Ted Cruz

Rafael Edward Cruz was born on December 22, 1970,{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001098|title=CRUZ, Rafael Edward (Ted) – Biographical Information |website=Bioguide.congress.gov|access-date=April 27, 2013}}[http://www.statesman.com/s/news/politics/ted-cruz/ U.S. senator Ted Cruz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405084103/http://www.statesman.com/s/news/politics/ted-cruz/ |date=April 5, 2016 }}, Austin American-Statesman at Foothills Medical Centre{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: Made in Canada|last1=Abel|first1=Allen|last2=Markusoff|first2=Jason |url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/washington/ted-cruz-made-in-canada|newspaper=Maclean's Magazine|date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Panetta|first=Alexander|date=May 9, 2015|title=Birthplace of President Ted Cruz? Calgary homeowner hopes it never happens|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/birthplace-of-president-ted-cruz-calgary-homeowner-hopes-it-never-happens|newspaper=Calgary Herald|agency=The Canadian Press|access-date=January 15, 2015|quote=Steward is pretty sure the American conservative began life at the Foothills Medical Centre — a government-run, Canadian socialist hospital.}} in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Eleanor Elizabeth ({{nee|Darragh}}) Wilson and Rafael Cruz.{{cite news|title=Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be President?|first=John Wayne|last=Ferguson |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/08/13/texplainer-could-canadian-born-ted-cruz-be-preside/|newspaper=Texas Tribune |quote=Bottom line: Despite being born in Canada, Cruz is a U.S. citizen because his mother was a U.S. citizen, according to constitutional experts.|date=August 13, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite book |title=A Time For Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America |publisher=Broadside Books |author=Cruz, Ted |year=2015 |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-06-236561-3}}{{cite news|title=Canada-born Ted Cruz became a citizen of that country as well as U.S.|author=Gillman, Todd J.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130818-born-in-canada-ted-cruz-became-a-citizen-of-that-country-as-well-as-u.s..ece|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=August 18, 2013|access-date=August 19, 2013|archive-date=August 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819145057/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130818-born-in-canada-ted-cruz-became-a-citizen-of-that-country-as-well-as-u.s..ece|url-status=dead}} Cruz's mother was born in Wilmington, Delaware. She is of three-quarters Irish and one-quarter Italian descent, and earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Rice University in the 1950s.{{cite web |title=About Senator Cruz |url=https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=about_senator |website=cruz.senate.gov |access-date=January 8, 2021}}

Cruz's father, Rafael, was born and raised in Cuba, the son of a Canary Islander who immigrated to Cuba as a child.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/donald-trump-ted-cruz-us-political-figures-react/story?id=43790782|publisher=ABC News|title=Donald Trump, US Political Figures React to Fidel Castro's Death|first1=Michael|last1=Edison Hayden|first2=Alexander|last2=Mallin|first3=Paul|last3=Blake|date=November 26, 2016}} As a teenager in the 1950s, Rafael Cruz was beaten by agents of Fulgencio Batista for opposing the Batista regime.{{Cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Jason|date=November 9, 2015|title=Cuban Peers Dispute Ted Cruz's Father's Story of Fighting for Castro (Published 2015)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/politics/cuban-peers-dispute-ted-cruzs-fathers-story-of-fighting-for-castro.html|access-date=February 19, 2021|issn=0362-4331}} He left Cuba in 1957 to attend the University of Texas at Austin and obtained political asylum in the United States after his four-year student visa expired.{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/06/20/193585553/how-ted-cruzs-father-shaped-his-views-on-immigration|title=How Ted Cruz's Father Shaped His Views On Immigration|date=June 20, 2013|access-date=December 14, 2015|first=David|last=Welna |publisher=NPR}} He earned Canadian citizenship in 1973 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 2005.{{cite news|title=The Rise of Rafael Cruz|author=Costa, Robert |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356934/rise-rafael-cruz-robert-costa|newspaper=National Review|date=August 28, 2013 |quote=Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he grew up in the Cuba middle class in the 1950s, as the son of an RCA salesman and an elementary-school teacher. As a teenager, he grew to detest the regime of Fulgencio Batista. He and some of his schoolmates frequently clashed with Batista's officials. Eventually, he linked up with Castro's guerrilla groups and supported their attempts to overthrow Batista. It's a decision he still regrets. His move toward Castro, he explains, was mostly due to his anger with Batista's government, which at one point imprisoned him and tortured him for his work with the revolutionaries. He says he never shared Castro's Communism, but at the time, it was the best way to fight Batista's oppression. By age 18, in 1957, he knew he needed to get out, and a friend essentially bribed an official to secure him an exit permit.|access-date=August 28, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Cruz's life defies simplification|author=Olsen, Lise|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Cruz-s-life-defies-simplification-3946523.php|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=October 13, 2012|quote=The ex-revolutionary pastor regularly stumps for his son, whom he's compared to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah – a relentless advocate with "fire in his bones". Ted, he says, is "not going to Washington to compromise"|access-date=August 28, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Swartz|first=Mimi|date=March 31, 2015|title=Ted Cruz and the New Politics of Texas|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/opinion/ted-cruz-and-the-new-politics-of-texas.html|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York|access-date=April 17, 2015}}

At the time of his birth, Ted Cruz's parents had lived in Calgary for three years and were working in the oil business as owners of a seismic-data processing firm for oil drilling.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz's Father Talks About Latinos, Conservatives and the American Dream |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/04/08/ted-cruz-father-and-inspiration-talks-about-latinos-conservatives-and-american|newspaper=FOX News Latino|quote=Cruz, the father, and his wife, Eleanor Darragh, left the United States for a few years, living in Canada to take advantage of the oil boom.|date=April 8, 2012|access-date=October 6, 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/ted-cruz-is-a-test-for-the-tea-party-in-texas-race.html|title=A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race|author=Zernike, Kate|date=November 18, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 18, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream |first=Terence|last=Jeffrey|url=http://cwww.creators.com/opinion/terence-jeffrey/ted-cruz-new-voice-for-the-american-dream.html |newspaper=Creators Syndicate|year=2011|access-date=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053539/http://cwww.creators.com/opinion/terence-jeffrey/ted-cruz-new-voice-for-the-american-dream.html|archive-date=September 21, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Senate candidate Ted Cruz aims to pick up mantle of Reagan|author=Garrett, Robert T.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120428-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-aims-to-pick-up-mantle-of-reagan.ece|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=April 28, 2013|access-date=August 22, 2013}} Cruz has said that he is the son of "two mathematicians/computer programmers".{{cite news |last=Mervis|first=Jeffrey|date=December 9, 2015|title=From a bully pulpit, Ted Cruz offers his take on climate change |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/bully-pulpit-ted-cruz-offers-his-take-climate-change|newspaper=ScienceInsider|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=February 6, 2016}} In 1974, Cruz's father left the family and moved to Texas.Larson, Leslie. [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-plans-renounce-canadian-citizenship-article-1.1561380 "Ted Cruz plans to renounce Canadian citizenship"], Daily News, New York (December 30, 2013). Later that year, Cruz's parents reconciled and relocated the family to Houston. They divorced in 1997.{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24782596.html|title=Ted Cruz's family story: Poignant but incomplete|first=Maria|last=Recio|work=McClatchy|date=April 1, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2015}} Cruz has two older half-sisters, Miriam Ceferina Cruz and Roxana Lourdes Cruz, from his father's first marriage. Miriam died in 2011 from a drug overdose.[http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/2015/06/26/ted-cruzs-secret-weapon-win-right Ted Cruz's Secret Weapon to Win the Right], National Journal, Andy Kroll, June 25, 2015; retrieved November 11, 2015.{{cite book|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America|pages=28–44, 101–03|publisher=Broadside|year=2015|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}

