RICHMOND, Va. -- Sen. Tim Kaine has defeated Republican challenger Corey Stewart in the race for a U.S. Senate seat, according to CBS News and CNN projections.
Kaine, who was considered a heavy favorite to retain his Senate seat, thanked Virginians on Twitter.
"In the Senate, I'll always listen to you. I'll take your ideas and values to Washington, and keep fighting to solve your problems," Kaine wrote. "We have to keep Virginia moving forward and put our country back on the right track. That starts now!"
Stewart conceded the race during a speech at his campaign party in Woodbridge.
“I got to tell you. I don’t regret a thing because what we did… we gave it a good fight and we have a great President of the United States,” Stewart said. “Of course I got off the phone with Senator Kaine, I wished him God’s best and his family.”
Kaine had a $19 million fundraising edge over Stewart and is the only candidate to run television ads statewide, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).
VPAP reported Kaine raised $21.7 million, while Stewart raised $2.3 million and Libertarian candidate Matt Waters raised $53,161.
Stewart, chairman of the Board of County Supervisors in Prince William, ran on a platform that aims to “take Virginia back,” reform immigration policies and bring jobs back to Virginia.
Kaine called Stewart’s slogan “divisive” and “angry.”
From Richmond City Council to Richmond mayor, on to governor and then U.S Senator. Tim Kaine’s political career has spanned more than 24 years.
Kaine originally won the Senate seat in 2012, defeating George Allen. He was also Hillary Clinton’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2016 Presidential election.
With Kaine’s win, Virginia Republicans have not won a statewide election since former Governor Bob McDonnell in 2009.
