FARGO - North Dakota voters have overwhelmingly re-elected Republican Gov. John Hoeven, making him the state's first chief executive to win three four-year terms.

With 55 percent of state's precincts reporting Tuesday, Hoeven had nearly 76 percent of the vote to 22 percent for Democratic state Sen. Tim Mathern and 2 percent for independent DuWayne Hendrickson.

Hoeven was finishing dinner with his family when the race was called.

"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of North Dakota, and we will continue to work very hard to earn their support," Hoeven said. "We appreciate them so much."

He said he concentrated on the campaign rather than on the idea of making history by winning three terms.

"I have really focused on the work of the campaign and don't look beyond that," he said.

Hoeven, 51, has taken credit for a strong state economy, helped by energy development, saying wages and personal income have increased faster than the national average.

"We're making real progress in North Dakota, and I think what you saw tonight is that people agree with his vision and the direction he's taking the state," said Don Larson, his campaign manager.

An Associated Press exit poll of Tuesday voters showed Hoeven with widespread support - even those who disapprove of the performance of fellow Republican George W. Bush. Hoeven was favored by men and women of all ages and income groups, moderates and conservatives, and people in both rural and urban areas. Close to half the Democrats said they voted for the Republican governor candidate.

Mathern, 58, a longtime Fargo state senator, was making his first bid for statewide office.

"From the beginning I knew this was a tough race," Mathern said after the race was called. "I have no regrets. I learned so much in this race and I feel better about my abilities. I do feel for the people who gave me so much support."

Hoeven defeated Heidi Heitkamp in 2000 and Joe Satrom in 2004, winning 71 percent of the vote in his last election. Campaign finance reports released last month show he raised almost $2 million, compared with about $300,000 for Mathern.

"I felt I had to stand up to the governor and his policies that are not family friendly enough," Mathern said. "I have no doubt that we'll see a lot of the changes that I talked about."

Hoeven said the campaign trail made him think about doing more running, but not the political kind.

"I've noticed I haven't been getting as much running in and I'm getting more eating in," Hoeven said during a recent campaign stop. "I've gained a few pounds."