Texas Sen. Ted Cruz scored the solid win he needed in his home state Tuesday to make a case for taking on Donald Trump. With 78 percent of the vote counted Cruz has 44 percent of the vote. Trump had 27 percent. And Marco Rubio had 17 percent.
Cruz, at his watch party in Houston, took aim a Trump. Cruz supporters at the Red Neck Country Club in Stafford near Houston broke into a chant as media outlets declared Cruz had defeated Trump in Texas.
“Thank you Texas,” he said over the chants of Cruz, Cruz, Cruz.
At the beginning of the night, some supporters weren’t sure Cruz would defeat his billionaire opponent and walk away with the biggest share of Texas’ 155 Republican delegates.
Supporter Sarah Parrish nervously watched the votes come in. “I’ve been very surprised that Trump has done so well, but Texas is a big state and it matters who wins Texas,” she said.
During his victory speech, Cruz asked his Republican opponents and their supporters to unite behind him. He said the alternative was civil war within the GOP ranks.
“For the candidates who have not yet won a state, who have not racked up significant delegates, I ask you to prayerfully consider our coming together, uniting. For those who have supported other candidates we welcome you on our team, standing united,” he said.
Cruz is now headed to Kansas ahead of its presidential Caucus on Friday.
