Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who made an early run for the presidency, instead is heading back to Washington for a second term.
Paul defeated Democrat Jim Gray, the mayor of Lexington.
Paul repeatedly clashed with Donald Trump during the GOP primary debates. He later endorsed Trump but spoke little about him while campaigning for re-election.
The candidates spent a combined $8 million on the race, a paltry sum considering the more than $47 million Kentucky’s Senate candidates spent in 2014. The Senate race has been overshadowed by the presidential race and the battle for the state House of Representatives – the only legislative chamber in the South still controlled by Democrats.
READ: Control of U.S. Senate comes down to nail-biter races
The race was not considered competitive.
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