Ted Cruz Wins Texas U.S. Senate Seat

HOUSTON (AP) – Republican Ted Cruz is projected to win the vacant U.S. Senate seat over Democratic challenger Paul Sadler.

The ex-state solicitor general was heavily favored since Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988. See the latest results here.

He succeeds retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Cruz has become a national sensation since his upset July victory over Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to win the Republican senatorial nomination. That race was seen as a national test of the tea party’s influence because Cruz painted the mainstream GOP choice Dewhurst as too moderate.

Cruz has since mended fences with state GOP leaders and says he’ll work with both parties in Congress.

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