NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A state record-setting $93 million-plus was spent in the open U.S. Senate contest in Tennessee that Marsha Blackburn won last month.
According to federal campaign finance reports due Thursday, Blackburn’s campaign spent about $16 million throughout the election cycle, while Democrat Phil Bredesen’s campaign shelled out around $19 million.
Independent groups spent about $31.7 million to help Blackburn, a congresswoman, and close to $26.3 million to aid Bredesen, the former governor.
Counting the campaigns and the third-party groups, around $45 million was spent in favor of Bredesen and almost $48 million for Blackburn.
Blackburn clinched a comfortable win over Bredesen by about 10 percentage points after a tough race. Blackburn will replace Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring.