Democrat Maggie Hassan has been declared the winner over New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, eaking out a narrow win in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation.
{mosads}Hassan, the two-term governor, defeated Ayotte by 1,023 votes, according to the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website.
Ayotte conceded the race late Wednesday afternoon. In a statement she said she called Hassan to congratulate her. “The voters have spoken and now it’s time all of us to come together to get things done,” she said.
New Hampshire had been eyed by Democrats as a prime Senate pickup — President Obama won the state in both 2008 and 2012.
Ayotte first joined the Senate in 2010, winning retiring Republican Judd Gregg’s seat as part of the Tea Party wave that gave the GOP control of the House and cut into the Democrats’ advantage in the Senate.
— Lisa Hagen contributed.
Updated at 5:07 p.m.