By Marie Horrigan, CQ Staff

Democrats scored their first significant upset of the night when Democrat Kay Hagan unseated GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina. Hagan led Dole 53 percent to 44 percent with 68 percent of precincts reporting, but even with the thin returns several news outlets called the race for Hagan.

Democratic chances for the seat were considered poor just several months ago, but a strong campaign by Hagan combined with massive expenditures by the national party and missteps by Dole enabled Hagan to win the seat.

In her concession speech, Dole said: “It’s been the highest honor of my life to be elected as the first female United States senator in North Carolina history. And believe me it has been an honor and a joy to represent the people of North Carolina in the United States Senate. I have done my level best to make you proud.”

She added: “I’m not by nature a politician. I have to say I’ve never been completely at home with the boys plotting back in the Senate cloakroom. But I have always felt surefooted when casting my vote for the best interests of North Carolinians.”

Dole headed into the race with the fundraising advantage and strong connections within the Republican Party. Her husband, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, ran for president in 1996 and Dole herself followed up with a short-lived presidential bid in 2000. She also headed the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2006 when Democrats regained the majority.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee invested heavily in North Carolina, launching attack ads obliquely criticizing Dole’s age, effectiveness and ties to President Bush. Hagan’s chances may also have been boosted because of a late advertisement by Dole that the Hagan camp charged unfairly questioned her faith and that multiple newspapers decried as below-the-belt.

Emily Ethridge contributed to this story.