![U.S. Senator Richard Burr addresses supporters at an election party after it was confirmed that he had won re-election against Deborah Ross. Emory RakestrawNorth State Journal](https://nsjonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/10503_110816_burr_er_01o-678x381.jpg)
WINSTON-SALEM The U.S. Senate race between incumbent Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic challenger Deborah Ross gained national attention due to close polls and the possibility Democrats could win back the Senate.In the end, Burr won a third and he says final term.”I’m also reminded with this special privilege tonight that only two senators, being elected, not appointed, in North Carolina’s history will have served longer than I will,” Burr said to about 300 people at Forsyth Country Club for the senator’s watch party.Before the watch party, Burr spokesman Jesse Hunt said he felt positive about a Burr win, with Republican turnout up by 20 percent.”The enthusiasm has been on our side and we expect that to carry over into the evening,” Hunt said.With more than 99 percent of precincts reporting, Burr held more than a five-point edge over Ross, the former head of the North Carolina ACLU.Burr was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, and prior to that he represented North Carolina’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Burr thanked his wife, Brooke, and noted Tuesday’s win was “as much your victory as it is mine.”