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Hagan defeats Dole for U.S. Senate
Journal Photo by Bruce Chapman
Rod Jessup applauds Kay Hagan after her speech during the election night Democratic watch party at the Kay Hagan for Senate Campaign headquarters at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro N.C., Tuesday November 04, 2008.
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Published: November 4, 2008
Updated: 11/04/2008 10:21 pm
RALEIGH
When she was initially offered a chance to challenge Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Kay Hagan declined. Dole was an incumbent that few thought could be defeated.
Pressured by her allies, however, Hagan eventually changed her mind. Now she's headed to the U.S. Senate after defeating Dole, who was seeking a second term.
Hagan spoke to supporters at the Greensboro Coliseum, taking the stage as strains of the Temptations' song "Get Ready" blasted through the lobby of the Greensboro Coliseum.
Several hundred supporters clapped their hands and chanted "Kay. Kay. Kay," throughout her speech.
"What a difference a year makes," Hagan said. "When I got into this a year ago, the press, the pundits and the politicians were ready to wipe this race off and hand Elizabeth Dole the keys to her office for six more years. But it's not her office, and we knew better."
Hagan promised to work with North Carolinians who voted for Dole. "If you have an idea that works for North Carolina, my door will always be open."
Hagan referred to the personal attacks that marked her race.
"The thing that kept me going is my belief that North Carolinians care about the issues," she said. "Tonight, Washington received the message loud and clear: Stop the partisan bickering. Work Together and get started fixing things right now."
Hagan's rise to the U.S. Senate mirrors that of her uncle, former Florida Sen. Lawton Chiles. Both were relatively unknown state senators when they began their campaigns. Chiles earned the nickname "Walkin' Lawton" by walking 1,003 miles across the state to introduce himself to voters.
Hagan also journeyed around North Carolina as she tried to compete with Dole's famous name - taking a car, mostly.
Hagan worked in the banking industry before her three children were born, and entered politics as a county manager for former Gov. Jim Hunt's campaigns in the 1990s. She won a seat in the state Senate a decade ago - beating a Republican incumbent - and quickly rose through the ranks to become a chief budget writer.
In that role, Hagan influenced billions in state spending. The 55-year-old spent much of her time pushing Democratic efforts to increase funding for education. Along the way, Hagan became one of the most powerful women in Raleigh, rising through a leadership usually dominated by men.
Dole and Hagan were locked in one of the closest and most expensive races in the nation, a race that turned sour in the final days.
When Dole aired an ad questioning Hagan's credentials as a Christian, Hagan's response was quick and aggressive. She sued Dole, accusing her of libel and defamation, and went to the airwaves to defend her faith, telling voters she teaches Sunday school and serves as a church elder.
"Sure politics is a tough business," she told voters, "but my campaign is about creating jobs and fixing our economy, not bearing false witness against fellow Christians."
Dole conceded the race during a speech to supporters in Salisbury.
"It's been the highest honor of my life to be elected the first female senator in North Carolina history," Dole said. "I have done my level best to make you proud," she said.
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