Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham conceded defeat Tuesday to Sen. Thom Tillis in a highly contested U.S. Senate race.
The lawyer and retired Army lieutenant colonel said he called Tillis to congratulate him on his win.
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"The voters have spoken and I respect their decision," Cunningham said. "While the results of this election suggest there remain deep political divisions in our state and nation, the complete story of our country lies in what unites us: our faith and sense of confidence in our democracy, our civic values and common humanity, our shared aspiration to care for one another, and our belief that we live in a country that does exceptional things."
With 98% of votes counted, Tillis had 2,642,884 votes or 48.71% to Cunningham's 2,547,594 votes or 46.95%, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
The presidential vote in the state is close enough that many major media outlets have not called the race for either President Donald Trump (49.96%) or President-elect Joe Biden (48.59%).
Tillis acknowledged his win on Twitter, saying he wishes the best for Cunningham and his family.
"I am incredibly humbled by the chance to serve the people of North Carolina in the United States Senate for six more years and I pledge to continue keeping my promises and delivering results," Tillis tweeted.
"I know that my job is fighting for the jobs of the hardworking people of our state, which is why my first post-election priority will be defeating COVID-19 and getting the economy back on track."
Tillis was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and before that was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, serving as speaker starting in 2011.
U.S. Election 2020
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People in Los Angeles celebrate Biden's win. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
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People in Washington, D.C., celebrate Biden's win on Saturday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI. | License Photo
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Biden celebrates onstage with family members after giving his speech Saturday night. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
People listen to Biden speak as celebrations take place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI. | License Photo
Crowds gather in Washington, D.C., to listen to Biden's speech. hoto by Ken Cedeno/UPI. | License Photo
Biden said in his speech that beating the coronavirus pandemic is a top priority. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI | License Photo
The Bidens greet the crowd in Wilmington, Del. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
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Harris enters the stage between two screens projecting the words, "The people have chosen empathy." Pool Photo by Robert Deutsch/UPI | License Photo
People celebrate the election of Biden to the U.S. presidency on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Harris will become the first woman elected as vice president, as well as the first person who is Black and Asian American. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Biden supporters spontaneously gathered outside the White House to celebrate his win. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
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People celebrate the election of Biden to the U.S. presidency on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
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Protesters hold up signs in Washington Square Park in New York City on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
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The processing of ballots continues into the evening at the Allegheny County, Pa., vote-processing warehouse in Pittsburgh on Friday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
David Voye , division manager of the Department of Administrative Services Elections Division, updates the media on the status of the ballot count in Allegheny County on Friday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Rich Fitzgerald, chief executive of Allegheny County, addresses the media on Friday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Voting machines from the 2020 elections are stored at the Allegheny County vote processing warehouse. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
A balloon in the likeness of Trump is in the background during an "Every Vote Counts" march from McPherson Square Black Lives Matter Plaza next to Lafayette Park bordering the White House on Friday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Cameras monitor the processing of ballots at the Allegheny County warehouse. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Biden supporters march in the streets near Black Lives Matter Plaza to the edge of Lafayette Park on Friday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A bird flies past a jumbotron displaying "Count Every Vote" at McPherson Square near the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Local and foreign media reporters broadcast their standup shots on Black Lives Matter Plaza on the continuing presidential electoral votes as the count narrows to a close, near the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Reporters from all over the world were covering the election. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Trump makes a statement in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Trump's notes are seen as he makes a statement in the Brady Press Briefing Room. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Protesters hold up signs at a Count Every Vote rally in Washington Square in New York City on Wednesday night. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
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Biden's remarks are shown on a monitor in the press briefing room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Thiew/UPI | License Photo
Protesters hold up signs at a Count Every Vote rally on Fifth Avenue in New York City on Wednesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
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Biden supporters celebrate the forecasting of a win in Michigan in McPherson Square near the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Biden supporters celebrate the forecasting of a win in Michigan in McPherson Square. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
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Cases of ballots wait to be counted at a warehouse in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
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As of Election Day, there were no final results in the presidential race. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Democratic nominee Joe Biden (L) and wife Jill Biden greet supporters at a parking lot in Wilmington, Del. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
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A supporter watches form a sunroof of a car during Biden's election night rally. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Voters cast their ballots at a drive-through voting center at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
