Senator Ted Cruz wins re-election over challenge from Democrat Colin Allred

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas returns to Washington after rebuffing a challenge from Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, NBC News Projects.

Cruz was expected to win a third term in the deep red state, but the race has tightened in recent weeks, drawing national attention and scrutiny as Allred, a prolific fundraiser, has spent millions of dollars on television and digital advertising criticizing Cruz for his support of the six-week State ban on abortion.

Allred’s campaign has also attracted Cruz’s attention. vacation in Cancun in 2021 amid a statewide energy crisis due to a severe winter storm.

Cruz, 53, fought back, pushing for results in the final weeks of the campaign. paint Allred like the desire to allow boys to play women’s sports. He also linked Allred, 43, to Vice President Kamala Harris, who was expected to lose the state’s presidential election. calling the two Democrats “liberal souls” or “two liberals” in Spanish-language advertising.

After all, Allred’s campaign spent more than $50 million on advertising in the race, just between Labor Day and Election Day, according to AdImpact. During that time, the Cruz campaign spent $26 million, and the pro-Cruz group Truth and Courage PAC spent another $23 million.

In the final weeks of the race, Cruz also complained that he lacked support from the GOP leadership. Specifically, he lamented that the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC working with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, did not spend any money supporting him or tanking Allred.

In the end, Allred’s bipartisan message and appeal to voters concerned about abortion rights was not enough. Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist, said in an interview ahead of Election Day that electing a Democrat as a senator in such a red state was a long shot. And Cruz’s party affiliation was perhaps his most valuable asset.

“He’s a Republican in a Republican state, short and sweet. That’s what wins,” Bartlett said. “Texas will choose Trump over Harris, and it is virtually impossible for a Democrat in Texas to beat the top of the ticket.”