Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's success was rooted in rural Texas from the Panhandle to the High Plains where he ran up the score.

Cruz retained his seat, beating back Colin Allred and keeping alive Texas’ streak of not electing a Democratic Senator in more than 30 years.

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.