Kaine narrowly defeats Allen in expensive Virginia Senate race

Washington (CNN) – In the hotly contested state of Virginia, Democrat Tim Kaine has defeated Republican George Allen in the race for the state's open Senate seat.

Allen conceded in a Tuesday night speech and pledged his support to Kaine.

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"I congratulated him and pledged my support and cooperation as he undertakes the solemn vows of representing the people of Virginia during very difficult times in our nation's history," Allen said. "We haven't succeeded my friends in winning this election."

At the time of the speech, Kaine was ahead of Allen 51% to 49% – with 76% reporting.

The race pitted two former Virginia governors against one another and each pulled from their experience in the state house throughout the race.

Though, Kaine linked himself to President Barack Obama and the president's campaigning in Virginia, he also painted himself as someone who had worked with both Democrats and Republicans. Allen, however, tried to turn that link against Kaine – tying him to Obama and the Democratic Party, where the former Democratic governor served as chairman.

Making that case was costly. When outside and candidate spending was added together, the Kaine-Allen race was the most expensive race in the country. Outside groups, on their own totaled over $50 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Going into the election, pundits saw the Kaine-Allen Senate race as a bellwether. Whichever party won the Senate seat, they speculated, would win Virginia's 13 electoral votes.