"We took on an entrenched machine and we won," the 55-year-old Romney said as he claimed victory.

Romney’s win extends 12 years of Republican control of the governor's office in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly three to one. Romney follows Republican acting Gov. Jane Swift, who withdrew from the Republican primary in response to the strength of Romney’s prospects.

The son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney emphasized his outsider status and his background in business in his race against O'Brien, the Massachusetts state treasurer. He capitalized on voters' concerns about electing a Democrat for governor in a state where Democrats control the House and Senate.

In a year when the slowing economy led to cuts in state services and the state legislature thwarted voter-approved initiatives to lower the income tax and implement campaign finance reform, being a Republican who as not part of the Massachusetts political establishment worked to Romney’s advantage.

With unemployment in the state standing at its highest level in seven years, both candidates emphasized jobs and economic growth. Romney responded to voters’ concerns by touting his background in business and his ability to attract new businesses to the state.

His campaign nearly ended before it began when Democrats filed a lawsuit challenging his Massachusetts residency. Once that challenge was rejected, Romney embarked on a series of "work days" during which he lent a helping hand to workers throughout the state in an attempt to quell criticism that his wealth and success had put him out of touch with the concerns of everyday people.

This tight gubernatorial race was the most expensive in Massachusetts’ history. Spending on campaign commercials helped bring the final tally for the election to some $50 million.