Cruz began using the moniker "Ted" at age 13.{{Cite web|last=Hopper|first=Jessica|date=July 2, 2015|title=7 Things You Never Knew About Ted Cruz That We Learned From Reading His Book|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/things-knew-ted-cruz-learned-reading-book/story?id=32165453|access-date=March 22, 2021|publisher=ABC News|language=en}}

For junior high school, Cruz went to Awty International School in Houston.{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Scott|url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-city-life/2015/09/vetting-ted-cruz-presidential-resume-september-2015|title=Vetting Ted Cruz's Presidential Resumé|work=Houstonia Magazine|date=2015-09-01|accessdate=2021-09-18}} Cruz attended two private high schools: Faith West Academy, near Katy, Texas;{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty/archives/2005/08/supreme_court_l.html|title=Solicitor general carries "supreme" weight with Katy roots|last=Eriksen|first=Helen|date=August 11, 2005|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=October 2, 2013|archive-date=March 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325112430/http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty/archives/2005/08/supreme_court_l.html|url-status=dead}} and Second Baptist High School in Houston, from which he graduated as valedictorian in 1988.{{cite web|title=Distinguished Alumni|url=http://www.secondbaptistschool.org/distinguishedalumni|publisher=Second Baptist School|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-date=May 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530203145/http://www.secondbaptistschool.org/distinguishedalumni|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Mackey |first=Maureen |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz: 20 Things You Didn't Know About Him |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/03/23/Ted-Cruz-20-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Him |newspaper=Fiscal Times |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=7: He graduated from Houston's Second Baptist High School in 1988 and was valedictorian of his class.}}
{{cite news |last=Dunham |first=Richard |date=October 15, 2012 |title=Profile: A man of many contrasts, Ted Cruz defies easy stereotypes |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/10/profile-a-man-of-many-contrasts-ted-cruz-defies-easy-stereotypes/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=Cruz was one of only two Hispanics when he transferred to Houston's Second Baptist School his junior year. He graduated valedictorian in 1988.}}
{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |date=March 19, 2015 |title=Will grassroots support be enough for Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016? |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-grassroots-support-be-enough-for-sen-ted-cruz-in-2016/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=He graduated valedictorian of his high school in 1988, attended Princeton University for his undergraduate studies, and received his law degree from Harvard University.}}
{{cite news |last=Barbash |first=Fred |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Why Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is the perfect launchpad for Ted Cruz |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/23/why-liberty-university-in-lynchburg-va-is-the-perfect-launchpad-for-ted-cruz|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 23, 2015|quote=The last time he spoke there, Cruz made no mention of his Ivy League degrees but recalled fondly his memories of Second Baptist High School in Houston, where he was valedictorian, and how his wife was the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries.}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz|author=|year=2015|website=Biography.com|access-date=April 23, 2015|quote=The valedictorian of his class at Houston's Second Baptist High School, Cruz went on to Princeton University.}} During high school, Cruz participated in a Houston-based group known at the time as the Free Market Education Foundation, a program that taught high school students the philosophies of economists such as Milton Friedman and Frédéric Bastiat.{{Cite magazine|last=Lizza |first=Ryan|author-link=Ryan Lizza|date=November 19, 2012|title=The Party Next Time|magazine=The New Yorker|pages=50–57|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/11/19/121119fa_fact_lizza|access-date=July 20, 2013}}

After high school, Cruz studied public policy at Princeton University.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135705/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz's Biography |location=Philipsburg, Montana |work=Project Vote Smart |access-date=February 8, 2016}}.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz 92 Sworn-in as U.S. Senator from Texas|author=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs|url=http://wws.princeton.edu/node/11519|newspaper=Princeton University Bulletin|date=January 3, 2013|location=Princeton, New Jersey|access-date=April 14, 2014|archive-date=July 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724025802/http://wws.princeton.edu/node/11519|url-status=dead}} While at Princeton, he competed for the American Whig-Cliosophic Society's Debate Panel and won the top speaker award at both the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the 1992 North American Debating Championship.{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame |author=Princeton Debate Panel|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/results/hall-of-fame/|newspaper=Princeton University Debate Panel|access-date=October 2, 2013}} In 1992, he was named U.S. National Speaker of the Year and, with his debate partner David Panton, Team of the Year by the American Parliamentary Debate Association. Cruz and Panton later represented Harvard Law School at the 1995 World Debating Championship, losing in the semifinals to a team from Australia.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-10/news/25715479_1_death-penalty-princeton-university-war-criminals|title=Australians Win Debate At Princeton A Singapore Woman Won The Award For Best Speaker. English Is Not Her Native Language|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=April 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Showed Eloquence, and Limits, as Debater at Princeton |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-honed-political-skills-in-princeton-debate-club.html|newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 25, 2015 |quote=By the time he was a senior at Princeton University in 1992, Ted Cruz had developed an arsenal of rhetorical skills and theatrical gestures that made him one of the most polished performers on the college debate circuit.}} Princeton's debate team named their annual novice championship after Cruz.{{cite web|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/our-tournaments/cruz-novice-championship/|title=Cruz Novice Championship|access-date=January 11, 2014|author=Princeton Debate Panel|author-link=Princeton Debate Panel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111061415/https://debate.princeton.edu/our-tournaments/cruz-novice-championship/|archive-date=January 11, 2014}} At Princeton, Cruz was a member of Colonial Club.{{Cite web|url=https://thetab.com/us/princeton/2015/10/19/cruz-is-colonial-92-so-we-asked-members-what-they-think-about-him-375|title=Ted Cruz '92 isn't welcome back to Colonial, his old club|date=October 19, 2015|publisher=Princeton University}} His 115-page senior thesis at Princeton investigated the separation of powers; its title, Clipping the Wings of Angels: The History and Theory Behind the Ninth and Tenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, was inspired by a passage attributed to James Madison from the 51st essay of the Federalist Papers: "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Cruz argued that the drafters of the Constitution intended to protect their constituents' rights, and that the last two items in the Bill of Rights offer an explicit stop against an all-powerful state.{{cite news|last=Eckholm|first=Erik|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/us/politics/republican-senate-candidate-in-texas-is-known-as-an-intellectual-force.html|title=A Republican Voice With Tea Party Mantle and Intellectual Heft|work=The New York Times|date=August 1, 2012|access-date=February 28, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Cruz|first=Ted|url=https://www.motherjones.com/documents/480888-cruz-thesis|title=Ted Cruz's 1992 'Clipping the Wings of Angels'|publisher=Princeton University|date=April 2, 1992|access-date=February 28, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109110404/https://www.motherjones.com/documents/480888-cruz-thesis|archive-date=January 9, 2013}} Cruz graduated from Princeton in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts cum laude.{{Cite web |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=2021-01-11 |title=Opinion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/opinion/ted-cruz-capitol-attack.html |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US }}

