CNN

NEW YORK (CNN) - Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha has won re-election to his District 12 seat. He beat Republican challenger William Russell.

Murtha, serving his 16th term, recently fired up controversy after saying this about some of his own constituents: "There's no question western Pennsylvania is a racist area."

Murtha made those comments in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The video of that interview was posted on the internet. Murtha apologized for his words the next day.
But days later in an interview with a local television station, Murtha said his district, years ago, was "really redneck."

Former President Clinton recently campaigned on Murtha's behalf.
Murtha is an ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's and a vocal critic of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war.

He's well known for steering federal dollars to his state for projects and staunchly defends that.