Oshkosh businessman and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, Tuesday night, ending his 18-year career in the Senate.
The Associated Press called the race for Johnson just over two hours after polls closed.
Johnson received 52 percent of the vote, and Feingold finished with 47 percent.
Feingold's concession speech was mostly upbeat and focused on the positives of the campaign.
""The people of Wisconsin have spoken and I respect their decision,"" Feingold said. ""Being your Senator has been the greatest honor of my life. I enjoyed working with you and feel that we did many good things together, and I thank Wisconsin for this great privilege I have received.""
Feingold also congratulated Johnson on the victory, offering his assistance in the transition period, and gave credit to his supporters.
""I hope and I intend to continue to work with all of you in the future as much as possible,"" Feingold told supporters.
John Kraus, Feingold's campaign spokesperson, said the political and economic climate accounted for the three-term incumbent's loss.
""It was a tough election cycle for Democrats, it was a tough election cycle for any incumbent,"" John Kraus said. ""We were up against it this year.""
In his victory speech, Johnson also thanked all of his supporters and volunteers and pointed out that he will be a Senator for all Wisconsinites.
""I understand now I represent all the citizens of Wisconsin,"" Johnson said. ""Tonight we can celebrate, but tomorrow we start the hard work.""
Johnson also expressed his plans for more free-market-based solutions to improve the economy.
""I will work with anyone who realizes that it is the free market system that creates long-term, self-sustaining jobs,"" Johnson said. ""I will never vote with my re-election in mind, that's not why I'm doing this. I will vote for what I think is in the best interests of Wisconsin and America.""
The College Republicans were excited with the results. ""Russ Feingold really didn't represent the state as a whole in the sense that he wasn't really in tune with what people wanted,"" College Republicans volunteer Sean Rao said. ""Ron Johnson is going to be able to bring a new voice.""
College Democrats Chair Evan Giesemann admitted that it was a tough night for his party.
""I think a lot of this is just the cyclical nature of politics,"" Giesemann said. ""I don't think this was a positive affirmation of Republican policies, because polls show the Republican Party is just as unpopular as the Democratic Party.""
Feingold's defeat marks one of six Senate Democrats who lost their seats in states including North Dakota, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois.
Although Democrats lost seats across the board, they will continue their majority in the Senate, holding at least 51 seats as of press time.
Nationwide, Senate majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, won his re-election battle over Sharron Angle, R-Nevada, 50 percent to 45 percent, according to the AP, and Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell was defeated by Democratic candidate Christopher Coons in Delaware by a margin of 16 points. In Illinois, Republican Mark Kirk defeated Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in a tight race.
