U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (RThousand Oaks) has clinched his 12th term in California's 24th Congressional District, capturing 126,052 votes (58 percent).

Gallegly beat a once littleknown candidate, Democrat Marta Ann Jorgensen, who garnered 91,289 votes (42 percent). Gallegly serves on four panels in the House of Representatives: the foreign affairs, judiciary, natural resources and intelligence committees. He has one of the highest voting percentages in Congress, and he travels back to his Simi Valley home near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library every weekend.

Gallegly, a former Simi Valley mayor, ran a small business for 20 years before he was elected to public office. Gallegly has said the economy is the No. 1 issue facing voters, as well as national security.

Solvang resident Jorgensen was a surprise winner in the Democratic primary after she dropped out of the race for a period of several weeks.

The 24th District covers inland Santa Barbara County and most of Ventura County, including Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

Calls to Gallegly weren't returned, and Jorgensen declined to comment.