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Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin won the Wisconsin Senate race Tuesday, defeating former GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson in one of the tightest Senate races of the cycle. Fox and CBS both have called the race for Baldwin.

Thompson was initially considered the favorite after narrowly escaping a four-way GOP primary in August. The Republican had a history of appealing to moderate Democrats and independents in his four gubernatorial wins. But Baldwin and her Democratic allies hammered Thompson on television, attacking his post-gubernatorial career at a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.

President Obama won the presidential race in Wisconsin, and Thompson was unable to significantly over-perform Mitt Romney in the state. Baldwin attached herself to Obama throughout the campaign, attending two rallies with the president in the state during the final week.

Baldwin, who will replace retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, is the first woman elected to the Senate in Wisconsin's history. She will also be the first openly gay senator in U.S. history once she's sworn in next year.

Check out our analysis of the Wisconsin Senate race here.