U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL linebacker and civil rights lawyer from Dallas, repeatedly broke fundraising records in his campaign, raising more than $80 million by mid-October. Ted Cruz celebrates at his watch party in downtown Houston on Election Day.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred Tuesday night in what was one of the nation's most closely watched and expensive senate races. Cruz, who will now serve his third term in the U.

Ted Cruz has won another term in the US Senate after defeating his Democratic challenger. Cruz defeated Dallas Congressman Colin Allred by 8 percentage points, a much wider margin than during his reelection bid six years ago.