AUSTIN, Texas — Ted Cruz, the Republican incumbent senator, triumphed over Democrat Colin Allred on Tuesday night in what was hailed as one of the most significant and costly Senate races in the country, according to reports from NBC News and Fox News.

Cruz, who often stirs strong opinions nationally, followed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Texas, based on early and unofficial results. Allred, meanwhile, managed to capture some momentum with his persistent campaign that kicked off over a year and a half ago.

“Tonight, the people of Texas have spoken clearly across our great state,” Cruz announced at a jubilant victory gathering in Houston, his hometown. “Texas will remain Texas.”

He reiterated his campaign slogan while attempting to broaden his appeal by mentioning endorsements from some Democrats, specifically highlighting Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, who supported Cruz after her primary loss in March.

Cruz’s victory, similar to his narrow win against former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, six years ago, drew significant support from rural areas, spanning the Panhandle to the High Plains, where he achieved considerable margins. In contrast, Allred found strength in urban and suburban regions.

At 53 years old, Cruz will embark on his third term as Texas’ junior U.S. senator, a role for which he is well-known, especially since his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination gained him national attention. However, he may find himself overshadowed by his colleague John Cornyn, who is actively seeking votes to solidify his position in the Senate’s Republican leadership come January.

The race between Cruz and Allred turned out to be the most expensive Senate contest of the 2024 election cycle. Both candidates raised and spent upwards of $75 million, according to the latest disclosures to the Federal Election Commission, and they continued to actively pursue donations right up until Election Day.

As in 2018, Cruz received a significant last-minute boost from Donald Trump, who joined him at a rally on October 30. On the same day, Allred was featured at a major rally led by Vice President Kamala Harris in Houston.

For Allred, one of the largest obstacles to make history as the first Texas Democrat to win statewide since 1994 was tapping into the excitement brought on by Harris, especially after President Joe Biden exited the race. However, he aimed to avoid alienating moderate Republicans and independent voters who may have grown weary of Cruz after his lengthy tenure in Washington.

In his campaign, Cruz emphasized concerns regarding the increase in illegal immigration during the Biden administration, portraying Allred as lax on border security.

Conversely, Allred focused largely on the issue of abortion rights, particularly in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the historic Roe v. Wade case that had been in place for 49 years.

Throughout the campaign, few advertisements and public appearances failed to mention Cruz’s longstanding anti-abortion stance, while Cruz himself mostly avoided discussing abortion policy though he celebrated the end of Roe shortly after the ruling was announced.