WSBT photo

Republican Richard Mourdock offers concession speech after losing to Democrat Joe Donnelly in heated U.S. Senate race Tuesday night. (WSBT photo / Indianapolis) (November 6, 2012)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Republican Richard Mourdock is conceding defeat in Indiana's Senate race with a defiant tone much like the one he took following his comments on rape and abortion.

Mourdock told supporters gathered in Indianapolis Tuesday night, "I will look back knowing that I was attacked for standing on my principles."

Mourdock lost a narrow race to Democrat Joe Donnelly six months after he ousted U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in the Republican primary. Mourdock's comments that pregnancy resulting from rape is something "God intended" cost him votes from women in the final weeks of the race.

He's standing by those comments. He says, "Though I was attacked for it as well, make no mistake, I stand that all life is precious in the eyes of God."