Cruz then attended Harvard Law School,{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Texas's Tea Party Revolution|author=Begala, Paul|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/01/paul-begala-ted-cruz-and-texas-s-tea-party-revolution.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=August 1, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013}} where he was a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics. He was a primary editor of the Harvard Law Review, an executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, and a founding editor of the Harvard Latino Law Review. Referring to Cruz's time as a student at Harvard Law, professor Alan Dershowitz said that Cruz was "off-the-charts brilliant".{{cite news|title=Who is Ted Cruz?|author=Weiner, Rachel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/who-is-ted-cruz/2012/08/01/gJQAqql8OX_blog.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 1, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, wacko like a fox|author=McManus, Doyle|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2013-jul-31-la-oe-mcmanus-column-ted-cruz-20130731-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 12, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Defusing the H-Bomb: In politics, Harvard alums frame diplomas strategically|author=Clarida, Matthew Q.|author2=Lucky, Jared T.|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/30/harvard-degree-politics-alumni/|newspaper=The Harvard Crimson|date=May 30, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Yes, Ted Cruz for Texas|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312576/yes-ted-cruz-texas-editors|newspaper=National Review|date=July 30, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013}} Cruz graduated from Harvard Law in 1995 with a Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude.

After law school, Cruz served as a law clerk for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1995 to 1996,{{cite web|url=http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|title=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz, Attorney Biography|via=Wayback Machine|publisher=Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP|location=Houston, Texas|date=March 29, 2011|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|archive-date=May 21, 2010|quote=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice and leads the firm's U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice.}}{{cite news|title=Rising Star: Morgan Lewis' R. Ted Cruz|first=Hilary|last=Russ|url=https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/Cruz_Law360RisingStar_05apr10.pdf|newspaper=Law360|date=April 5, 2010|access-date=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927141153/https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/Cruz_Law360RisingStar_05apr10.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2013}} and then for Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1996 to 1997.

After his Supreme Court clerkship, Cruz worked in private practice as an associate at the law firm Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal (now Cooper & Kirk, PLLC) from 1997 to 1998.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz|author=Tribpedia|url=http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/ted-cruz/about/|newspaper=Texas Tribune|access-date=August 21, 2013}} At the firm, Cruz worked on matters relating to the National Rifle Association and helped prepare testimony for the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton.{{cite news|last1=Toobin|first1=Jeffrey|title=Ted Cruz, The Absolutist|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all|access-date=June 25, 2014|magazine=The New Yorker|date=June 30, 2014}} In 1998, Cruz was briefly one of the attorneys who represented Representative John Boehner during his litigation against Representative Jim McDermott over the alleged leak of an illegal recording of a phone conversation whose participants included Boehner.{{cite news|author=Westneat, Danny|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980519/2751576/civil-suit-against-mcdermott-over-leaked-tapes-gears-up----rep-boehner-says-his-privacy-was-violated|title=Civil Suit Against Mcdermott Over Leaked Tapes Gears Up – Rep. Boehner Says His Privacy Was Violated|date=May 19, 1998|work=The Seattle Times}}{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Allan |date=September 29, 2015 |title=John Boehner once hired Ted Cruz to be his lawyer |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-john-boehner-lawyer-2015-9 |newspaper=Business Insider |location=New York, New York |access-date=April 29, 2016|quote=Furious, Boehner called it an invasion of privacy. He hired Cruz, who had recently served as a clerk for then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist.}}

Cruz joined the George W. Bush presidential campaign in 1999 as a domestic policy adviser, advising then-Governor Bush on a wide range of policy and legal matters, including civil justice, criminal justice, constitutional law, immigration, and government reform. During the 2000 Florida presidential recounts, he assisted in assembling the Bush legal team, devising strategy, and drafting pleadings for filing with the Supreme Court of Florida and U.S. Supreme Court in the case Bush v. Gore.{{cite news|title=The Reinvention of Ted Cruz|author=Cottle, Michelle|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/12/the-reinvention-of-ted-cruz.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=March 12, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2013}} Cruz recruited future chief justice John Roberts and noted attorney Mike Carvin to Bush's legal team.

After Bush took office, Cruz served as an associate deputy attorney general in the United States Department of Justice and as the director of policy planning at the Federal Trade Commission.

In 2003, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appointed Cruz to be the solicitor general of Texas. The office was established in 1999 to handle appeals involving the Texas state government, but Abbott hired Cruz with the idea that Cruz would take a "leadership role in the United States in articulating a vision of strict constructionism". As Texas solicitor general, Cruz argued before the U.S. Supreme Court nine times, winning five cases and losing four. He authored 70 U.S. Supreme Court briefs and presented 34 appellate oral arguments.{{cite web|first=David McKay|last=Wilson|title=Carrying the Tea Party Banner: U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz calls for a 'return to the framers' vision of a constitutionally limited government.'|work=Harvard Law School Bulletin|date=Fall 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013|url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/feature/carrying-the-tea-party-banner/}} His nine appearances before the Supreme Court are the most by any practicing lawyer in Texas or current member of Congress.{{cite news|title=For Cruz, Supreme Court Work at Heart of Campaign|author=Batheja, Aman|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/cruz-supreme-court-work-heart-campaign/|newspaper=Texas Tribune|date=July 23, 2012|quote=We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights.|access-date=August 21, 2013}} Cruz has said, "We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights."

