Rep. Mary Bono Mack issued a statement early this morning, thanking supporters for what a press release described as an  ”unexpectedly large landslide victory.”

“The voters of California’s 36th Congressional District have sent a clear message of support,” the Palm Springs Republican said in the release.

“It is a privilege and an honor to serve in Congress and today’s vote makes me both humble and proud. This is the first step. I will continue to serve this region with a commonsense, independent approach to government, always fighting for the values we share in our district.”

Bono Mack garnered 58.1 percent of the vote, according to the unofficial tally of Tuesday’s primary. Her Democratic challenger, emergency room physician Raul Ruiz of Palm Desert, got 41.9 percent.

The results really don’t carry much weight, except in terms of building momentum and attracting donors. Both candidates will face off again in November.

In case you missed it, Ruiz released these comments Tuesday night:

“The campaign starts now, and we’re very optimistic about our ability to win.  Our strategy from Day 1 has been to save our resources for November,” Ruiz said in the statement.

“Washington is broken, and people are sick and tired of partisan bickering and career politicians who have lost touch with their districts.

“This election is going to be a choice between a career politician and a proven public servant.  As an emergency room doctor, I’ve been trained on how to solve problems and get things done.  And that’s precisely the kind of approach we need right now.”