Despite a three-to-one advantage in campaign finance, District 8 candidate Austin King defeated his opponent Jeff Erlanger, earning 69 percent of votes compared to Erlanger?s 34 percent.

?It?s always difficult to be outspent,? King said. ?It goes to show that not even $12,000 can beat a few good ideas and some great volunteers.?

King was quick to thank his volunteers; he said without them he wouldn?t be celebrating tonight.

?I don?t know that we expected to win by this much,? King said during his celebration at Luther?s Blues, where he joined other election-night victors Dave Cieslewicz and Robbie Webber.

King also said he believed his message resonated with District 8 residents but says he wants to warn his constituents that the City Council is a ?slow-moving body? and that it may take time for council members to adopt his ?radical? ideas.

?One thing I?m going to ask from District 8 is for patience,? King said.

Volunteer coordinator during King?s campaign Andrea VanHoff said the race came down to Austin?s connection with students and his high level of campus involvement.

?I had faith in it. I thought it was going to be closer. There were a ton of people on both campaigns,? VanHoff said.

VanHoff also said King?s stress on affordable housing and his position that banning drink specials isn?t the solution to binge-drinking helped him win.

?I think it was a lot of going door to door and talking about issues and a lot of identifying with students on certain issues,? VanHoff said.

Although King was outspent $10,938 to $3,008, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he was not surprised by King?s victory and said the under-funded candidate prevailed in the mayoral race and in most of the City Council races.

?At least in Madison, money can?t buy elections,? Verveer said.

Verveer also said he has endorsed King even before he announced he would run for the District 8 seat. He also said because their districts are similar, they ?shared the same position on almost every issue of the day.?

?I had no doubt Austin was going to win,? Verveer said. ?For one thing, he was the better candidate. Secondary, his primary performance sealed the deal for the election tonight.?

King expectedly showed enthusiasm for his victory of 763 to 394 and for his upcoming role in city politics.

?It?s going to be fun. I can?t wait to get started on our goals we worked on during the campaign,? King said.