Three-term Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has pulled off a narrow three-point win against Democrat MJ Hegar with more than 70% of the vote counted, according to Decision Desk HQ.
The contest was the priciest and closest of Cornyn's Senate career — he won his 2014 contest by 27 points — with recent polls showing Hegar, a decorated Air Force veteran, within single digits. Even so, she had a closer finish than polls suggested.
While Cornyn started the year with what looked like an insurmountable $12 million war chest, Hegar outraised him late in the race and racked up considerably more third-quarter media buys.
Cornyn's seat was one of about a dozen in the Senate that Democrats hoped to flip, and a win for Hegar would have been huge. Texans haven't sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Lloyd Bentsen's third term in 1988.
Editor's Note: With more than 93% of votes fully counted, Cornyn's lead has expanded to 10 points.
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