New London — State Rep. Ernest Hewett handily defeated his Republican challenger Tuesday, securing a fifth term in the state House of Representatives.

About half of the 11,227 registered voters in the city’s first and second districts, which make up the 39th House District, voted. The official tally Monday night was 4,576 for Hewett and 942 for Daniel Docker.

Hewett, who waited for election results with his family and a few others at Democratic headquarters on Bank Street, said he was honored to be going back to Hartford.

“Nothing is more refreshing and more powerful than serving the citizens of New London,’’ he said.

Docker, who raised less than $1,000 during the campaign and admitted he stepped forward to run because no one else would, said he’s glad the election is over but would do it again if called upon. In a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 5 to 1, he wasn’t surprised by the results.

“I’ve been told on numerous occasions, ‘Thanks for stepping in,’’ he said. “No one should run unopposed.’’

Docker, an EMT, spent Election Day working for Hunters Ambulance and was at Flanders Fish House in Niantic Monday night with his daughter, awaiting the results. He was about to drive Annamarie Docker back to Eastern Connecticut State University, where she is in her freshman year. She had come home Tuesday to vote and to hold signs for her father at the polling places.

Docker also ran unsuccessfully against state Sen. Andrea Stillman in 2010 and for New London City Council in 2011.

Earlier in the day, Hewett split the day between New London High School and Harbor School, greeting voters and chatting with whoever made eye contact.

“This is so great,’’ he said, urging some Connecticut College students to “Let Hewett do it.’’

What struck him, he said, is that he knew so many of the voters and many knew him.

“Some disagreed with me, but no one was ready to throw me under the bus,’’ he said.

k.edgecomb@theday.com

no one was ready to throw me under the bus,'' he said.