Updated at 11 p.m.

JEFFERSON CITY • Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is headed to the U.S. Senate after handily beating Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill on Tuesday.

In a race that saw massive amounts of outside spending, Hawley was poised to win by a 55-42 margin buoyed largely by strong support in rural areas of the state.

He spoke to a crowd gathered in Springfield moments after McCaskill conceded.

"Tonight the people of Missouri have said we're up to the challenge," Hawley said.. "Tonight the people of Missouri have said we're ready to answer the call at this hour. Tonight the people of Missouri have said we believe in America, we believe that our best days are ahead, we believe in our future and we are ready to fight for it."

McCaskill, speaking to supporters in St. Louis, said there were some positive moments to the evening, including Democrats taking control of the U.S. House.

"Obviously we fell short and that's disappointing," said McCaskill, who will leave after two terms in the Senate.

McCaskill decried the nastiness of the campaign, but said she's been blessed to have worked in an interesting job seeking to help people.