Pat Welch was elected Tuesday night to his third term as 38th district State Senator.

With 28 percent of district precincts tallied, Welch led Republican challenger Nancy Beasley by 9,490 to 5,859 votes.

“The election turned out a lot better than we anticipated,” said Welch, referring to his stronger-than-expected showing in DeKalb County.

Beasley won the county with 53 percent of the vote. But Welch’s impressive margin in his home LaSalle County gave him the edge. Beasley conceded the election about 11:30 p.m.

Welch was not happy with Beasley’s campaign. “I think this year was another negative campaign, just like four years ago,” Welch said.

Welch campaign aide Donna Ginther said she believes Welch’s victory showed the electorate believed Welch’s honesty and committment.

“We knew this was going to be an uphill battle,” Beasley said. “I feel good about what we accomplished.”

While Beasley said she is too young to retire from public service, “it’s too early to decide about the future,” she said.

Beasley’s campaign focused on Welch’s voting record on taxes and flip-flop on abortion. Welch criticized Beasley on her lottery proposal and her lack of specific stands on issues.

Both frequently accused the other of negative campaigning.

Welch was first elected to the Senate in 1982 and re-elected in 1986. He chairs the Senate Energy and Environment commitee and is vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations II committee.

Before 1982, Welch was a lawyer in Peru. Welch was is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and Kent College of Law. He and his wife Bonnie have a son, Danny.

Beasley was a legislative aide for State Rep. John Countryman, R-DeKalb, before campaigning for senator. She served on the Sycamore school board and worked in Robert Dole’s 1988 campaign for president.

An NIU graduate, Beasley and her husband George have three children.