Updated at 11:45 p.m. Saturday with statement from John Cornyn.

Texas elected officials had strong reactions Saturday to the violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia, with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz calling for the Department of Justice investigate "the acts of domestic terrorism."

While President Donald Trump was criticized for his reaction to the violence that left one woman and two Virginia state helicopter patrol members dead and at least 26 others injured, Cruz and other Texas representatives and state elected officials issued forceful responses.

"It's tragic and heartbreaking to see hatred and racism once again mar our great Nation with bloodshed," Cruz said in a statement released Saturday night. "The First Amendment protects the rights of all Americans to speak their minds peaceably, but violence, brutality, and murder have no place in a civilized society.

"The Nazis, the KKK, and white supremacists are repulsive and evil, and all of us have a moral obligation to speak out against the lies, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred that they propagate. Having watched the horrifying video of the car deliberately crashing into a crowd of protesters, I urge the Department of Justice to immediately investigate and prosecute this grotesque act of domestic terrorism," the statement said.

Late Saturday night, the FBI in Richmond, Va. said it had opened an investigation.

JUST IN: FBI opens civil rights investigation into circumstances of "deadly vehicular incident" in Charlottesville. https://t.co/KAXR1HnB4D pic.twitter.com/drmpvAve5O — ABC News (@ABC) August 13, 2017

Cruz's Senate counterpart, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, also issued a statement late Saturday night condemning the violence.

No place for the bigotry & hate-filled violence in #Charlottesville. These actions should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. — Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) August 13, 2017

Several Texas GOP Congress members responded on Twitter, with Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas, tweeting: "The racist white supremacist actions in Charlottesville are completely horrendous."

The racist white supremacist actions in Charlottesville are completely horrendous. We should all condemn them in the strongest of terms. — Pete Sessions (@PeteSessions) August 12, 2017

Other North Texas GOP representatives who condemned the violence included Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas, John Ratcliffe of Heath, Rep. Michael Burgess of Pilot Point.

I’ve never been more concerned abt the tenor of political debate in America & how we treat each other. Must unite for peace #Charlottesville — Archive: Rep. Jeb Hensarling (@RepHensarling) August 12, 2017

Ratcliffe said, "Please join me in sending prayers to Charlottesville. This hateful violence is deeply saddening and must be condemned in the strongest terms."

Americans must stand united against hatred. I am sad to hear of loses suffered today in Charlottesville, and am praying for all affected. — Michael Burgess, MD (@michaelcburgess) August 12, 2017

Sorry, we didn't recognize the link you were trying to embed.

Democrats also weighed in.

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, called on Trump to condemn the "hateful actions."

.@POTUS needs to condemn these hateful actions. Hate & bigotry have no place in our country. I am keeping #Charlottesville in my thoughts https://t.co/SIAJ3rtBlt — Rep. Marc Veasey (@RepVeasey) August 13, 2017

Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, who is challenging Cruz, was in North Texas this weekend campaigning and sent a series of several tweets about the events.

In one, he wrote: "Crazy and sad that in 2017 we're having to march for science, stand up for women's rights, hold the line against racists."

We are so much better than the small-minded racism, intolerance & hatred that the citizens of #Charlottesville are standing up to. — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 12, 2017

State officials weigh in

Sorry, we didn't recognize the link you were trying to embed.

Texas' top elected officials also reacted. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was first to weigh in late in the day, followed by House Speaker Joe Straus and Gov. Greg Abbott.

Praying for #Charlottesville (my Mom's hometown). We must stand against all who try to divide us with hatred and bigotry. — Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) August 12, 2017

We grieve for the Charlottesville victims & fiercely reject the views & actions of white supremacist groups. They are un-American. #txlege — Joe Straus (@SpeakerStraus) August 13, 2017