GREENSBORO — With 61 percent of the vote, first-time political candidate Kathy Manning defeated Adam Coker for a chance to run against Republican Rep. Ted Budd for the 13th Congressional District seat in November.

Manning said Tuesday by phone that her win is only the first step. But she said she and her supporters are feeling “great.”

“We have got a huge group of really excited people here. They have been working nonstop for four or five months, knocking on doors, stuffing envelopes. We are unbelievably excited,” Manning said.

Manning said she’s had a “wonderful time” when visiting Rowan County during the campaign.

“We are looking forward to coming back and hearing what I can help with in that community,” Manning said.

Manning said the issues she has been running on will still be paramount for her in the general election.

“We need to work on bringing down the outrageous cost of prescription drugs,” Manning said. “People are overburdened with the cost of health care.”

Manning also said the country needs a strong economy to attract good jobs.

“We need to educate our kids for the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow,” Manning said. “And we need to make sure they’re not so burdened with student debt.”

Manning raised more than $500,000 in campaign donations between December — when she announced her candidacy — and early February.

She was endorsed by Emily’s List, which is the nation’s largest resource organization for women in politics.

A resident of Greensboro, Manning is a former immigration attorney and was the first woman to chair the Jewish Federations of North America. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Michigan.

This was Coker’s second time running for Congress. In an emailed statement, Coker thanked his family, staff and volunteers.

“I want to also congratulate my opponent, Kathy Manning, on her win tonight. My team and I will stand with her steadfastly in unity and work together to ensure that Ted Budd is sent back home to his gun store this November,” Coker said.

Coker is a truck driver who also raises cattle in Iredell County.