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,

Senator Deb Fischer, the two-term Republican from Nebraska, survived a dark horse challenge from Dan Osborn, a mechanic and labor leader who ran as an independent.