Stabenow beats Hoekstra for 3rd term

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Two-term Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan has won re-election, defeating former Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra.

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Watch a live stream from the Stabenow party in Detroit

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Stabenow had no primary opposition and built a fundraising advantage over Hoekstra, who fended off a challenge for the GOP nomination from charter school founder Clark Durant.

Stabenow ran television ads portraying herself as a bipartisan champion of Michigan industries, particularly manufacturing and agriculture. As chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she won a rare endorsement from the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Hoekstra's campaign tried to attract attention with low-budget Internet ads describing Stabenow as "the worst senator," but they drew little traction.

The candidates accused each other of favoring policies that would damage Medicare, the popular health program for seniors. Stabenow said Hoekstra supported budget cuts proposed by vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.

Hoekstra told 24 Hour News 8 he thought he was going to do better in this race and doesn't know if he will run again for office.

For Hoekstra, this is his second straight statewide defeat. The longtime US Representative for Michigan's 2nd District, Hoekstra lost a bid to become the Republican nominee for governor in 2010 to Rick Snyder.

Stabenow and Hoekstra did not debate during the campaign.

In answering a candidate profile questionnaire from WOOD TV8, Stabenow said, "There are many causes of the polarization and partisanship in Washington, but rather than focusing on blame, my focus is on finding common ground so that we can bring people together to get things done for Michigan. That is why I have partnered with Republicans like Representative Dave Camp and Senator Rob Portman of Ohio on bills that will help stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. It is why I worked with Republicans to pass the Farm Bill. It is why I work alongside Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina) as Co-Chairs of the Senate Manufacturing Caucus. And why I’ve built bipartisan coalitions to pass bills to crack down on China’s illegal trade violations. These should not be Democratic issues or Republican issues – these are American issues that we all need to  solve together."