Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) won reelection Tuesday to a third term, defeating his Trump-endorsed challenger, Republican Hung Cao.
Kaine led Cao 52.7%-47.3% when the Associated Press called the contest at 11:22 p.m. Eastern, with about 77% of the ballots counted.
Republicans had sought to tip the once-purple state back into the battleground column in the era of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), but the Senate contest’s results laid bare that the Old Dominion State is likely to remain out of reach for the GOP in federal elections.
“What has it taken for that to happen? It’s you,” Kaine told supporters during a victory speech. “This is the generation of Virginians that has just decided, let’s just be true to what we say about ourselves, and that’s why Virginia is putting 13 electoral votes behind Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”
Kaine is Hillary Clinton’s former vice presidential running mate and has held the seat since 2013. He was previously Richmond mayor, lieutenant governor, and governor. On the campaign trail, he relied upon his decades in elected office and widespread name recognition.
Cao is a 25-year Navy veteran supported by former President Donald Trump who often cited similar talking points and policy concerns as the GOP presidential nominee, including illegal immigration.
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Cao said in a series of social media posts that although the race was called and it appeared “mathematically almost impossible” to win, he did not plan to phone Kaine with a concession “until 100% of votes are in.”
“Although this is my last political run, I’ll tell you right now that I’ll be proud to serve in any capacity this country needs us, and now I want to serve as a husband and father of my children and grandfather,” Cao posted.
