Whitmer Wins Michigan Governor's Race: AP

MICHIGAN — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defeated Republican challenger Tudor Dixon in a hard-fought battle for state governor, earning a second four-year term, the New York Times projects.

Whitmer, who vowed to "fight like hell" to protect abortion rights in Michigan, was leading Dixon by 8 percent points with 85 percent of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press, who called the race shortly before 1:30 a.m.

Whitmer spoke to a crowd at the Motor City Casino in Detroit shortly before the Associated Press called the race, telling the crowd crowd "we are waiting for some final numbers … but we are feeling damn good."

Alongside Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Whitmer began highlighting her agenda for her second term, such as "continue building on their historic progress investing in public education, strengthening infrastructure, fixing the damn roads, growing the economy, and defending reproductive freedom."

Live election results for Michigan governor:

Gretchen Whitmer (D): 2,231,897

Tudor Dixon (R): 1,882,102

Precincts reporting: 85 percent