Republican Andy Biggs will defeat Democrat Talia Fuentes in Arizona’s 5th District, The Associated Press projects. 

Biggs will replace retiring Rep. Matt Salmon, both as the district’s representative and likely as a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

Biggs led Fuentes 62 percent to 38 percent with 19 percent of precincts reporting. 

Arizona’s 5th District is located just north of the San Tan Valley in the central part of the state. It includes includes Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Mesa.  

Coming into Election Day, the race was rated Safe Republican by the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call. 

In 2014, Salmon bested Democrat James Woods 70 percent to 30 percent. 

Biggs, a retired lawyer, has served in the Arizona state legislature for 14 years and as Senate president for the past three. He’s a fiscal conservative who wants to get government spending under control. 

In 1993, Biggs won a $10 million Publisher’s Clearing House lottery jackpot.