Complex sentence: Kilpatrick and his opponent Freman Hendrix, both Democrats, initially claimed victory, but as the votes were tallied, it became clear that Kilpatrick had come back from his stretch of unpopularity to win a second term in office.
Split into simpler sentences: Kilpatrick and his opponent Freman Hendrix, both Democrats, each initially claimed victory. But as the votes were tallied, it became clear that Kilpatrick had come back from his stretch of unpopularity to win a second term in office.