Cybersecurity specialist wins House seat

Will Hurd, a former CIA covert agent and a senior advisory for cybersecurity vendor FusionX, won a narrow, upset victory in the race to represent the sprawling 23rd district of Texas. He defeated one-term Democratic incumbent Pete Gallego, and will represent a district that borders Mexico and includes parts of San Antonio and El Paso.

Hurd becomes the first African-American Republican to represent Texas in the House of Representatives in more than 100 years. In his campaign, Hurd cited his experience working overseas for the CIA and as a cybersecurity contractor. "We need to make border security, countering drug traffickers and fighting cyber criminals all national priorities," he said in an October speech.

Hurd, 37, has a computer science degree from Texas A&M University.