Democratic State Rep. Luis Garcia Jr. has said his 2006 election to represent the traditionally Republican-leaning District 107 was a sign that ideals and politics are changing in neighborhoods he represents.

By Tuesday evening those words had gained further credibility as Garcia celebrated victory in his reelection bid.

''I feel vindicated,'' Garcia said over the phone while at a campaign celebration at Jungle Island.

Garcia, who two years ago became the first Democrat to be elected to the seat since Jim Burke in 1990, had totaled about 56 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Jorge Luis López' 44 percent with only a few precincts still out.

López conceded defeat late Tuesday night but said he was proud of his campaign's efforts and results.

''We probably garnered more votes than many elected officials have ever gotten in their careers in small cities, municipalities or even other House seats,'' he said. Both candidates fought hard for the seat, which represents Little Havana, South Beach, Key Biscayne and parts of Coral Gables and South Miami-Dade.

Garcia, a retired fire chief and former Miami Beach commissioner, campaigned on closing tax loopholes, ending the state-run Citizens Property Insurance and expanding the state's KidCare healthcare program.

VOWS TO FIGHT CUTS

López said he would fight any cuts that affected working families and would trim government fat by reviewing state revenues and agencies and submitting them to deadlines.

Nearly $250,000 was spent between Garcia and López in the final two weeks of October, mostly on palm cards, TV spots and radio ads. In that time López loaned his campaign $110,000 -- raising his contribution total to more than $200,000.

Some advertisements in the last month attacked Garcia's voting record and claimed he held an illegal 2007 homestead exemption on a Miami Beach condo outside the district.

''I feel vindicated,'' Garcia said of his reelection.

The advertisements and tireless campaigning from both sides, however, seemed to have little effect in the face of the presidential and U.S. congressional races. Many voters said they hadn't paid attention to local campaigns and simply planned to vote along party lines.

So with election night capping off, López and Garcia hustled outside the Immanuel Lutheran Church on Brickell Avenue to get their message to the hundreds that waited to vote even after polls officially closed at 7 p.m.

Stephen Gamson, a 43-year-old artist, said he was swayed by Garcia's message about creating more transparency in condo association boards.

''I'm gonna vote for him,'' he said. ``I think we need more of that: transparency, accountability.''

PARTY VOTING HELPED

The trend of voting along party lines also spelled good news for Garcia, who was likely boosted by a more than 2,000-voter lead in the district, thanks to a surge of more than 5,000 registered Democrats since last January.

But Garcia may already have an opponent in 2010 -- López.

''Tomorrow morning I'll be waking up and ready to start campaigning for 2010,'' he said.

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