After cruising to re-election Tuesday night, Congressman John Olver said he is looking forward to tackling the challenges facing the country with President-elect Barack Obama.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, the Boston Globe has projected that Olver, an Amherst Democrat, has defeated West Springfield Republican Nathan Bech. Olver earned 73 percent of the vote.

Olver, who was first elected in 1991, said in a statement that he is "honored" to have been elected to Congress again and that he is looking forward to what the next Congress, with an expanded Democratic majority, will be able to accomplish.

"I am also very excited about the prospects for the 111th Congress," Olver said. "We have an historic opportunity to take the country in a new direction."

Olver said that the number one priority for Congress will be dealing with the economic crisis.

"First and foremost, our job will be to get the economy back on track," he said. "Effective regulation of our financial markets must be restored. We also need to give the economy a shot in the arm with a new stimulus package. The House actually passed one at the end of September that included $16 billion for improvements to transportation infrastructure and transit."

Ending the war in Iraq and working towards providing healthcare to all Americans will also be priorities, Olver said.

The Democrat also said that he will continue his work on behalf of the 1st District.

"I'm also excited about being able to continue my economic development work in the district," he said. "It's one of my favorite parts of the job, and I've been fortunate enough to be able to contribute over the years to some important transportation improvements, downtown revitalizations, expansions of local health care options, tourism development, expansions of educational opportunities and research at local colleges and community colleges, and protection of our precious natural resources. Raising the quality of life in the First District is highly rewarding work, and I'm eager to keep at it."