Posted: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 -- 9:56p.m.

JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) -- Republican Rep. Paul Ryan has won re-election in Wisconsin, meaning he'll have a job to fall back on if he and presidential candidate Mitt Romney don't win the White House.

The Janesville resident and vice presidential candidate won his U.S. House race Tuesday, defeating Democrat Rob Zerban (zer-BAHN') and Libertarian Keith Deschler. Ryan has represented southeast Wisconsin's 1st District since 1998.

But the presidential election hasn't been called. If Romney wins, Ryan would resign from Congress and a special election would fill his seat.

Ryan is chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee and was seen as a rising GOP star even before Romney tapped him as his running mate. He won his previous elections by large margins.

Zerban is a former Kenosha County board member and small-business owner.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.