Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) discusses how funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is fueling research and development during an event to launch the website ScienceWorksForUS.org on Capitol Hill in Washington on November 17, 2009. UPI/Madeline Marshall | License Photo

WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., has beaten IBM's Watson computer at Jeopardy!

Holt, a physicist at Princeton University's Plasma Physics Lab before he entered Congress, was a five-time Jeopardy! winner 35 years ago, back in the days when the game show was strictly for humans. Many of his constituents sport bumper stickers that read "My congressman IS a rocket scientist."


Holt and U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La., took on Watson in an exhibition match Monday in Washington, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. Holt walked away with $8,600 and Watson with $6,200, while Cassidy came in third.

Before the match, Holt downplayed his chances, The Times of Trenton reported.

"Tonight I get to play 'Jeopardy!' against the colossus Watson," his Facebook page said. "Fortunately it's just for fun, and my humiliation will not be televised."

Afterward, he sent out a triumphant Tweet: "I played a full round against @IBMWatson tonight and was proud to hold my own."

In a later match, two more congressmen lost.