SAN ANTONIO — A multitude of seats were up for grabs in Tuesday’s midterm—the first national elections held since President Donald Trump took office.
Generally, Republicans saw success all over the Lone Star State, punctuated by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s victory in a much-publicized showdown with Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
The battle ended up being the closest U.S. Senate race in Texas in quite some time, but voters didn’t stray from their recent conservative tendencies at the polls. As a result, Cruz will serve a second consecutive six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
The outcome also means Texas voters still haven’t elected a Democratic candidate to the U.S. Senate since 1988.
Nonetheless, voter turnout showed Texans were especially vocal this year, perhaps marking a shift in the state's political landscape.
Success wasn't completely absent for the Democratic Party, though, whose candidates flipped two congressional districts in Texas en route to a national reclaiming of the House of Representatives.
In other top Texas positions, Republican incumbents Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick defeated Democratic challengers to continue serving as governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.
Meanwhile, Republican candidates also saw success in congressional districts that are partly comprised of Bexar County.
In House District 21, where longtime U.S. Rep. Larry Smith is retiring, Chip Roy (R) defeated Joseph Kopser (D), ending a race that began with a wide and varied field of 22 candidates.
Staying in Bexar County, Republican incumbent Will Hurd apparently was re-elected by Texans, defeating Democratic challenger Gina Ortiz Jones in House District 23. The vote totals narrowed significantly after midnight Wednesday morning, bringing extra drama to a race that appeared to be over much earlier.
Additionally, incumbent George P. Bush (R) defeated challenger Miguel Suazo (D) to continue serving as Texas land commissioner. And, shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, Tylden Shaeffer conceded the race for Bexar County district attorney to Joe Gonzales.
For detailed results of all these races and more, see below.