Beto O'Rourke vs. Ted Cruz Election Results: Live Updates From Texas Senate Race

12:05 a.m.

O'Rourke gave a concession speech in his native El Paso after losing to Republican incumbent Cruz.

"I just now had the opportunity to talk to Senator Cruz and congratulate him on his victory and to wish him well moving forward," O'Rourke said. "And what I said and what I pledged on behalf of all of us, at this time of division ... If there's anything we can do to help him in his position of public trust to unify the country, we want to help."

11:10 p.m.

Cruz during his victory speech took a moment to congratulate O'Rourke but did not back down from criticizing his opponent.

"He poured his heart into this campaign. He worked tirelessly, I want to say millions across this state were inspired by his campaign. They didn't prevail and I am grateful the people of Texas chose a different path," Cruz said. "We saw an assault that was unprecedented, an $100 million race with Hollywood coming in the state and the media coming in the state but all the money in the world was no match against the good people of our state."

10:27 p.m.

The Associated Press called the Texas Senatae race for incumbent Republican Cruz. Cruz garnered 50.9 percent (3,302,820 votes) versus O'Rourke at 47.9 percent (3,076,342 votes), with 84 percent of precincts reporting.

10:10 p.m.

Cruz has taken a 2 percentage point lead with 50.9 percent of the vote versus O'Rourke at 48.5 percent, with 78 percent of precincts reporting. The incumbent has 3,029,411 votes; O'Rourke has 2,886,600.

ABC and NBC have called Texas for Cruz.

9:45 p.m.

The challenger continues to lead. O'Rourke has 50.1 percent of votes versus Cruz who has 49.2 percent, with 75 percent of precincts reporting. O'Rourke has 2,846,129 votes while Cruz has 2,796,357.

9:30 p.m.

O'Rourke (50.6 percent) pulls further ahead of Cruz (48.7 percent), with 70 percent of precincts reporting. O'Rourke has 2,686,216 votes while Cruz has 2,586,018.

9:15 p.m.

O'Rourke (49.8 percent) barely leads Cruz (49.5 percent), with 58 percent of precincts reporting. O'Rourke has 2,189,722 votes and Cruz has 2,177,960.

8:55 p.m.

With 51 percent of county results in, O'Rourke (50.8 percent) leads Cruz (48.6 percent). O'Rourke has 1,973,415 votes while Cruz has 1,888,589.

8:30 p.m.

Polls in Texas closed at 8 p.m. EST, so results have started trickling in.

7:30 p.m.

Half an hour before polls close, Cruz tweeted, "Make our voice heard!" along with a link to finding a polling place and asked his followers to call or text nine friends to get to the polls.

A minute later, O'Rourke tweeted a last minute push to voters to stay in line, along with a link on finding the nearest polling place.

Original story: The Texas Senate race between Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke and Republican incumbent Ted Cruz has drawn incredibly close for a traditionally red state. If O'Rourke, an El Paso congressman, unseats Cruz, he would become the first Democrat to take statewide office since 1994.

Cruz has consistently led O'Rourke in the polls but Republicans are nervous because O'Rourke has put up a historic fight.

O'Rourke raised $38 million—unprecedented for a Senate race—in the last quarter before the midterm elections. He also traveled to every county in the Lone Star state while campaigning.

Cruz was the runner-up for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election. The Republican has long been a controversial figure in Washington, playing a leading role in the 2013 government shutdown and emerging into national politics from the Tea Party movement in 2012.