Centrist Dem Kissell falls to GOP challenger

Rep. Larry Kissell (D-N.C.) has fallen to conservative Republican Richard Hudson, according to reports. 

Kissell, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, was one of the House's most conservative Democrats. He was first elected in 2008 but saw his district redrawn to include thousands of new Republican voters. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee pulled some support for Kissell ahead of the election, perhaps sensing his vulnerability. 

Kissell conceded to Hudson on Tuesday night.

"Things didn’t work out as we had hoped, but as I told Richard earlier on the phone, he'll be representing some of the best people in the world. I'll be working with Richard to make sure we have a seamless transition so that our folks who need help will be ensured the world-class constituent service they deserve and have come to expect," Kissell said in an email, according to the Lexington, N.C., Dispatch.

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