campaign promise to all his supporters: if they got involved in his campaign, they would have fun.

"And I think everybody did," he said with a smile.

"The other thing I said tonight was my advice to anybody running for office—I know you don't want me to say this," he said looking at his wife Melissa, "is make sure you have a spouse that's 110 percent behind you. Because I did. I had the most fantastic campaign manager anybody could ask for and … I have no regrets, I wouldn't change anything that we did."

Lucas was asked whether there was a particular message he'd like Brodeur to take with him to Beacon Hill as a result of their race.

"I don't need to tell Paul, I think, because he knows; he already knows what the message is," Lucas responded. "There's so many people out of work right now that are desperate. Paul's a smart enough guy and a great enough person and candidate that he knows that should be his chief concern right now: getting people back to work. We get people back to work, all other problems going on right now will fix themselves. People are tired of high spending by the state, they're tired of their high taxes, they're tired of the cost of living. I'm sure Paul knows this already, but I'm happy to work with him in fixing those problems."