Democrats have their sights set on a major Republican after Doug Jones' upset win in Alabama — Ted Cruz

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

• Democrats see top GOP Sen. Ted Cruz as uniquely vulnerable in the wake of Doug Jones's upset win in Alabama.
• Cruz's favorability ratings are lowers than Republican Roy Moore's unfavorable ratings.

---

Despite Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore's numerous flaws, Democrat Doug Jones's victory over the former judge Tuesday night caught many political observers by surprise.

But for other Democrats, it signaled consequences for Republicans up for reelection, including a longtime Democratic foe: Sen. Ted Cruz. 

"Be afraid, @tedcruz. Be very afraid," former Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro said in a tweet.

Some Democrats believe Cruz's low popularity in Texas has made him uniquely vulnerable to a Democratic challenger in 2018. 

Observers like Vox's Matt Yglesias noted that Cruz's favorable ratings were actually lower than Moore's in some recent polls. 

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940798991339581440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Note that Roy Moore, who just lost and molests children, actually has a higher favorable rating in AL than Ted Cruz has in TX. pic.twitter.com/yFiYD5ytQr

Democrats in the state also saw an opportunity in Moore's defeat. 

Beto O'Rourke, seen as the Democratic frontrunner who will likely challenge Cruz next November, sent an email to supporters on Tuesday fundraising off of Jones' win.

"If you weren't sure if our campaign to take on Ted Cruz was possible, you have to know it is now," the email said. "Next stop, Texas 2018."

O'Rourke's campaign also shared a tweet of Cruz saying Moore, who has been accused of sexual misconduct with teenagers, should be seated in the Senate if he won the election. 

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940797028925308929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Meanwhile, in Texas, @BetoORourke has pounced on #ALSen upset as reason for Democrats to believe he can unseat @TedCruz in #2018. pic.twitter.com/vfjXdiGzeS

Democrats have not won a Senate race in Texas in decades, and are likely face an uphill battle even in a potential wave election.

President Donald Trump won Texas by a margin of nine points over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. That was seven points lower than Republican Mitt Romney's margin of victory over Democrat Barack Obama in the state in 2012, but was slightly lower than Cruz's margin-of-victory over Democratic nominee Paul Sadler in the Senate race that same year. 

Nonetheless, following Jones' victory, many Democratic strategists and supporters immediately called for greater attention to the race in Texas.

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940922035232002048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
If a D can win statewide in Alabama, Texas can defeat Cruz and put @BetoORourke in the Senate. https://t.co/iUiUBTEI0WTweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940960174180880384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Ted Cruz is almost as noxious as Roy Moore, Texas isn't nearly as wingnutty as Alabama and Beto O'Rourke is a strong candidate. I'm in... @actblue https://t.co/gZMmnZs2m9Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940927535453429760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
.@SemaForTexas
is running against Ted Cruz. She stands for:

- Healthcare for all
- Raising the minimum wage
- Renewable energy
- Immigration reform
- Decriminalizing marijuana
- Ending private prisons
- Closing tax loopholes
- Ending corporate welfare
- Stop arming terroristsTweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940797325232037892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Dear Texas,

Ted Cruz next?

Meet you at the polls in 2018.

See you hustling before then.

????????⏳????????‍????Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/940827836927086593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Please make Ted Cruz pay for this, Texans. Your state is less red than Alabama. https://t.co/D9NLN3HTsj

NOW WATCH: Vladimir Putin could secretly be one of the richest men in the world — an investigative reporter who spent 4 years in Russia explains