CNN is projecting Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses as a Democrat, will win his third term in office, defeating Republican challenger Lawrence Zupan and about a half-dozen other candidates.
The 2016 presidential candidate campaigned for Democrats in nine states over nine days, including in 2020 battlegrounds such as Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada and California.
Sanders is reportedly watching the returns at home in Burlington with his family before making his way to the Vermont Democratic Party event later.
Long one of the state's most popular politicians, Sanders spent little time campaigning ahead of Tuesday's election.
Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state's lone seat in the House in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.
The Republican candidate, Lawrence Zupan, a Manchester real estate broker with experience in international trade, campaigned against what he felt was big government and social welfare programs. But his candidacy never gained traction and his campaign drew little attention.
Rather than focusing on his re-election, Sanders traveled the country to support Democratic candidates and an array of policy issues.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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