The opening of the Texas Senate Debate couldn’t have offered more contrast as a towering Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) loomed over Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). The optimism from the Democrat was evident as he began the night.

“Yes, 230 years into this experiment, the American democracy, that is the exception, not the rule in world history is sacred and it’s essential we continue to protect it,” O’Rourke said.

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O’Rourke noted that the ballot box is more in danger now than at any time in history as Russians wage a cyber-war against the United States.

“It’s under attack unlike any other time in this nation’s past,” he continued. “We know because the intelligence community reached a unanimous conclusion on this that the Russian government sought to undermine our democracy.”

“And we know they will attack us again if we don’t act,” O’Rourke said, noting Cruz has yet to fight to protect the sanctity of the American vote.

“We can have thoughtful regulations,” O’Rourke said of social media. But he nailed Cruz for throwing cash at Cambridge Analytica to continue a dishonest social media campaign.

The Congressman doled out another hit when it came to judges, noting that Cruz has approved judges who called LGBT youth the children of the devil and another who didn’t know what Brown v. Board of Education was.

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Cruz answered by saying it’s clear O’Rourke wants judges with a clear ideology over those who support the Constitution, though presumably, they should know the law.

When it came to climate change, Cruz said that as the son of two mathematicians and computer science people he believes in science but that the climate is always changing. He would prefer the short-term economic benefit from the energy sector than the future for children.

About mid-way through the debate, Cruz went over time a battle erupted between Cruz and the moderators.

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“You agreed to this,” the moderator said.

Watch the videos below (we are uploading them as quickly as we can):

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The inspiring closing statement:

This is the election of our lifetime. We have the opportunity to inspire Texas, our country, and the world. RT to share Beto's closing statement. #TeamBeto #TexasDebate pic.twitter.com/MYmaIFtq4p — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) October 17, 2018