Republican Ted Cruz of Texas wins a third term to the US Senate

DALLAS — Among the most closely watched Senate races this cycle is the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred.

Ted Cruz took an early lead over Allred in early vote totals, and the Republican Party of Texas was quick to declare victory for Cruz. 

ABC subsequently called the Texas Senate race for Cruz shortly before 10 p.m. 

Cruz addressed supporters and declared victory at a rally shortly before ABC news called the race for him.

Watch Ted Cruz’s full speech here:

Allred addressed his supported and conceded to Cruz.

Watch Allred’s full speech here:

Polls consistently showed Cruz and Allred, a Dallas native former NFL linebacker and civil rights attorney, locked in a tight race. It’s also been an expensive race, with spending on the contest topping $100 million according to AdImpact, which tracks ad spending, swamping the money spent on the presidential election in Texas.

While polls showed a tight race, Allred was still seen as the underdog. A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in Texas in 30 years.

Recently, El Paso Democrat Beto O’Rourke came close in his race against Cruz in 2018, when Cruz narrowly held on to his Senate seat with 50.9% of the vote.

Cruz needled Allred throughout the campaign for keeping his distance from Democratic party standard bearers President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but Allred embraced Harris during the campaign’s final stretch.

During the campaign and their only debate on WFAA, both sought to portray the other as extreme on issues of abortion rights, border security and more.

Cruz is a two-term Senator who first won his bid to replace former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison when she retired in 2012. Cruz was a benefactor of the Tea Party movement that began after former President Barack Obama won in 2008, and has held his Senate seat since 2012. He made a failed run for president in 2016 when he dropped out during the Republican presidential primary that ultimately went to Trump.

Allred defeated 22-year Republican incumbent Pete Sessions to win his seat in Congress in 2018, one of the most competitive races in Texas at the time and a major blow to Republicans’ failed attempt to keep control of the house that year. He bested a field of nine candidates in a Democratic primary to challenge Cruz for his Senate seat.

Governor Greg Abbott celebrated the wins for Republicans in a late Tuesday statement: 

“These triumphs are about securing the future of our state to create a brighter, more prosperous Texas for the next generation. Texans sent a clear message: they want safer streets, a secure border, a strong economy, and the opportunity to choose the best school for their children. And that’s exactly what these Republican candidates will deliver for their constituents, especially our new Republican allies who made history tonight by securing overwhelming victories in south Texas. Congratulations to all the hardworking candidates on your wins. Working together with these strong Republican leaders, we will continue to build a bigger, better Texas.”