Bob Corker (R)

(Mark Humphrey - AP)

Bob Corker defeated Harold E. Ford Jr., a five-term congressman from Memphis. A millionaire developer and former mayor of Chattanooga, Corker defeated two Republicans in the primary, investing $4.2 million of his own money to buy television advertising and spending much of the time defending his conservative credentials.

Corker entered politics in 1995 as the appointed state commissioner of finance and administration. While he was Chattanooga's mayor from 2001 to 2005, violent crime fell by 50 percent and he oversaw revitalization of downtown museums and outdoor spaces. He was criticized, however, when his real estate company sold environmentally sensitive land to Wal-Mart for $4.6 million while he was in office.

He made a bid for the Senate 12 years ago but lost in the Republican primary to Bill Frist, who also won the general election. Now Corker is succeeding Frist, who went on to become majority leader but is stepping down to contemplate a bid for the presidency.