DEARBORN -- It turns out months of weekly national television appearances and celebrity endorsements weren't enough to end the Republican drought in Dearborn.

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion Terrance "Rhyno" Guido Gerin, who lives in Dearborn, was handedly defeated by Abdullah Hammoud in the race for Michigan's 15th House District seat.

Hammoud beat Gerin by a margin of 18,097 votes to 9,999 with all 48 precincts reporting as of 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Gerin is a 40-year-old, well-traveled professional wrestler known for his time in WWE, the original ECW and TNA, all in which he held championships.

He was seeking to become the first Republican elected to represent Dearborn in the state House since Bill Runco in 1988.

Hammoud is a 26-year-old Healthcare Adviser for the Henry Ford Health System. He will fill Dearborn's 15th House District seat, which was previously held by Democratic state Rep. George Darany. The position pays $71,685 annually.

Ever since Gerin won the Republican nomination by 56 votes, he has done everything from wearing "Vote for Rhyno" shirts on national television to calling in his grappling friends for campaign ads to convince undecided voters.

Hammoud is a lifelong Dearborn resident, and while his opponent has toured the country as one-half of the WWE tag team champions, Hammoud said he has remained focused on the people of Dearborn and the issues most important to them throughout the campaign.

"Our campaign addresses the issues that impact our community the most including quality education, safer environment, better health, and economic growth," Hammoud said in the email. "We've earned the endorsements of the leaders and top organizations advocating on these issues in our community and at the state level. In addition, my team has knocked over 25,000 doors.

"Not only am I the most qualified candidate in the race, I've put in the most work to earn the support of Dearborn voters. I believe I will represent and serve our community best."

Hammoud wants to fight budget cuts and any legislation that opposes Michigan's public schools. Bring local and state government together to make healthcare more accessible, while lowering the cost of prescription drugs and increasing immunization rates. Hammoud wants to support small businesses by lowering barriers of entry, providing accessible start-up loans and granting incentives to those keeping jobs in Michigan.

The 26-year-old claims to be a local and national healthcare expert as a working adviser for the Henry Ford Health System, sits on the Michigan League of Conservation Voters board, and holds a master's degree in public health from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.