By Allison Alvey

LOUISVILLE — The air was thick with tension in the Galt House Hotel and Suites in Louisville as a large crowd of Mitch McConnell supporters awaited the outcome of a close race for one of Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seats.

LOUISVILLE — In what could have been the biggest upset in the state, Democrat Bruce Lunsford walked away from months of campaigning just short of unseating the current U.S. Senate minority leader.
“This has been the journey of a lifetime,” Lunsford said. “I entered the race with a pledge to change Kentucky, but we fell just short.”
Lunsford lost to Republican Mitch McConnell, the incumbent U.S. Senator, in a race that was close until the end. McConnell won 53 percent of the vote, or 954,173 of the 1,800,327 total votes, to retain the seat.
“It isn’t because we didn’t work hard enough,” Lunsford said in his concession speech. “It isn’t because we didn’t give everything we had.”

Republican John McCain conceded in his two-year-long race to become president of the United States.

Democrat Barack Obama is projected to receive enough electoral votes to secure the 44th U.S. presidency, making him the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

In his speech, McCain praised his opponent, calling the race an “historic election” that helped emphasize the difference today and the era of slavery and segragation.

“America today is a world away from that cruel and painful era,” McCain said. “There is no better contrast of this than an African American being elected president.

By Austin Schmitt

Lexington voters waited in the longest lines in the state to cast their ballots, a representative for the secretary of state said Tuesday night.
“Fayette County is nothing compared to the rest of the country; some places report six-hour waits,” said department spokesman Les Fugate.

By Ali Cicerchi and Sarah Eisenmenger

With a big grin on his face, Ben Chandler accepted his win as the U.S. House of Representative in Kentucky’s 6th District, which includes Lexington. Chandler won over opponent, Jon Larson with 64.8 of the votes.
“I’m very pleased,” Chandler said. “We were hoping we’d break 60 percent. This is more than any other election I’ve been in.”
About 250 Democrats were gathered at the Fayette County Democratic Party’s celebration downtown at Victorian Square Shoppes to show support for their party.

By Rochelle Haliburton and Katie Perkowski

Calm, confident and all smiles, Democratic candidate Diane Lawless entered the atrium of Victorian Square looking like a winner. She walked around, meeting, greeting and thanking supporters.

Although she seemed confident because her numbers were high, she was also ready to embrace what might not be happy news.

“I have done everything I can possibly do,” Lawless said. “I’m relieved that this is almost over.”

Lawless did not have to wait long. She was victorious in her efforts, defeating fellow Democrat Eric Thomason for the 3rd district seat on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.

By Kirsten Clancy and Travis Walker

The mood at Victorian Square on Tuesday turned from tense to celebratory as results poured in. Quiet conversation became enthusiastic cheering as anticipation melted and local Democratic candidates won.

The night was no different for Kelly Flood, the Democratic candidate for Kentucky’s 75th District House race. Flood won with 65 percent, or 8,740 of the 13,446 of the total votes, to defeat Republican opponent Republican Kimberly Ward.

“I’m feeling humbled, honored, and really excited,” Flood said. “It’s going to be hard, but with imagination and resolve, we can solve these problems.”