In 2003, while Cruz was Texas Solicitor General, the Texas Attorney General's office declined to defend Texas's sodomy law in Lawrence v. Texas, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state laws banning homosexual sex were unconstitutional.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/ted-cruz-anti-gay-marriage-crusader-not-always |title= Ted Cruz: Anti-Gay Marriage Crusader? Not Always |last1=Przybyl |first1=Heidi |date=April 29, 2015 |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=May 1, 2015}} In the landmark case District of Columbia v. Heller, Cruz drafted the amicus brief signed by the attorneys general of 31 states arguing that the Washington, D.C. handgun ban should be struck down as infringing upon the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.{{cite news|last=Block|first=Melissa|title=D.C. Gun Ban Critic: Court Must Clarify Constitution|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=88251874|publisher=NPR|date=March 14, 2008}} He also presented oral argument for the amici states in the companion case to Heller before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.{{cite news|title=Second Amendment Showdown|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117384168237936437|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 14, 2007|access-date=August 17, 2013|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}

File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg in October 2011|300px]]

Cruz successfully defended the constitutionality of the Ten Commandments monument on the Texas State Capitol grounds before the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, winning 5–4 in Van Orden v. Perry.

In 2004, Cruz was involved in the high-profile case surrounding a challenge to the constitutionality of public schools' requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (including the words "under God", legally a part of the Pledge since 1954), Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow. He wrote a brief on behalf of all 50 states that argued that the plaintiff, a non-custodial parent, did not have standing to file suit on his daughter's behalf.{{cite court |litigants=Elk Grove Unified School District and David W. Gordon, Superintendent vs. Michael A. Newdow, et al. |opinion=No. 02-1624 |pinpoint=Amici Curiae Brief |court=Supreme Court of the United States |date=December 2003 |url=https://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/NewdowAmicus.pdf |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |quote=Because of Their 'History and Ubiquity', Acknowledgments of Religion in Patriotic or Historical Contexts Are Entirely Consistent with the Establishment Clause.}} The Supreme Court upheld the position of Cruz's brief.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/atheist-loses-2nd-under-god-court-appeal/ |title=Atheist Loses 2nd 'Under God' Court Appeal|publisher=CBS News|date=March 12, 2010|access-date=March 16, 2016}}

Cruz served as lead counsel for the state and successfully defended the multiple litigation challenges to the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan in state and federal district courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court, which was decided 5–4 in his favor in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry.{{cite news|last=Reinert|first=Patty|title=Most of Texas' redistricting map upheld |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4009070.html|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=June 28, 2006|access-date=August 15, 2013}}

In Medellín v. Texas, Cruz successfully defended Texas against an attempt to reopen the cases of 51 Mexican nationals, all of whom were convicted of murder in the United States and on death row. With the support of the George W. Bush administration, the petitioners argued that the United States had violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by failing to notify the convicted nationals of their opportunity to receive legal aid from the Mexican consulate.Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No. 06-984). They based their case on a decision of the International Court of Justice in the Avena case, which ruled that by failing to allow access to the Mexican consulate, the United States had breached its obligations under the convention.{{cite news|title=U.N. court rules U.S. execution violated treaty|publisher=CNN|first=Bill |last=Mears|date=January 19, 2009|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/19/mexican.execution.violation/|access-date=March 23, 2015}} Texas won the case in a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court holding that ICJ decisions were not binding in domestic law and that the President had no power to enforce them.

Michael Wayne Haley was arrested for stealing a calculator from Walmart in 1997.[https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/541/386.html Dretke v. Haley], 541 U.S. 386, 389–92 (2004). Because of Haley's previous criminal convictions, he was sentenced to {{frac|16|1|2}} years in prison under the Texas habitual offender law. After Haley had exhausted his appeals, it became known that Haley's robbery offense occurred three days before one of his other convictions was finalized; this raised a question about the applicability of the habitual offender statute in his case. As Solicitor General, Cruz declined to vacate Haley's sentence, saying, "I think justice is being done because he had a full and fair trial and an opportunity to raise his errors."{{cite journal |last=Cunningham |first=Larry |year=2005 |title=The Innocent Prisoner and the Appellate Prosecutor Some Thoughts on Post-Conviction Prosecutorial Ethics after Dretke v Haley |ssrn=1152792 |journal=Criminal Justice Ethics |volume=24 |issue=2 |page=13 |doi=10.1080/0731129X.2005.9992185 |s2cid=145639890 }} The Supreme Court later remanded the case to lower courts based on Haley's ineffective assistance of counsel claim. During oral argument, Cruz conceded that Haley had a very strong argument for ineffective assistance of counsel since Haley's attorney failed to recognize the sentencing error and that he would not move to have Haley re-incarcerated during the appeal process. After remand, Haley was re-sentenced to "time served".{{cite news|last1=French|first1=David|title=David Brooks's Hypocritical Attack on Ted Cruz Reveals an Important Truth|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/429777/ted-cruzs-christianity-deep-and-abiding|access-date=March 24, 2016|work=National Review|date=January 14, 2016}}

In 2008 American Lawyer magazine named Cruz one of the 50 Best Litigators under 45 in America,{{cite news|title=Attorney General Abbott Appoints New Solicitor General: Longtime Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz returns to private practice; Deputy Solicitor General Sean Jordan to serve on leadership team|author=Office of Attorney General Greg Abbott|url=https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=2406|newspaper=State of Texas|date=April 9, 2008|access-date=August 17, 2013|archive-date=November 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118194720/https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?id=2406|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=The Young Litigators Fab Fifty|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005470251&slreturn=20130221194544|newspaper=American Lawyer Media|date=January 1, 2007|access-date=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410123933/http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005470251&slreturn=20130310083924|archive-date=April 10, 2013}} and The National Law Journal named him one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America.{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America |work=The National Law Journal |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202421621086&The_50_Most_Influential_Minority_Lawyers_in_America |agency=American Lawyer Media|date=May 26, 2008|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite news |title=Legal Blog Watch |author=Ambrogi, Robert J. |url=http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2008/05/the-most-influe.html |website=Law.com|date=May 27, 2008|access-date=August 17, 2013}} In 2010 Texas Lawyer named him one of the 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century.{{cite news|title=The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202463008691&The_25_Greatest_Texas_Lawyers_of_the_Past_QuarterCentury|newspaper=American Lawyer Media|date=June 28, 2010|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Luncheon Honors 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|author=Tex Parte Blog, American Lawyer Media|url=http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/10/25-greatest-lawyers-of-the-past-quarter-century-honored.html|newspaper=Texas Lawyer|date=October 6, 2010|access-date=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224131315/http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/10/25-greatest-lawyers-of-the-past-quarter-century-honored.html|archive-date=December 24, 2013}}

After leaving the Solicitor General position in 2008, Cruz joined the Houston office of the Philadelphia-based law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, often representing corporate clients.{{cite web|first=Gina|last=Passarella|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421154053|title=Morgan Lewis Adds Texas Solicitor General|website=Law.com|date=May 6, 2008|access-date=June 2, 2011}} At Morgan Lewis, he led the firm's U.S. Supreme Court and national appellate litigation practice. In 2010, he abandoned a bid for state attorney general when incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott, who hired Cruz as solicitor general, decided to run for reelection.

At Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Cruz represented Pfizer in a lawsuit brought by a group of public hospitals and community health centers, who accused Pfizer of overcharging.{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz has always had a master plan. Now it could win him the White House. |date=November 24, 2015 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/politics/ted-cruz-has-been-plotting-1305876417003574.html|website=Yahoo!|access-date=January 1, 2016}} Linglong Tire was found guilty of marketing versions of tires that were based on blueprints stolen by a former employee of a Florida businessman and ordered to pay $26 million to the Floridian. Cruz worked on the Chinese company's appellant brief. The appeals court denied the appeal and affirmed the jury's award.{{cite news |last=Corn |first=David |date=April 9, 2015 |title=As a private lawyer, Ted Cruz defended companies found guilty of wrongdoing |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/ted-cruz-lawyer-braun-medical-shandong-linglong |newspaper=Mother Jones |location=San Francisco |access-date=January 27, 2016}} Cruz represented drug manufacturer B. Braun before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit after the company was found guilty of wrongfully discharging a former employee. Cruz asserted that she had failed to prove that B. Braun had directed her to violate the law and that she had not presented sufficient evidence that her refusal to violate the law was why she had been fired. The appeals court rejected Cruz's argument and affirmed the $880,000 award. Cruz represented Toyota in an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in a statute of limitations case, where a judge wanted to investigate Toyota for contempt after a former Toyota in-house lawyer accused Toyota of unlawfully withholding documents in a product liability case.{{cite news |last=Lindell |first=Chuck |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Court gets OK for Toyota contempt hearing |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/court-gets-ok-for-toyota-contempt-hearing/nRxMH/ |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=Under Texas law, the trial court lost all jurisdiction in the case 30 days after Green's lawsuit was dismissed, Toyota's appellate lawyer, Ted Cruz of Houston, told the Supreme Court in briefs.}} Cruz unsuccessfully argued the judge's jurisdiction expired 30 days after the case was dismissed following an out-of-court settlement, but later won a second appeal using the same argument.{{cite web|url=http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=1b2345e5-2604-4746-9fc6-75ba569e6edd&coa=cossup&DT=OTHER&MediaID=4e371e0b-190e-445a-b849-3d1af22168f3|title=Court of Appeals November 6, 2011 Opinion|website=Texas Judicial Branch|publisher=State of Texas|pages=72–77}}

Cruz defended two record-setting $54-million personal injury awards in New Mexico at the appellate level, including one that a lower court had thrown out.{{cite news|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/ted-cruz-tort-reform-2016|title=As a Lawyer, Ted Cruz Defended Huge Jury Awards. As a Politician, He Opposed Them.|work=Mother Jones|first=David|last=Corn|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2016}} He represented a mentally disabled man who was allegedly raped by an employee of the facility where he lived, and the family of a 78-year-old resident of an Albuquerque nursing home who died of internal bleeding.{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/opinion/two-sides-of-ted-cruz-tort-reformer-and-personal-injury-lawyer.html|title=Two Sides of Ted Cruz: Tort Reformer and Personal Injury Lawyer|date=January 20, 2016|access-date=January 22, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Williamson}} The settlements were sealed in both cases.

{{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Texas}}

File:2012 United States Senate election in Texas results map by county.svg{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Ted Cruz}}|{{legend|#a80000|>90%}}|{{legend|#C21B18|80–90%}}|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}|{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}

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File:Ted Cruz, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg]]

Cruz ran as a Tea Party candidate in the 2012 Republican primary,{{Cite book|last1=Berry|first1=Jeffrey M|title=The Outrage Industry: Political Opinion Media and the New Incivility|last2=Sobieraj|first2=Sarah|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2013|pages=177}}{{Cite web|last=Mudde|first=Cas|date=2017|title=The Far Right in America|url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Far-Right-in-America/Mudde/p/book/9781138063891|access-date=January 5, 2021|website=Routledge|pages=20, 24, 73|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=Maggie|date=April 13, 2017|title=Ted Cruz, once the beneficiary of Tea Party tactics, feels their sting|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/Ted-Cruz-once-the-beneficiary-of-Tea-Party-11070993.php|access-date=January 5, 2021|website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} and The Washington Post called his victory "the biggest upset of 2012 ... a true grassroots victory against very long odds".{{cite news|title=The biggest upset of 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/28/the-biggest-upset-of-2012/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=August 20, 2013}}