With up to 22 million ballots to count, California election officials will take weeks to get a final count. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Staff board up the Sofitel Hotel as customers watch results on CNN a few blocks away from the White House on election night in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Protesters gather in Black Lives Matter Plaza a block away from the White House and watch election results. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A projection is seen on St. John's Church at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington D.C. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks to reporters about Election Day results in races for the House of Representatives, at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. Pool Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/UPI | License Photo
On Election Day, supporters and protestors of President Donald Trump gather amid COVID-19 and a polarized political environment. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Patrons of Harry's Restaurant watch election results in an outdoor seating area in Washington D.C. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
A man watches election coverage at Harry's Restaurant. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Joshua Hemminger of Arlington, Va., watches election results at Harry's Restaurant. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Washington D.C. residents casts their votes at the Marie Reed Elementary School minutes before polls closed. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | License Photo
People watch as election results come in at Times Square in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Watch party goers gather at McPherson Square near the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A Washington D.C. resident casts his vote at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus an hour before polls close. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | License Photo
Watch party goers gather at McPherson Square near the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Ryan Thomas reacts while watching CNN election results at McPherson Square near the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
People watch a jumbotron at a watch party in McPherson Square near the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A porcelain "Make America Great Again" hat made by artist Connor Czora is seen shattered on the ground at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Two women pray on the ground at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
Medina, Ohio residents cast their votes on election day. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Ohio residents cast their votes while wearing masks. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
A security guard checks the temperature of a voter as she enters the building on election day at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
An Ohio voter gives his information to a worker through a plastic barrier prior to casting his votes at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
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Ohio residents cast their votes on election day in Medina, Ohio. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Poll worker Heather Huewe wears a VOTE mask holding a "I Voted Today" sticker as she works at the Old Bonhomme School in Olivette, Mo. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
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Vehicles are parked for Biden's election night rally. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Campaign workers unpack cones for Biden's election night rally. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez thanks her campaign team outside of her Bronx office in New York City on Election Day. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Protesters gather in Black Lives Matter Plaza a block away from the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A voter turns in his ballot at a drop off in the Civic Center of San Francisco. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
A voter turns in his ballot at a drop off in the Civic Center of San Francisco. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Nikara Paniagua, of Lawrenceville, Ga., drops her ballot in a dropbox at Shorty Howell Park. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
A Georgia voter wears an American flag mask while voting at at Shorty Howell Park in Lawrenceville, Ga. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
A Florida resident waits to deposit his voting ticket at the Miami Fire Station 2 in Miami. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Florida residents stand in the voting booths at the Miami Fire Station 2 in Miami. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
An eagle logo frames a Carroll County, Md., resident voting at Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Carroll County voting slowed in the early afternoon. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Campaign workers applaud as President Donald Trump visits the Republican National Committee Annex in Arlington, Va. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Trump speaks at the RNC Annex. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Poll worker Khadijah Theus checks a voter's identification at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville, Ga. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Voter access cards are sanitized at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Turnout is light in the morning at the fairgrounds. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many voters cast their ballots by mail this election. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Poll workers assist Georgia residents in checking in to vote. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
A Georgia resident casts a vote. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Voting stations are set and ready for Florida voters at the West Boynton Beach Library in Boynton Beach, Fla.. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Social distancing is in effect in voting lines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo
Residents line up to vote at the Gettysburg Fire Station in Gettysburg, Pa. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
A woman identifying herself as a Trump Victory Volunteer watches voters outside the fire station. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
A Gettysburg polling manager greets voters at the Gettysburg Fire Station polling place. Photo by David Tulis /UPI | License Photo
Frederick County, Md., residents wait in line to vote at the Urbana library in Frederick, Md., near Washington, D.C. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Poll workers at the Frederick polling station said 66 people were in line when polls opened and expected a large turnout. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo
Voters cast their ballots at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, one of 768 in-person voting centers opened throughout Los Angeles County. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
In-person voting started for most California counties last weekend as local elections officials opened polling places early to avoid crowds on Election Day. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Voters place their ballots in an official ballot drop-box in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Voters place their ballots in an official ballot drop-box in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
