Republican and Wayne County native Chris Dinkins has won a special election for the unexpired term of the 144th district state representative seat.
Dinkins won 2,998-2,699 against Democrat Jim Scaggs, according to unofficial results released by the Missouri Secretary of State's office.
The 144th seat was left vacant after Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-Potosi) was appointed to the Missouri Board of Probations and Parole. Fitzwater ran unopposed for a two-year term in 2016.
With about 5 percent of the votes separating Dinkins and Scaggs, she now serves residents of Reynolds, Wayne, Washington and Iron counties.
Dinkins lives in Iron County, and owns a small business in Reynolds County with her husband, Dave.
She won Reynolds County, 621-529, and Wayne County 977-612.
Iron County voters were in favor of Scaggs by more than 61 percent, or 1,155 people with 1,879 votes cast there. Scaggs, of Annapolis, is presiding commissioner in Iron County.
With Washington County also supporting Dinkins, 676-403, the constitutional conservative secured the remainder of Fitzwater's term.
Dinkins has said she will tackle issues including high-speed internet for rural communities, growth of manufacturing jobs, full funding of schools and removal of Common Core from districts.