Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz was reelected on Tuesday, defeating U.S. Rep. Colin Allred in this burgeoning state that was thrust to the center of the 2024 election in battles over immigration and abortion.

This outcome marks a setback for Texas Democrats, who have now gone three decades without a statewide victory—the longest losing streak for any party in the nation.

Sen. Ted Cruz, 53, clinched a third term in office after a high-stakes and costly reelection campaign, in contrast to his nail-biting victory over Beto O’Rourke six years ago. This time, Cruz appealed to his party to take his race seriously and reshaped his image to Texas voters, presenting himself as a pragmatic legislator focused on getting things done—an effort to pivot from his past reputation as an uncompromising firebrand with aspirations beyond Texas.

How Did Cruz Gain His Texas Victory?

Though votes were still being counted early Wednesday, Cruz held a comfortable lead over challenger Colin Allred, appearing close to a double-digit advantage—an impressive jump from his narrow win over Beto O’Rourke by less than three percentage points six years ago. Cruz’s victory not only secured his seat but also contributed to Republicans regaining control of the U.S. Senate for the first time in four years.

Cruz addressed his supporters Tuesday night at his watch party in Houston by first walking out to the song “Eye of the Tiger.”

“I want to say to all of those who didn’t support me, you have my word I will fight for you, your jobs, your safety and for your constitutional rights,” he said.

Cruz Law and Order Agenda for Texas

On the campaign trail, Cruz emphasized a strong stance on law and order. In a notable moment, he appeared on stage flanked by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, a prominent Democrat and the chief prosecutor of Texas’ largest county.

Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker, sought to become Texas’ first Black senator by running a moderate campaign. He maintained a measured distance from Vice President Kamala Harris and progressive factions, instead highlighting endorsements from Republicans such as former Rep. Liz Cheney. Allred positioned himself as a staunch advocate for abortion rights in a state known for its stringent bans.

What is Allred’s Message to Cruz?

In his concession speech at his watch party in Dallas, Allred said he called Cruz and congratulated him on his victory.

“It shouldn’t be remarkable to have to admit defeat,” he said. “You can’t just be a patriot when your side wins. Tonight we didn’t win, but we will continue to be patriots.”

Colin Allred’s campaign faced early criticism from some Democrats who were dissatisfied with his strategy. They expressed frustration over his decision to avoid scheduling numerous large rallies and his limited investment in smaller regions of Texas, including cities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Cruz, however, performed notably better against Allred than he did against O’Rourke six years earlier, showing particular strength in predominantly Hispanic counties along the U.S.-Mexico border.

What Led to the Cruz Victory in Texas?

Insights drawn from the AP VoteCast survey that included over 4,500 voters in Texas, showed that the economy and jobs were foremost concerns among Texas voters, with 40 percent identifying it as the nation’s top issue. Immigration was cited by 20 percent of voters as the most pressing matter, while 10 percent pointed to abortion as their primary concern.

Cruz, a former presidential candidate in 2016, first joined the Senate after serving as Texas’ solicitor general. In 2020, he expanded his reach with a popular podcast, Verdict, where he voiced strong support for then-President Donald Trump during his impeachment, solidifying his influence within conservative circles.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

CYPRESS, Texas (KTRK) — One of the top races under the spotlight this Election Day is for the U.S. Senate.

Incumbent Texas Sen. Ted Cruz hopes to defeat his Democratic challenger, Congressman Colin Allred, and is seeking a third six-year term.

This has been a historic race, with the two making their last-minute push to voters.

Cruz held his final event in Cypress Monday night, and Allred had events this past weekend in Dallas.

Allred, who would be Texas’ first Black senator, hopes to capitalize on the state’s demographic shift and has made reproductive rights a key part of his campaign.

“We’re going to protect Medicare and social security. We’re going to secure the border. We’re going to fix our broken immigration system. There’s so much we can do, Texas, but we gotta get this guy out of the way,” Allred said. “We don’t have to have a senator who thinks he knows better than our doctors while he’s going off to Cancun. They’ve lost their minds. You don’t mess with Texas women.”

