Tory Anna Firth has won the Southend West by-election succeeding late MP Sir David Amess and gave a message of support for his family rather than using the stage for party politics in her victory speech.
Ms Firth, a barrister and former councillor at Sevenoaks District Council in Kent, won the seat with a huge majority of 86.10%.
It came with Labour and the Liberal Democrats not standing candidates in Thursday's by-election contest.
She called Sir David "an exceptional MP" and said that he "had a huge impact on everyone who lives here."
But Ms Firth also paid tribute to his family adding: "We are thinking of you tonight."
The by-election was held to find a successor to Sir David, 69, who was stabbed to death last October.
Labour, the Lib Dems and Greens all chose not field candidates as a mark of respect following the tragic killing.
Southend West has been held by the Conservatives since its creation in 1950 and Sir David was the MP for Southend West since 1997.
In the last election he had an increased majority of more than 14,400.
After winning the seat, Ms Firth did not play party politics with it having been a sombre by-election.
She also did not refer to under-fire Prime Minister Boris Johnson over parties during lockdown.
"Tonight I pay tribute to Sir David Amess who represented this seat for more than 24 years and was a passionate advocate for Southend West," she said.
"Sir David was a truly exceptional MP. He was a friend to all and had a huge impact on everyone who lives here.
"For Sir David's family and his friends tonight will be a sad and painful day and I would like to pay tribute to Lady Amess and their children.
"We are thinking of you tonight."
She also praised the major rival parties for choosing not to contest the poll and in a message to the constituents she said she would now work "tirelessly" to continue Sir David's achievements.
"It is the honour of my life to represent the people of Southend West and the place where I was born," she said.
"As your Member of Parliament, I will work tirelessly to build on everything he (Sir David) achieved."
There were a number of spoilt ballots containing messages rallying against the Conservative leader, reported the PA news agency.
Ms Firth paid tribute to Sir David when she was selected as a candidate to replace him saying: "I want to pay tribute to the work of Sir David Amess and I will work tirelessly to carry on his legacy.
"I will focus on realising the benefits of city status, protecting and improving services at Southend hospital and helping to build back better from the pandemic."
Ali Harbi Ali is accused of murdering Sir David in an alleged terror attack while holding a constituency surgery in Essex on October 15.
The 25-year-old is also charged with preparing acts of terrorism between May 1 2019 and September 28 last year.
Ali denied the charges at a hearing at the Old Bailey in December and faces a trial later this year.
In his 38 years as an MP - a job he wanted since the age of 11 - Sir David never served as a minister, instead putting his time into campaign issues and his Essex seat.
First as MP for Basildon from 1983 to 1997 and then for Southend West, Sir David forged campaigning alliances with MPs from other parties.
Ahead of his time on key issues despite being a self-confessed “dinosaur”, he campaigned on animal rights in the 1980s, fuel poverty in the 1990s and more recently the plight of people with endometriosis.
His violent death has prompted questions about whether MPs should continue face-to-face surgeries - but Sir David’s answer would have been firm.
