Texans came out swinging during this midterm election.

I am proud of the raw numbers, although the result in one key contest — Ted Cruz defeating Beto O’Rourke — saddens me.

Ballots are still being counted, but get a load of this: More than 8.2 million ballots were cast in this year’s midterm contest. In 2016, when we elected a new president, Texans cast about 8.5 million ballots.

The turnout for the midterm election was virtually identical to the most recent presidential election. I consider that to be a most positive statement about Texans’ interest in this year’s election.

O’Rourke talked a lot during the campaign about how his campaign was able to attract new Democratic voters. That’s a good deal, from my standpoint. However, Republicans also became energized, turning out for Cruz throughout rural Texas — which is the bastion of the state’s Republican majority.

The bottom line is the bottom line. The total midterm election turnout rivaled the turnout for the state’s most recent presidential election. I consider that to be a good thing for Texas.

If only the Cruz-O’Rourke result had ended differently …