Such was the case with the marquee Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. Allred’s nearly 9-point loss to Cruz was disappointing for Democrats hoping the Dallas congressman would give the party its first statewide win in 30 years.

In keeping his seat, he dashed rising hopes among some Democrats that years of demographic changes and urbanization could start to flip the state.

Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a watch party on election night ... Texas was once a heavily Democratic state, but Republicans have dominated statewide politics since the 1990s. A Democrat hasn’t held a U.S. Senate seat in more than 30 years.