With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Cutler had 58 percent of the tallied votes and had declared his victory. Armstrong had not conceded as of 11 p.m. and could not be reached for comment.

With 100 percent of districts reporting, unofficial results were:

Bryan Cutler3,770

Gibson C. Armstrong2,678

Cutler, 31, attributed his stunning upset to three things: "the pay raise, perks and per diems.

"The crux of it is, for too long, Harrisburg has abused tax dollars, and it has to stop. ... I believe this was a complete pocketbook campaign," Cutler said.

Armstrong, 39, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Armstrong voted against the Legislative pay raise but accepted unvouchered expenses, which he later gave back.

Cutler charged Armstrong improperly accepted per diem expenses and abused tax-payer-funded public service announcements and mailings.

During the campaign, Cutler also hammered Armstrong with allegations of being out of touch with his constituents, and of "ghost voting," which is rigging House voting machines to register a vote without anyone actually being present.

Armstrong attempted to parry Cutler's accusations by denying misdoings and touting achievements such as securing funding to re-route the county's most dangerous intersection at the Buck, but his arguments fell short with voters Tuesday.

The Republican Party had endorsed neither candidate. Armstrong also had refused to debate Cutler throughout the campaign.

Unless a write-in candidate emerges, the victory means Cutler will take office next year, since no Democrat is running for the seat.

If elected, Cutler said he'll start small.

"I would first start working on the things I can affect, my own personal expenses," he said.

Cutler has said he will not accept a per diem or perks, and has pledged fiscal transparency.

"I believe the voters want reform, with open and honest government," he said. "I think they want governmental reform; they want some real property tax reform and cutting spending instead of playing this little shuffle game. They want real results, and that's what I'm going to to do."

The part-time X-ray technologist will graduate Saturday from Widener University with a law degree, having had to squeeze the final weeks of his campaign in between taking finals.

"I would like to thank my wife and family and all my friends and volunteers, without which this absolutely would not been possible," Cutler said. "It means a lot to me."