During his victory speech after defeating Democratic congressman Colin Allred, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz expressed gratitude towards Alexis Nungaray, a mother who tragically lost her daughter allegedly at the hands of illegal immigrants. Cruz commended Nungaray for her courage in speaking out for her daughter, Jocelyn, whose life was cut short at the age of 12 when she was found dead in a Houston creek on June 17.
Following the devastating incident, two Venezuelan nationals, 21-year-old Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, were charged with capital murder in connection to Jocelyn's death. The men had reportedly entered the U.S. illegally earlier in the year, sparking further debate on immigration policies and border security.
This victory marks Cruz's successful re-election bid, having previously won against Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke in 2018. Cruz has been serving as the Senator for Texas since 2013, representing the interests of the state in the upper chamber of Congress.