Greg Abbott has secured a second term as governor of Texas.
Just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, the race was called, securing Abbott's re-election. He beat out Democratic rival Lupe Valdez, who was previously Dallas County Sheriff.
Valdez was the first Latina and first openly gay person to represent a major party in the Texas governor race. Despite the excitement behind Valdez making history and the push for a blue wave in the Lone Star State, Valdez's run was largely uneventful in terms of campaigning and fund-raising.
Although Abbott had the advantage of incumbency, the race was closer than some originally thought. Just after 11 p.m., polls show Abbott with 56 percent of the vote (4,222,498 votes) ahead of Valdez's 42.3 percent (3,201,368). Libertarian Mark Tippetts held just 1.6 percent of the vote with 80 percent of precincts reporting.
A Republican has been in the Texas governor's office since 1994.
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