Eye surgeon and tea party darling Rand Paul has won the election to replace retiring Republican Sen. Jim Bunning in Kentucky.

Paul, son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul (R), survived a heated and sometimes nasty campaign against Democrat Jack Conway. Paul had 56 percent of the vote compared to Conway’s 44 percent, with only 10 percent reporting. The Associated Press and other news outlets called the race for Paul.

The conservative Club For Growth was among the first outside groups to congratulate Paul.

“Rand Paul won tonight by defying the odds, and he will succeed in Washington for the next six years by defying the status quo,” Club for Growth President Chris Chocola said. “Rand will stand for economic liberty, and we are proud to stand with him. We congratulate Senator-elect Paul and look forward to joining him in the foxholes of freedom next year.”