State Representative-elect Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) said Monday that the extra time she and her volunteers invested made the difference in her victory over Republican Dan Haley in Middlesex's 8th District.

The incoming Democrat defeated Haley (R-Holliston) last week by four percentage points, according to the unofficial results compiled by the Boston Globe. Her win represents a pick up for the Democrats in the State House, as she replaces Republican state Rep. Paul Loscocco in the seat.

Dykema told PolitickerMA.com Monday that she believes the race ultimately came down to grassroots canvassing. "I think the time that I spent this summer and in the past few months knocking on doors and meeting people face to face made the difference," she said. "A lot of people told me it was really important to do that face time and it paid off."

Unlike many of her Democratic colleagues, Dykema faced a significant financial disadvantage in her race against Haley, a former aide to Kerry Healey when she was lieutenant governor. Haley spent $70,000 on the race, compared to Dykema's $16,000, according to their reports with Office Campaign and Political Finance. Dykema said her limited funds forced her to make tough decisions on where focus the campaign's spending.

"We didn't do a tremendous amount of mail," she said. "We did a few key pieces that we planned up front. Once we made out plan we didn't vary our strategies at all."

Dykema also said that she relied on already- established networks in the district that she had become a part of over the years to help her organize grassroots support. "I had an advantage going in because I had been in the community for a while," she said. "I had worked locally and was known by a lot of people. And the networks in this year were incredible."

Dykema was especially impressed by how involved younger voters, and even those too young to vote, were in the election.

"I heard from grade one through high school during my campaign," Dykema said. "That for me was particularly exciting."