Democrat Colin Allred holds rallies in Houston in final push to win voters ahead of Election Day

Cruz, on the other hand, has said his challenger is “out of touch” while talking about conservative values.

“We want more jobs. We want higher wages. We want better opportunities. And how do you get jobs? You get it through low taxes. You get it through lower and predictable regulations, and you get it through keeping the federal government off the back of small businesses,” Cruz said. “Every race should be decided based on records, and I’ve spent 12 years fighting every day for jobs, for freedom, and for security.”

Ted Cruz begins bus tour in hopes of gaining support for his reelection race against Colin Allred

This has also been one of the year’s most expensive races. Both candidates have raised more than $160 million combined.

Cruz will be in Houston Tuesday night to watch the results, while Allred will be in Dallas.

If Allred wins, it would be something a Democrat hasn’t done in three decades: winning a statewide office.

For news updates, follow Brandon Hamilton on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Tuesday is Election Day, and Texas has already seen robust, but not record-breaking, turnout during the early voting period.

Texas’ top elections official has told federal authorities that their plan to send monitors to voting sites on Tuesday in eight counties would violate state law.

“Texas law is clear: Justice Department monitors are not permitted inside a polling place where ballots are being cast or at a central counting station where ballots are being counted,” Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a letter to Jasmyn Richardson, deputy chief of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for elections.

The letter was in response to the Justice Department’s announcement last week that it planned to have monitors in 86 jurisdictions across 27 states on Election Day to make sure federal voting rights laws are being followed. The Texas sites would have included polling sites in Harris, Dallas, Bexar and Hays counties.

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday said his office plans to deploy a special elections unit in several counties to “to monitor day-of election activity” and address any election-related lawsuits that might be filed.

“The Election Day Rapid Response Legal Team will be equipped to enforce Texas election laws and take immediate action on any contingencies, including issues seen in previous cycles such as ballot shortages, extended polling location closures, and improper extension of voting hours,” Paxton’s office said in a news release. “Similarly, the OAG will prepare to take defensive action against activist groups who might attempt to influence the election through litigation.”

What Texas early voting patterns show

Even before the opening of the polls Tuesday, a little more than 9 million Texans had cast ballots either in person or by mail during the early voting period. That’s nearly half of the state’s total registered voters, but the pace lagged behind the 2020 presidential election.

The statewide early turnout, nonetheless, was robust.

“With the exception of 2020, more people have already voted than the total number of people who voted in any previous presidential election,” said Texas voting data expert Derek Ryan, who for the past several elections has provided in-depth analyses of early voting patterns.

More: An ultimate Austin-area voter guide for Election Day on Tuesday in Texas

Four years ago, 11.3 million Texans voted in the general election and about 9.7 million, or 66.7%, cast early ballots, according to Ryan’s data. In 2016, about 60% of the nearly 9 million total voters turned out early.

Ryan said that when the number of likely voters who did not cast early ballots is taken into consideration, an Election Day turnout of 3 million is possible, and that would put the Texas turnout at more than 12 million.

Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado said at a news conference Monday that her office is expecting 100,000 to 200,000 people to cast ballots at the county’s 176 voting sites on Election Day.

Any voter who is in line by the 7 p.m. poll-closing time will be able to cast a ballot.

Acceptable forms of ID to bring to the polls

• Texas driver’s license
• Texas election ID certificate
• Texas personal ID card
• Texas handgun license
• U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
• U.S. military ID card with photo
• U.S. passport

What if you have no acceptable ID?

Anyone unable to present one of the forms of ID listed above may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternative form of ID. Alternative forms of ID include the following, whether they are originals or copies:

• A government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including a voter registration certificate.
• A current utility bill.
• A bank statement.
• A government check.
• A paycheck.
• Either (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).

Staff writer Ella McCarthy contributed to this report.

Election results

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