Republican Sen. Ted Cruz fended off rising-star Democrat Beto O’Rourke to win re-election in a much-watched Texas Senate race that began as a cakewalk but needed a visit from President Donald Trump to help push the incumbent over the top.
Cruz finished a surprising second in the 2016 Republican presidential primary and began the Senate race as a prohibitive favorite.
.@SenTedCruz gives props to @BetoORourke for inspiring many people #TXDecides @HoustonPubMedia pic.twitter.com/0iFgqqXdQo
— Florian Martin (@Florian_News887) November 7, 2018
But O’Rourke visited fiercely conservative parts of the state that his party had long since given up on, while shattering fundraising records despite shunning donations from outside political groups and pollster advice.
Cruz argued that his opponent’s support for gun control and universal health care were too liberal for Texas.
Trump and Cruz were bitter 2016 rivals, but the president visited Houston late last month to solidify the senator’s win.
Mark Johnson, a Cruz supporter who attended the watch party, told News 88.7 the Republican Senator represents “Texas values,” such as “supporting our energy industry, that provides so much to our economy, standing for a strong border, which helps make a sovereign nation, you know, making sure that we’ve got low taxes and a smaller government.”
President issued this statement on the reelection of incumbent Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate contest in Texas “neared the mountaintop by standing up for all Texans who seek a Fair Shot at better lives.”
Big cheers as @FoxNews calls Senate race for @SenTedCruz #TxDecides @HoustonPubMedia pic.twitter.com/npxLDFzxqQ
— Florian Martin (@Florian_News887) November 7, 2018