Republican Sen. Deb Fischer will win reelection in Nebraska, defeating an unexpectedly strong challenge from independent Dan Osborn, CNN projects. Fischer was first elected to the Senate in 2012, when she became the first female senator elected to a full term in Nebraska.

GOP Sen. Deb Fischer held on to her U.S. Senate seat for a third term in Nebraska, staving off an unexpectedly close challenge from an independent union leader. With 72% of the vote tallied, the Associated Press projected Fischer as the winner with 52% compared to 49% for her independent challenger,

Two-term Republican Sen. Deb Fischer is defending her Senate seat in a contest that's grown unexpectedly competitive in Nebraska, a reliably red state, with polls indicating a tight race against independent candidate Dan Osborn in the lead-up to Election Day.

In a competitive race between independent Dan Osborn and Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, the incumbent won re-election.

Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer faces her strongest election challenge yet as she hopes to fend off an independent candidate, Dan Osborn

The independent Osborn gave the two-term Republican incumbent a scare, prompting the GOP to pour more money into the race.