EL PASO, Texas — Rep. Beto O'Rourke didn't go quietly to defeat.
Thanking his campaign supporters for their spirited challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz, he said on live television Tuesday: "All of you, showing the country how you do this. I'm so f---ing proud of you guys."
The Texas Democrat has been known to drop f-bombs in public throughout the fierce campaign.
Cruz held off the Democratic rising star to win re-election.
But this time, he was broadcast on MSNBC, prompting anchor Brian Williams to apologize as the network cut away from the speech.
O'Rourke attracted a national following, shattered fundraising records and picked up several celebrity endorsements, including Beyonce posting pictures of herself Tuesday on Instagram wearing a Beto baseball cap.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.