Congresswoman-elect Elissa Slotkin part of Michigan's blue wave

(WJBK) - Congresswoman-elect Elissa Slotkin met her new constituents Thursday after an upset over Republican incumbent Mike Bishop on Election Day.

"We ultimately won by about 13,000 votes," she said.

Slotkin won Michigan's 8th District on Tuesday -- a hard-fought victory after weeks of campaigning. She and her supporters knocked on 200,000 doors and made a million phone calls to get out the vote.

"I would have been proud of this campaign no matter what - even if we hadn't won - but it is really nice to win," she said.

Slotkin made her way to all three counties in her district on Thursday to meet and greet and thank her constituents in Oakland, Livingston and Ingham. Among them was lifelong Republican Nancy Strole, who says she and many other women threw their support behind Slotkin.

"I think I'm just one of many - thousands - who were simply fed up with the behavior in Congress," she said.

Strole says the numerous ads attacking Elissa Slotkin were a total turnoff, but Slotkin's positive message of service to country and country before party was refreshing and relatable.

"In this election, integrity and character mattered," she said.

A record turnout at the polls put Slotkin among Michigan's blue wave of women elected to lead the state. She cited campaign finance reform and health care as her top concerns when she gets to Washington.

"I'm excited to get to Washington, show them a little bit about how Midwesterners act," Slotkin said. "How we know how to work with each other and how we focus on results, not just talking."

Her supporters say she has what it takes.

"I've been living in this district for 40 years and we never had a candidate with this level of integrity," said one voter.

Slotkin says she's representing all of the eighth district, not just those who voted for her.

"To everyone who didn't vote for me, I understand it and I want to earn their trust and even if they didn't vote for me, I work for them," she said.

The Congresswoman-elect is not wasting any time and is heading to Washington on Monday for training.