Republican Michael Cloud will become the newest member of Congress, after winning a Texas special election Saturday to replace a GOP congressman who resigned amid sexual harassment claims.

Cloud finished at the top of a crowded field that fought to represent the 27th District, a heavily conservative area along the Gulf Coast that President Donald Trump won by about 24 points in 2016.

With 89 percent of the vote tallied, Cloud was winning more than 54 percent of the vote, well above the majority he needed to avoid a runoff.

He ran as a Christian conservative and staunch supporter of Trump, backing his calls to build a border wall and adopting the president's "drain the swamp" mantra. Cloud ran with endorsements from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and former congressman Ron Paul.

Angela Merkel has admitted the UK will be missed when it leaves the EU as she struck a conciliatory tone on a future relationship over security.

The German chancellor acknowledged the bloc would be "losing something" with the UK's departure, but stressed she would do everything in her power to ensure the close relationship endured and "that we continue to act as partners in the world".

Mrs Merkel's conciliatory remarks come in stark contrast to the hard line being taken by the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier on the post-Brexit security relationship with Brussels.

The German leader's comments will be seen as a strong signal that a deal can be reached with the UK in this critical area.

Brexit