Hagan jumped out to an early lead as election results started to come in Tuesday night, but she ultimately lost the tight race to Republican challenger Thom Tillis. Tillis won 48.9 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.
Amid a supportive crowd’s chants of “We Want Kay,” Hagan delivered her concession speech at the Plaza at Greensboro Coliseum.
She said she had called Tillis to congratulate him and told him that she would work with him during the transition time. Tillis joined a wave of Republican success on Tuesday as the party gained a majority in the U.S. Senate.
“It’s been a long couple of years, but none of it would have been possible without the long hours some of you logged,” Hagan told the crowd.
“You weren’t just standing with me. You were standing with working class families all across North Carolina. Those are the families that still need a voice.”
Hagan first won election in 2008 after President Barack Obama’s first election.
“I will always be grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the chance to serve our great state,” she said.
Republicans had needed six seats to gain control and picked up seats at least in Colorado, West Virginia, South Dakota, Montana and Arkansas, as well as North Carolina.