On January 19, 2011, after U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison said she would not seek reelection, Cruz launched his campaign via a blogger conference call.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/contenders-secret-mastering-social-media-079213 |title=Cruz's secret: Mastering social media |website=Politico |date=July 31, 2012 }} In the Republican primary, he ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Cruz was endorsed first by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin{{cite news|author=Edwards-Levy, Ann|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/sarah-palin-endorses-ted-cruz-senate-texas_n_1507213.html|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Ted Cruz For U.S. Senate In Texas|access-date=August 4, 2013|date=May 10, 2012|website=Yahoo!}} and then by the Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative political action committee;{{cite news|last=Toeplitz|first=Shira|title=Club for Growth Picks Texas Senate Favorite|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Club-for-Growth-Picks-Texas-Senate-Favorite-206144-1.html|newspaper=Roll Call|date=June 2, 2011}} the FreedomWorks for America super PAC;{{cite news|title=FreedomWorks PAC Likes Ted Cruz|first=Jim|last=Geraghty|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/268649/freedomworks-pac-likes-ted-cruz|newspaper=National Review|date=June 2, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2013}} nationally syndicated radio host Mark Levin;{{cite news|title=Mark Levin endorses Ted Cruz for US Senate in Texas|first=Mark|last=Levin|url=http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-endorses-ted-cruz-for-us-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=The Right Scoop|date=June 4, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2013}} Tea Party Express;{{cite news|title=Tea Party Express endorses Ted Cruz for Senate in Waco|first=Michael W.|last=Shapiro|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/waco_politics_report/tea-party-express-endorses-ted-cruz-for-senate-in-waco/article_522b2244-d22f-5aed-bb4d-587c900c92c9.html|newspaper=Waco Tribune-Herald|date=January 25, 2012|access-date=February 18, 2013}} Young Conservatives of Texas;{{cite news|title=Young conservatives choose Cruz|first=Gary|last=Scharrer|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/01/young-conservatives-choose-cruz/|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|date=January 5, 2012|access-date=February 18, 2013|archive-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929205111/http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/01/young-conservatives-choose-cruz/|url-status=dead}} and U.S. senators Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint,{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Sean|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/for-demint-a-fe.php|title=For DeMint, A Few Well-Timed Endorsements|work=National Journal|date=November 28, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415004620/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/for-demint-a-fe.php|archive-date=April 15, 2012}} Mike Lee,{{cite web|last=Catanese|first=David|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0311/Sen_Lee_backs_Ted_Cruz_in_Texas.html?showall|title=Sen. Lee backs Ted Cruz in Texas|work=Politico |date=March 7, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2012}} Rand Paul{{cite news|title=Tea Party stalwart Rand Paul backs Cruz over Dewhurst in Texas' U.S. Senate race|first=John|last=Gravois|url=http://blogs.star-telegram.com/politex/2011/07/tea-party-stalwart-rand-paul-backs-cruz-over-dewhurst-in-senate-race.html|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224190527/http://blogs.star-telegram.com/politex/2011/07/tea-party-stalwart-rand-paul-backs-cruz-over-dewhurst-in-senate-race.html|archive-date=February 24, 2013}} and Pat Toomey.{{cite news|title=Sen. Pat Toomey Endorses Ted Cruz for The Texas Senate Race|author=McKinley, Kathleen|url=http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/sen-pat-toomey-endorses-ted-cruz-for-the-texas-senate-race/|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=August 1, 2011|access-date=August 17, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927195325/http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/sen-pat-toomey-endorses-ted-cruz-for-the-texas-senate-race/|url-status=dead}} He was also endorsed by former Texas Congressman Ron Paul,{{cite web|author=Whittington, Mark|url=https://news.yahoo.com/ron-rand-paul-endorse-ted-cruz-texas-senate-213900341.html|title=Ron, Rand Paul Endorse Ted Cruz for Texas Senate Seat|access-date=August 4, 2013|date=May 7, 2012|website=Yahoo! News}} George P. Bush, and former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum.{{cite news|title=Santorum endorses Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/24/santorum-endorses-cruz-in-texas-us-senate-race/?print=1|agency=Associated Press|date=May 24, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013|archive-date=September 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928125256/http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/24/santorum-endorses-cruz-in-texas-us-senate-race/?print=1|url-status=dead}} Former Attorney General Ed Meese served as national chairman of Cruz's campaign.

Cruz won the runoff for the Republican nomination by a 14-point margin over Dewhurst, support for Dewhurst having plummeted while Cruz's vote total dramatically increased from the first round.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Defeats David Dewhurst In Texas Senate Runoff|author=Weissert, Will|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/ted-cruz-texas-runoff_n_1726411.html|agency=Associated Press|date=July 31, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013}} Cruz won despite being outspent by Dewhurst, who held a statewide elected office,{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz Wins In Texas GOP Senate Runoff |author=Hartfield, Elizabeth |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/ted-cruz-wins-in-texas-gop-senate-runoff/ |publisher=ABC News |date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=March 25, 2015|quote=Dewhurst enjoyed a huge financial advantage over Cruz. According to OpenSecrets, Dewhurst poured $11 million of his own personal fortune—he founded a successful energy company called Falcon Seaboard—into his campaign, spending a total of $19 million, as compared to Cruz's $7 million spent.}} $19 million to $7 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/27/10321/texas-senate-race-attracts-13-million-super-pac-spending|title=Texas Senate race attracts $13 million in super PAC spending|last=Duszak|first=Alexandra|publisher=Center for Public Integrity|access-date=May 16, 2015|archive-date=June 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619085935/https://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/27/10321/texas-senate-race-attracts-13-million-super-pac-spending|url-status=dead}}

In the November 6 general election, Cruz faced Democratic nominee Paul Sadler, an attorney and a former state representative from Henderson, Texas. Cruz won with 4.5 million votes (56.4%) to Sadler's 3.2 million (40.6%). Two minor candidates garnered the remaining 3% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Election Results|author=State of Texas|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State|date=July 31, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|archive-date=January 9, 2014}} According to a poll by Cruz's pollster Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, Cruz received 40% of the Hispanic vote, outperforming Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney among Hispanics in Texas.{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz and the Hispanic Vote|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/ted-cruz-and-hispanic-vote|work=Texas Monthly|first1=Paul|last1=Burka|first2=Brian D.|last2=Sweany|access-date=April 15, 2014|date=July 26, 2013}}Drucker, David M. [http://washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-poll-dems-have-edge-over-gop-among-hispanics-in-texas/article/2533470 Ted Cruz poll: Dems have edge over GOP among Hispanics in Texas], Washington Examiner, July 25, 2013.

After Time magazine reported that Cruz might have violated ethics rules by failing to publicly disclose his financial relationship with Caribbean Equity Partners Investment Holdings during the 2012 campaign, he said his failure to disclose the connection was inadvertent.{{cite news|url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/10/18/ted-cruz-failed-to-disclose-ties-to-jamaican-holding-company/|title=Ted Cruz Failed To Disclose Ties To Caribbean Holding Company|last=Calabresi|first=Massimo|date=October 18, 2013|magazine=Time|access-date=October 30, 2013}}

In January 2016, The New York Times reported that Cruz and his wife had taken out nearly $1 million in low-interest loans from Goldman Sachs (where she worked) and Citibank, and failed to report them on Federal Election Commission disclosure statements as required by law.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/politics/ted-cruz-wall-street-loan-senate-bid-2012.html|title=Cruz Didn't Disclose Loan From Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=January 14, 2016|first=Mike|last=McIntire}} Cruz disclosed the loans on his Senate financial disclosure forms in July 2012, but not on the FEC form.Mullins, Brody. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/ted-cruz-didnt-adequately-disclose-2012-loans-for-senate-campaign-1452750887 "Ted Cruz Didn't Adequately Disclose 2012 Loans for Senate Campaign"], The Wall Street Journal (January 14, 2016). There is no indication that Cruz's wife had any role in providing any of the loans, or that the banks did anything wrong. The loans were largely repaid by later campaign fundraising. A spokesperson for Cruz said his failure to report the loans to the FEC was "inadvertent" and that he would file supplementary paperwork. But Cruz intentionally missed the deadline for repayment in order to challenge the law that only $250,000 in personal loans can be repaid with money raised after an election. In May 2022, the Supreme Court in FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate sided with Cruz, allowing him to ask donors to help repay $555,000 he loaned to his campaigns: $545,000 he loaned to his 2012 campaign, plus $10,000 he loaned to his 2018 campaign that was over the existing limit of $250,000.{{Cite web |last1=Blumenthal |first1=Paul |last2=Foley |first2=Elise |date=2022-05-16 |title=The Supreme Court Makes Ted Cruz A Half-Million Dollars Richer |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-ted-cruz-campaign-finance_n_62601bbee4b0e97a3525922d |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=HuffPost|language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Robert Barnes |date=2022-01-19 |title=Supreme Court seems likely to side with Sen. Ted Cruz in campaign finance case |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-ted-cruz/2022/01/19/6eb9f4ec-7966-11ec-83e1-eaef0fe4b8c9_story.html |access-date=2022-01-22 |issn=0190-8286}}

