By Alicia Acuna

Denver, Co – 8:34 pm: Tonight U.S. Representative Mark Udall stepped up to the mic to make his victory speech in his run for the U.S. Senate.  In his remarks, Udall, thanked his opponent Republican Bob Schaeffer, then turned to the people of Colorado saying “I am humbled and honored that you have asked me to be your next United States Senator.”  Udall replaces two term retiring Republican Senator Wayne Allard.

More than 17 million dollars was spent on the combined campaigns. The Udall win marks the first time since the 1970’s that Colorado has two Democrats representing the state in the U.S. Senate. In 2004, Democrat Ken Salazar also replaced a republican.

Mark Udall will  join his cousin to the South, Tom Udall, a Democrat who also made a successful run tonight for the U.S. Senate in his state of New Mexico.

The Udalls are awaiting results from Oregon’s U.S. Senate race tonight, where their cousin Republican Gordon Smith is fighting to hold onto his seat.