After winning re-election by a razor thin margin in 2006, Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) wasn’t able to survive the Democratic wave Tuesday night.

Hayes was defeated by teacher Larry Kissell (D), the same man who came close to ousting the incumbent last cycle. With 86 percent of precincts reporting, Kissell led with 54 percent of the vote, and the race had been called by the Associated Press.

After national Democrats ignored Kissell’s campaign in 2006, they made defeating Hayes a top priority this cycle. As of Monday, the 8th district race ranked second on the list of contests where the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had spent the most money thought its independent expenditure program. The DCCC spent more than $2.4 million to help defeat Hayes.