File:John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and Kay Bailey Hutchison.jpg

{{Main|2018 United States Senate election in Texas}}

File:2018 United States Senate election in Texas results map by county.svg{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Ted Cruz}}|{{legend|#a80000|>90%}}|{{legend|#C21B18|80–90%}}|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}|

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}}

Cruz ran for reelection to a second term in 2018.{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=May 11, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz files to run for reelection to the Senate in 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/05/11/ted-cruz-files-to-run-for-reelection-in-2018/ |access-date=July 25, 2016}} The primary elections for both parties were held on March 6, 2018,{{cite web |title=Texas 2018 General Election |url=https://www.thegreenpapers.com/G18/TX |access-date=December 10, 2017 |website=The Green Papers}} and he easily won the Republican nomination with over 80% of the vote.

Cruz faced the Democratic nominee, U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke, in the general election.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Jessica |last2=Seipel |first2=Arnie |date=March 6, 2018 |title=Texas Primary: Democratic Votes Surge, But Republicans Recover Early Vote Deficit |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/06/591162259/with-rising-voter-turnout-democrats-hope-to-turn-parts-of-texas-blue |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312001631/https://www.npr.org/2018/03/06/591162259/with-rising-voter-turnout-democrats-hope-to-turn-parts-of-texas-blue |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |access-date=March 7, 2018 |publisher=NPR}} The contest was unusually competitive for an election in Texas, with most polls showing Cruz only slightly ahead. The race received significant media attention{{cite web |last=Golshan |first=Tara |date=September 12, 2018 |title=Ted Cruz's surprisingly competitive battle against Beto O'Rourke, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/9/12/17841716/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-senate-midterm |access-date=November 3, 2018 |website=Vox}} and became the most expensive U.S. Senate election in history up to that point{{cite news |last1=Wallace |first1=Jeremy |date=October 12, 2018 |title=Cruz vs. O'Rourke is Most Expensive U.S. Senate Race in History |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Cruz-vs-O-Rourke-is-most-expensive-U-S-Senate-13303745.php |access-date=November 17, 2018}} (until the 2020–21 Georgia special election between incumbent Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock).

On November 6, 2018, Cruz defeated O'Rourke by a slim margin, 50.9% to 48.3%.{{cite web |title=2018 General Election Election Night Returns |url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115004347/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2018 |access-date=November 7, 2018 |publisher=Texas Secretary of State}}

{{Main|2024 United States Senate election in Texas}}

Cruz ran for a third Senate term.{{cite web |last1=Chan |first1=Sewell |title=U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz confirms he will seek a third term in 2024 |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/19/ted-cruz-third-term-senate/ |website=Texas Tribune |date=November 20, 2022 |access-date=19 November 2023}} On November 5, he defeated Democratic nominee Colin Allred, a former NFL player and U.S. representative,{{cite web |last1=Barragan |first1=James |title=Colin Allred keeps Kamala Harris at arms length as he makes a play for the center |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/02/colin-allred-ted-cruz-kamala-harris/ |website=Texas Tribune |date=August 2, 2024 |access-date=2 August 2024}} 53.1% to 44.5%.Astudillo, Carla. [https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-2024-general-election-results/ See real-time results from Texas for the November 2024 election], Texas Tribune, November 5, 2024.

File:Overton.jpg during opening ceremony for outpatient clinic in Austin on August 22, 2013.]]

As of November 2018, Cruz has sponsored 105 bills of his own, including:{{cite web|title=Senator Cruz's Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/ted-cruz/2175?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Ted+Cruz%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=November 14, 2018}}

• S.177, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health-care related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, introduced January 29, 2013
• S.505, a bill to prohibit the use of drones to kill citizens of the United States within the United States, introduced March 7, 2013
• S.729 and S. 730, bills to investigate and prosecute felons and fugitives who illegally purchase firearms, and to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through straw purchases and trafficking, introduced March 15, 2013
• S.1336, a bill to permit States to require proof of citizenship for registering to vote in federal elections, introduced July 17, 2013
• S.2170, a bill to increase coal, natural gas, and crude oil exports, to approve the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, to expand oil drilling offshore, onshore, in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, and in Indian reservations, to give states the sole power of regulating hydraulic fracturing, to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard, to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases, to require the EPA to assess how new regulations will affect employment, and to earmark natural resource revenue to paying off the federal government's debt, introduced March 27, 2014
• S.2415, a bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to eliminate all limits on direct campaign contributions to candidates for public office, introduced June 3, 2014

