Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has defeated her challenger for a Tennessee Senate seat, ensuring that the Republicans will maintain control of the Senate.
With projected wins for Blackburn and Mike Braun in Indiana, the path to Democratic control of the Senate appears to have closed.
As of 9 p.m. EST, Blackburn had earned 635,688 votes to Phil Breseden’s 365,523, or 63 percent against 36 percent.
Blackburn will make history as the first female senator from Tennessee, reported ABC. She will replace Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who retired.
JUST IN: Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn defeats former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen in the Tennessee Senate race, @ABC projects based on vote analysis https://t.co/QKK9VJilpS #ElectionNight pic.twitter.com/q5VIXUZPbw
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 7, 2018
BREAKING: @NBCNews projects Marsha Blackburn (R) wins Tennessee Senate https://t.co/ENJ0irOlyH pic.twitter.com/Hl9GEPshLT
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 7, 2018
BREAKING: Marsha Blackburn (R) wins Tennessee Senate race. Republicans hold onto a seat that Democrats were hoping to flip. #ElectionNight #Midterms2018 https://t.co/moYOfg9CCw pic.twitter.com/9vy09JM7dI
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 7, 2018
We have another major race call to make in the Tennessee Senate race: The Fox News Decision Desk can now project that Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn will defeat former Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen to replace retiring GOP Senator Bob Corker.
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) November 7, 2018
JUST IN: Republican Marsha Blackburn defeats Democrat Phil Bredesen to become Senator of Tennessee #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/x1xPByjFJF
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) November 7, 2018
Blackburn rally celebrating the first projection that she has won. pic.twitter.com/lE8W3ea9oB
— Alex Apple (@AlexApple_) November 7, 2018
Leading up to the Nov. 6 midterms, President Donald Trump stumped multiple times for Blackburn, proclaiming his full support for her.
He traveled to Tennessee just two days before the midterms and appeared with Vice President Mike Pence and Blackburn in a huge rally before an estimated 12,000 people in Chattanooga.
“Your next senator, Marsha Blackburn, will keep your economy thriving, your wages rising, your jobs soaring, and she will keep your families and communities safe,” Trump said.
“If my opponent, Phil Bredesen, had his way, Hillary Clinton … would be president and not any of these things would be happening,” Blackburn said, referring to Trump’s accomplishments. “If you want to vote ‘no’ on Hillary Clinton and her cronies one more time, stand with me.”
