CNN

Jeanne Shaheen votes in her hometown of Madbury, HN on Election Day.

(CNN) – CNN projects that Jeanne Shaheen has defeated incumbent John Sununu in New Hampshire.

The race had been a rematch of the 2002 contest between former Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and the well-funded incumbent. Despite Sununu's lackluster poll numbers, the race was a tough fight, but with the state leaning Democratic, he found himself trailing Shaheen in most surveys heading into Election Day.

Shaheen's victory was based on overwhelming support from women. Men split their votes evenly between the two candidates.

The former governor also won significant majorities of moderates and independents - and, as elsewhere, the Democratic candidate won on nearly every issue Tuesday night. Only the minority of voters who said the battle against terrorism was a priority threw most of their support to Sununu.