Republican Lois Snowe-Mello celebrated Tuesday night after reclaiming her state Senate District 15 seat from incumbent Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn, who won the seat in the 2008 election.

“I think the people have just seen that I was the better candidate,” Snowe-Mello said Tuesday night. “We need jobs more than anything. We need to get this economy going and growing again.”

Snowe-Mello said that she hoped to see Republicans and Democrats working together to bring about changes that move Maine forward.

“I really want to make the changes that are necessary for this state and this district,” she said.

This year’s race was a rematch of sorts between Simpson, 48, and Snowe-Mello of Poland. The two women faced off in 2008 when Simpson — fresh out of service from the Maine House — defeated the two-time incumbent in a race separated by a mere 104 votes. The final decision came following a recount requested by Snowe-Mello.

Simpson could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.