[Trump20162020]

who just lost a Senate bid to one of the most despised incumbents

Beto raised $60,000,000+, a lot of which came from California, and it was a 'blue wave' year, and he still couldn't beat this alleged "most despised incumbent"? Maybe he's not that popular, or Cruz isn't as hated among Texas voters as CNN wants its readers to believe.

[x]

"Despised" must mean in Washington, not in Texas.

Or this dig at Cruz is actually a dig at Beto, the guy who couldn't beat Ted Cruz, who was odd and unlikable, but still able to win in Texas.