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With most votes counted, all three of Guilford County's U.S. House incumbents were cruising to re-election Tuesday night in unofficial returns.

In the 6th Congressional District, Republican Howard Coble was leading challenger Teresa Sue Bratton, 66 percent to 34 percent, with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

Coble said he was grateful to have prevailed in an election season that wasn't treating Republicans well, even though the 6th hasn't voted Democratic since 1982.

"It surely wasn't our year," he said. "Someone asked me if I was nervous, and I was nervous and uncertain because it appeared with each passing day it was going to be more and more a Democratic year. That has a way of getting your attention."

At Page High School, Tom Gruehn cast his ballot for Coble.

"He's one of the few who tends to watch the exuberant expenditures that Congress is so willing to spend," Gruehn said. "We need a financial watchdog up there."

Coble was first elected to the 6th District seat in 1984.

In the 12th District, Democrat Mel Watt was leading challenger Ty Cobb Jr. of Salisbury, 72 percent to 28 percent, with 80 percent of precincts reporting.

Although the district is predominantly Democratic, Watt also attributed his victory to his willingness to listen.

"Even when people disagree with me or with the votes that I have cast," he said, "they have confidence that I have listened carefully and tried to be as thoughtful about the decision as I can possibly be."

Watt, of Mecklenburg County, was first elected to the seat in 1992, when it was created.

And in the 13th District, Democrat Brad Miller of Raleigh led his Republican challenger, former state Sen. Hugh Webster of Yanceyville, 67 percent to 33 percent, with 89 percent of precincts reporting.

The district leans Democratic, but Miller also attributed his win to a national and statewide Democratic groundswell fueled by discontent with the Bush administration.

"I think the results nationally and in North Carolina showed a great desire for a new direction," he said. "I think voters were profoundly unhappy with the course of the nation and voted for change."

Miller has held the 13th District seat since it was created in 2002.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Lex Alexander at 373-7088 or lex.alexander@news-record.com