Ted Cruz defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred Tuesday night in what was one of the ... The winner of this race could help determine which party will control the U.S. Senate and shape the next few years of Texas politics. The race in the Lone Star ...

Ted Cruz of Texas is headed back to Washington after he turned back a challenge from Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, NBC News projects ... senator in such a red state was a long shot. And Cruz's party affiliation was perhaps his most valuable asset.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, sought to fend off an underdog challenge Tuesday from Democratic Rep. Colin Allred in one of the year's most expensive races, which is testing shifts in America's biggest red state and could factor into the fight for U.S. Senate control.