McCaskill concedes defeat to Hawley in Missouri Senate race

Missouri Senate race -- live results

Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat seeking a third term, conceded defeat to Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley toward the end of a night that saw Democrats taking the House while losing ground in the Senate.

The candidates were tied in several polls leading up to Election Day, but Hawley was on track to win handily as ballots were counted, enjoying a lead of 10 points with nearly all precincts reporting late Tuesday. CBS News had not projected a winner as of midnight Wednesday.

President Trump held two rallies in Missouri in the final week of the campaign to drum up support for Hawley as he focuses on keeping control of, or possibly gaining, Republican seats in the Senate. McCaskill was vulnerable in a state that overwhelmingly chose Mr. Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and the state was one of Republicans' best chances to pick up a seat.

McCaskill tried to brand herself as an independent member of the Senate who stays true to her Missouri roots, but Mr. Trump has portrayed her as closely tied to the Democratic leadership. Hawley has allied himself closely with the president and his policies.

Mr. Trump has frequently brought up McCaskill's decision to vote against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after his contentious confirmation hearing earlier this fall.

Exit polls showed about half of Missouri voters said McCaskill's vote against Kavanaugh was an important factor in their vote, and more of those voters supported Hawley.

Male voters, according to the exit polls, were more likely to support Hawley, whereas women were more likely to support McCaskill. Almost half of Missouri voters named health care as the most important issue facing the country and among those voters, about three-quarters say they voted for McCaskill.

Although both candidates had similar favorability ratings, voters were more likely to say Hawley does not have high ethical standards.

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Missouri Senate candidates

Claire McCaskill

McCaskill, 65, has served as Missouri's U.S. senator since 2007.

McCaskill started out her career after law school as an assistant prosecutor in Kansas city, and eventually specialized in prosecuting sex crimes and arson cases, according to her official Senate website. She was the first female state lawmaker in Missouri to have a baby while in office.

As a U.S. senator, she serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. McCaskill has branded herself as an independent voice for Missouri, although she still typically sides with Democrats in voting.

Josh Hawley

Hawley, 38, is currently Missouri's attorney general. Hawley hails from Lexington, Missouri. He will be the youngest member of the United States Senate.

Before becoming attorney general, Hawley served as a private lawyer, litigating cases including the Supreme Court fight over Obamacare and Hobby Lobby. He and his wife have two sons.