Mississippi Senate Election Results: Thad Cochran Wins

Mississippi Senate Election Results: Thad Cochran Wins
JACKSON, MS - JUNE 24: U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) speaks to supporters during his 'Victory Party' after holding on to his seat after a narrow victory over Chris McDaniel at the Mississippi Childrens Museum on June 24, 2014 in Jackson, Mississippi. Cochran, a 36-year Senate incumbent, defeated Tea Party-backed Republican candidate Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel in a tight runoff race. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
JACKSON, MS - JUNE 24: U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) speaks to supporters during his 'Victory Party' after holding on to his seat after a narrow victory over Chris McDaniel at the Mississippi Childrens Museum on June 24, 2014 in Jackson, Mississippi. Cochran, a 36-year Senate incumbent, defeated Tea Party-backed Republican candidate Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel in a tight runoff race. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) defeated former Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) on Tuesday.

Cochran was first elected to the Senate in 1978.

The race between Childers and Cochran was a relatively uneventful one compared to Cochran's primary against state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R). That race went to a runoff, which Cochran won in June by dramatically boosting turnout in Democratic-leaning counties and among African-American voters. McDaniel attempted to challenge the results of the runoff, claiming that the Cochran's win was fraudulently accomplished.

Cochran's runoff effort was funded by a super PAC run by Henry Barbour, a lobbyist and nephew to former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R).

A leader of the Mississippi tea party committed suicide after he and two others were arrested for allegedly helping a blogger take pictures of Cochran's bedridden wife, Rose Cochran, in the Alzheimer's unit of a nursing home earlier this year. Though the photos were used in an online video against Cochran during the Republican primary, McDaniel's campaign denied having any connection to the blogger.

Though Childers attempted to debate Cochran, the senator's campaign declined to participate.

Below, more updates on election news:

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