AIKEN --- Political newcomer Shane Massey narrowly took the South Carolina District 25 Senate seat Tuesday night, beating experienced rival Rep. Bill Clyburn by fewer than 200 votes.

Unofficial results show that Mr. Massey received 7,125 votes to Mr. Clyburn's 6,938 in the four-county district, the first time a Republican has won the seat in years.

The two men were vying to replace longtime legislator and Democratic seat-holder Sen. Tommy Moore, who resigned this summer to take a job with a Washington, D.C.-area payday lending group.

"It's proof that the district is ready for some change," Mr. Massey said from his Edgefield County home late Tuesday.

Mr. Massey said he and his campaign workers knew the race would be close. His opponent was a well-known Democrat who has been in the state Legislature for a number of years.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "We worked hard at it."

Mr. Clyburn, who was willing to leave his seat in the state House of Representatives for the Senate position, said he is disappointed with the results but is happy that he "ran a good clean, race."

"We did the best we could," he said. "I'm tired, and my wife is tired."

Beverly Clyburn also had campaigned, winning re-election to her Aiken City Council seat Tuesday night.

Mr. Massey, 32, practices law in Aiken.

Mr. Clyburn, 66, has been in the House since 1995.

Elections officials say the voting results will be certified on Thursday.

There are four counties in District 25:

- In Edgefield County, Mr. Massey won 2,620 votes to Mr. Clyburn's 2,182.

- Mr. Massey also carried McCormick County with 1,235 votes. Mr. Clyburn won 1,065 votes there.

- Saluda County voters opted for Mr. Clyburn, who won 621 votes to Mr. Massey's 416 there.

- The incumbent also carried Aiken County, winning 3,070 votes to Mr. Massey's 2,854.

Stuart Bedenbaugh, the executive director of the Aiken County Registration and Elections Office, said the only ballots still outstanding are "provisional." Those are ballots cast by people whose voter registration is in doubt, he said. There are fewer than 20 of those ballots.

Voter turnout in Aiken County was 23.32 percent of the nearly 40,000 voters who could cast ballots Tuesday.

Mr. Clyburn, whose House seat comes up for re-election next year, said he ran for the Senate seat to help out the poorer rural counties included in District 25.

He said he hopes Mr. Massey works to "make life better for all people."