Bernie Sanders Re-Elected to Senate: AP

Sen. Bernie Sanders won his reelection bid in Vermont, according to early projections.

Sanders, an independent, defeated Lawrence Zupan, a Republican and real estate broker from Manchester. His campaign drew little attention, The Associated Press and NBC News reported.

Sanders didn’t focus much on his reelection bid and instead traveled around the country to support Democratic candidate seeking reelection.

The now-three-term senator was expected to easily win his race.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) addresses the Get Out the Vote Rally in support of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum. Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Sanders has faced few serious opponents since he was first elected to the state’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990. He moved up to the Senate in 2006.

Zupan had campaigned against what he felt was big government and social welfare programs.

AP reported that Vermont poll workers saw a strong turnout for the 2018 midterm elections.

It added that a record turnout was expected in Pittsford, and the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office said more than 69,000 residents voted early.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, meanwhile, said that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are watching the election results with “friends and family” at the White House. She said the president’s rally schedule triggered “an extraordinary ground game geared toward defying midterm history and protecting the GOP’s majorities.”

“The president and first lady look forward to watching the results come in with friends and family in the White House residence,” she added, NBC reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.