Photo: Justin Hamel/AFP via Getty Images
Jake Ellzey won a special a runoff election for a U.S. House seat in Texas on Tuesday night, per AP.
Why it matters: To win the seat, Ellzey defeated Susan Wright, widow of Rep. Ron Wright. She was backed by former President Trump, whose endorsements have often boosted Republican candidates' chances of winning elections.
What they're saying: Navy veteran Ellzey told supporters after his win that Texans were looking for a Reagan-style "positive" Republican outlook "for the future of our country," per the Washington Post.
- Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that Ellzey "will be a strong and effective leader for the people of North Texas and he will fight tirelessly for their values in Washington."
The big picture: Ron Wright died of COVID-19 two weeks into his second term in February.
- He was the first sitting member of Congress to die of the virus.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout, including to correct an earlier headline that stated Ellzey had won a Senate seat, not a House seat.