Former Obama cabinet secretary warns Ted Cruz after Roy Moore loss in Alabama: 'Be very afraid'

Texas Senator faces 2018 challenge

Harriet Agerholm
Wednesday 13 December 2017 11:34 GMT
Comments
Doug Jones has won Alabama senate election

The former Obama administration official and San Antonio mayor Julian Castro has issued a warning to Senator Ted Cruz in the wake of a shock Democrat win in Alabama.

Democrat Doug Jones claimed victory over Republican Roy Moore in Alabama on Tuesday, meaning the traditionally conservative stronghold has its first Democratic senator since 1992.

The result dealt a political blow to Donald Trump since it narrowed the slim Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49.

After the win, Mr Castro – who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Barack Obama – took to Twitter.

"Be afraid, Ted Cruz. Be very afraid," he said in a post.

Mr Cruz – who ran against Mr Trump for the Republican presidential nomination – is facing a challenge to his Senate seat in Texas in 2018 from Beto O'Rourke.

Mr O'Rourke, who has served in Congress since 2013, is expected to struggle against Mr Cruz, since no Democrat has won a Senate election in Texas since 1988.

But Mr Jones's upset win against Mr Moore, a former state judge who found himself at the centre of a sexual harassment scandal, has energised the Democratic Party.

An attorney and former prosecutor, Mr Jones rallied voters on a message of moving past Mr Moore's controversies. He was buoyed by an influx of national Democratic cash and endorsements.

The party looks to build on anti-Trump sentiment to mount a challenge next year to Republican control of Congress.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in