GULFPORT - Sen. Debra Dawkins beat Republican Robert Bass and will represent District 48 for a second term.

Dawkins, a Democrat, received 58 percent of the vote compared to Bass' 42 percent.

Late Tuesday night, Dawkins said she works hard for her constituents, and she believes that's why she was re-elected.

"I just get up and go to work every day," she said. "I do it full time when it's supposed to be a part-time job. I work hard, and I think people appreciate that. When people have a problem, I try to help them as much as I can."

Dawkins said she didn't have a breakdown of votes by precinct, so she wasn't sure where she received the majority of votes.

Bass said until he saw that breakdown, he couldn't say why he lost.

"It's a pretty decisive victory for Sen. Dawkins," he said. "We really don't know what happened."

Bass, who is serving his second term as mayor of Long Beach, said he won't run for a third term.

"I honestly don't have any plans except for finishing out my last term and deciding what I want to do in the private sector," he said, adding that it is too early to decide if he will run for state office again.

In the race to represent District 51, Republican incumbent Tommy Robertson beat independent candidate Ray Vecchio. Robertson received 65 percent of the vote and Vecchio got 35 percent.

"It's the biggest margin of victory I've ever had," said Robertson, who will begin his fourth term in January.

In District 47, Democratic incumbent Ezell Lee received 64 percent of the vote and Republican Joseph Seymour got 36 percent.

In District 52, incumbent Tommy Moffatt defeated Robert Hooks. Moffatt, a Republican, received 73 percent of the vote.

Results were complete but unofficial at press time.