SAN DIEGO -- Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Carlsbad, will continue representing San Diego County's 50th Congressional District after he defeated Democrat Francine Busby by a wide margin in a rematch of their June 6 special election.

With 82 percent of the precincts reporting Wednesday, Bilbray had 54 percent of the vote to Busby's 43 percent, according to the secretary of state.

Bilbray defeated Busby by about 7,000 votes in the June 6 special election to fill the remainder of Randy "Duke" Cunningham's term after the Vietnam War hero -- now serving an eight-year prison term -- admitted taking about $2.4 million in bribes to influence defense contracts.

The district, which includes Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Marcos, Escondido, Solana Beach and parts of northern San Diego, has long been considered a safe Republican district.

At a campaign party Tuesday night at downtown San Diego's U.S. Grant Hotel, Bilbray said his stance on illegal immigration gave him the edge over Busby.

"The fact is that in North County, you can't drive around the corner without seeing illegals flaunting an amnesty program," he said. "You can't go to the Home Depot without being overrun."

Bilbray pledged to work with both parties in Congress on the issue.

"I am going to spend a lot of time with the Senate to make sure they don't give amnesty, and sit down with moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats so that they don't allow Ms. Pelosi to give amnesty," Bilbray said.

With the Democrats assuming the majority in the house, Nancy Pelosi is poised to become the first female speaker of the House.

Busby urged supporters who gathered at an Encinitas bar and grill to "celebrate" the change in leadership in the House.

"We are going to see changes in leadership and restoration of honesty, integrity and ethics to the House of the people in Washington, D.C." Busby said. "We have a lot to celebrate."

Bilbray also thanked his backers.

"With your support, with your efforts, I commit to you that I will make sure that everyone in Washington hears it quite clearly -- San Diego has seen the future and it's a future of bright prosperity based on equality of law, of freedom and of adherence to the law," Bilbray said. "There is a real difference between those that believe in legal immigration and those who believe in illegal immigration."

Despite the loss, Busby expressed appreciation to those who worked on her unsuccessful campaign.

"There is not a campaign in this country that has more passion, more heart and more energy than you have given to the 50th District," she said.

Incumbents in other county congressional races were also big winners.

With 82 percent of the precincts reporting, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, will hold his seat in the 52nd Congressional District.

Hunter had 65 percent of the vote to Democrat John Rinaldi's 31 percent, according to the secretary of state.

The district heavily favors Republican candidates and includes much of the East County and northeastern San Diego County.

Hunter, who chairs the powerful House Armed Services Committee, has held the seat for 26 years. He recently announced plans to seek the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Hunter told a local television station that there is a lot of "common ground" between Republicans and Democrats under which progress can be made on important issues facing the country, primarily national security.

"We all know that we have certain things we need to do for the country," he said during Golden Hall's "Election Central" activities.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, won in the 51st Congressional District, which includes Chula Vista and National City.

With 84 percent of the precincts reporting, Filner had 67 percent of the vote to Republican Blake Miles' 31 percent.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, had 63 percent of the vote in the 49th Congressional District to defeat Democrat Jeeni Criscenzo, who had 34 percent of the vote, with 92 percent of precincts reporting.

The district includes much of North County and parts of Riverside County.

In the 53rd Congressional District, Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, defeated Republican John "Woody" Woodrum with 67 percent of the vote to 31 percent, with 79 percent of the precincts reporting, according to the Secretary of State.