Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is projected to win the Texas Senate race, defeating upstart Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke in a contentious election.
NBC News is projecting that Cruz will be re-elected.
O’Rourke raised a record-setting $60 million and drew numerous celebrity endorsements.
In late October, Cruz appeared to get a significant boost from President Donald Trump and his family in a campaign-style rally.
“We are driving the Democrats absolutely nuts. They are watching this enthusiasm and they just don’t know what to do anymore. … We have an economy the likes of which we haven’t seen before,” Eric Trump told the crowd.
“We are living in extraordinary times. … Do we embrace jobs or give in to mobs? We’ve had a couple of debates, with as clear as distinction that anyone can hope for,” Cruz also said at the rally.
“Beto O’Rourke wants higher taxes. Beto voted against the tax cut. He voted repeatedly in favor of higher property taxes. In El Paso, he even voted for something called a rain tax. Here in Texas, we celebrate when it rains, we don’t tax you for it,” Cruz added.
Trump also said that Cruz would work to make a new round of tax cuts.
“Ted is leading the charge in Congress for more tax cuts. … We are going to put a 10 percent tax cut for middle-income families, we are going to put that in next week,” Trump said. “Nobody has helped me more with your tax cuts, your regulation including our military and vets than Senator Ted Cruz. He defended your jobs. He defended your borders. He defends your family, he defends your faith, and, with other Republicans, we defend your freedom.”
