Complex sentence: A Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, Willson suffered several defeats in his canvasses for public office, his 1879 loss in an election for a seat in the Kentucky Senate marked the first in a string of political defeats.
Split into simpler sentences: A Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, Willson suffered several defeats in his canvasses for public office. NGA Bio His 1879 loss in an election for a seat in the Kentucky Senate marked the first in a string of political defeats.