{{Wikisource|Marathon speech against ObamaCare|Ted Cruz's Obamacare filibuster}}

Cruz had a leading role in the 2013 United States federal government shutdown.{{Cite book|last1=Sides|author1-link=John M. Sides|first1=John|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvc77mmb|title=Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America|last2=Tesler|first2=Michael|author3-link=Lynn Vavreck|last3=Vavreck|first3=Lynn|date=2018|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-17419-8|pages=38|jstor=j.ctvc77mmb}}{{Cite book|last=Popkin|first=Samuel L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhklEAAAQBAJ|title=Crackup: The Republican Implosion and the Future of Presidential Politics|date=2020|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-091382-3|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Jen|title=Ted Cruz, mascot of the 2013 shutdown, says he has "consistently opposed shutdowns"|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/1/22/16921166/ted-cruz-2013-shutdownsays-he-has-consistently-opposed-shutdowns|access-date=May 10, 2018|website=Vox|date=January 22, 2018}}{{cite news|first1=David A. |last1=Fahrenthold|first2=Katie |last2=Zezima|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-cruzs-plan-to-defund-obamacare-failed--and-what-it-achieved/2016/02/16/4e2ce116-c6cb-11e5-8965-0607e0e265ce_story.html|title=For Ted Cruz, the 2013 shutdown was a defining moment|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 16, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/ted-cruz-blasted-by-angry-gop-colleagues-government-shutdown-097753|last=Raju|first=Manu|title=Some colleagues angry with Cruz|work=Politico|date=October 3, 2013}} Cruz gave a 21-hour Senate speech in an effort to hold up a federal budget bill and thereby defund the Affordable Care Act.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/10/02/228376346/why-sen-cruz-looms-large-in-government-shutdown-drama |title=Why Ted Cruz Looms Large In Government Shutdown Drama|author=Keith, Tamara|publisher=NPR|date=October 2, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Kapur|first=Sahil|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-09-08/ted-cruz-to-star-in-government-shutdown-the-sequel|title= Ted Cruz to Star in Government Shutdown, the Sequel|publisher=Bloomberg|date=September 8, 2015}} Cruz persuaded the House of Representatives and House Speaker John Boehner to include an ACA defunding provision in the bill. In the U.S. Senate, former Majority Leader Harry Reid blocked the filibuster attempt because only 18 Republican senators supported the filibuster. During the filibuster he read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.{{cite web |title=Ted Cruz Reads Green Eggs And Ham Ted Cruz Filibuster 9-25-13 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-NuwTjtq4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/q8-NuwTjtq4 |archive-date=2021-10-28|via=YouTube |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=January 5, 2021}}{{cbignore}} To supporters, the move "signaled the depth of Cruz's commitment to rein in government". This move was extremely popular among Cruz supporters, with Rick Manning of Americans for Limited Government naming Cruz "2013 Person of the Year" in an op-ed in The Hill, primarily for his filibuster against the Affordable Care Act.{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Rick|date=December 27, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: 2013 Person of the Year|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/194072-ted-cruz-2013-person-of-the-year/|newspaper=The Hill|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp|access-date=December 28, 2013|quote=No politician had a greater impact on the past year than freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz came from the Lone Star State not owing the D.C. political establishment anything, after he beat the chosen replacement for Kay Bailey Hutchison in an underfunded, grassroots driven Republican primary election.}} Cruz was also named "2013 Man of the Year" by conservative publications TheBlaze,{{cite news|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=December 11, 2014|title=Glenn Beck Declares Ted Cruz 'Blaze Man Of The Year'|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/glenn-beck-declares-ted-cruz-blaze-man-year|newspaper=Right Wing Watch|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=People for the American Way|access-date=April 21, 2013}} and The American Spectator,{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Jeffery|date=December 19, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: Man of the Year|url=http://spectator.org/articles/57187/ted-cruz-man-year|newspaper=The American Spectator|location=Arlington, Virginia|publisher=The American Spectator Foundation|access-date=April 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220042532/http://spectator.org/articles/57187/ted-cruz-man-year|archive-date=February 20, 2014|url-status=dead}} "2013 Conservative of the Year" by Townhall,{{cite news|last=Hawkins|first=John|date=December 31, 2014|title=Top 10 Conservatives of 2013|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/12/31/top-10-conservatives-of-2013-n1770176/page/full|website=Townhall.com|access-date=April 21, 2014}} and "2013 Statesman of the Year" by the Republican Party of Sarasota County, Florida.{{cite news|last=Leary|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2014|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Ted Cruz to be honored as 'Statesman of the Year'|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sarasota-gop-to-honor-ted-cruz-to-be-honored-as-statesman-of-the-year/2159965/|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|location=Tampa Bay Metro Area|access-date=April 21, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405133836/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/sarasota-gop-to-honor-ted-cruz-to-be-honored-as-statesman-of-the-year/2159965|archive-date=April 5, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.saintpetersblog.com/sarasota-gop-to-honor-sen-ted-cruz-as-its-statesman-of-the-year|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Sen. Ted Cruz as its 'Statesman of the Year'|last1=Ammann|first1=Phil|date=January 7, 2014|website=saintpetersblog.com|access-date=February 20, 2014}} He was a finalist for Time magazine's "Person of the Year" in 2013.{{cite news|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=December 9, 2013|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/time-magazine-releases-finalists-2013-person-year-award-article-1.1542204|title=TIME magazine releases finalists for 2013 'Person of the Year' award|location=New York |work=Daily News|access-date=April 21, 2014}} To critics, including some Republican colleagues such as Senator Lindsey Graham, the move was ineffective.

Cruz has consistently denied any involvement in the 2013 government shutdown, even though he cast several votes to prolong it and was blamed by many within his own party for prompting it.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/01/22/eyes-roll-ted-cruz-denies-role-2013-government-shutdown-speechless-says-one-senator|title=Eyes roll as Ted Cruz denies role in 2013 government shutdown; 'Speechless' says one senator|date=January 22, 2018|work=Dallas News|access-date=January 23, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/jan/22/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-says-hes-opposed-shutdowns-he-hasnt-alway/|title=Ted Cruz says he's opposed shutdowns, but he hasn't always|work=PolitiFact|access-date=May 10, 2018|language=en}}

{{Main|Public Law 113-100}}

On April 1, 2014, Cruz introduced S. 2195, a bill that would allow the president of the United States to deny visas to any ambassador to the United Nations who has been found to have been engaged in espionage or terrorist activity against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.{{cite web|title=S. 2195 – Summary|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2195|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=April 11, 2014}} The bill was written in response to Iran's choice of Hamid Aboutalebi as its ambassador to the UN.{{cite news|last=Marcos|first=Cristina|title=Congress approves bill banning Iran diplomat|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/203202-house-votes-to-ban-irans-un-ambassador/|access-date=April 11, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 10, 2014}} Aboutalebi was involved in the Iran hostage crisis, in which of a number of American diplomats from the Embassy of the United States, Tehran were held captive in 1979.{{cite news|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=April 2, 2014|title=U.S. Troubled By Iran's Choice Of 1979 Hostage-Taker For U.N. Post|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/02/298412119/u-s-troubled-by-irans-choice-of-1979-hostage-taker-for-u-n-post|publisher=NPR|access-date=November 11, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/irans-reformers-include-more-than-one-former-hostage-taker/|work=The New York Times|first=Robert|last=Mackey|title=Iran's Reformers Include More Than One Former Hostage-Taker|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=April 11, 2014}}

Under the headline "A bipartisan message to Iran", Cruz thanked President Barack Obama for signing S. 2195 into law. The letter, published in the magazine Politico on April 18, 2014, starts with "Thanks to President Obama for joining a unanimous Congress and signing S. 2195 into law". Cruz also thanked senators from both political parties for "swiftly passing this legislation and sending it to the White House".{{cite web|title=A bipartisan message to Iran|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/a-bipartisan-message-to-iran-105837.html#.U1RTecfAJu_|work=Politico Magazine|access-date=April 20, 2014|archive-date=May 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510060033/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/a-bipartisan-message-to-iran-105837.html#.U1RTecfAJu_|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz thanks Obama for denying visas to terrorists|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/20/ted-cruz-thanks-obama-denying-visas-terrorists/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 20, 2014}}{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Writes Thank You Letter To Obama In Politico|url=http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/04/20/ted-cruz-writes-thank-you-letter-obama-politico|publisher=Fox News|access-date=April 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115940/http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/04/20/ted-cruz-writes-thank-you-letter-obama-politico|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}

In his first two years in the Senate, Cruz attended 17 of 50 public Armed Services Committee hearings, 3 of 25 Commerce Committee hearings, and 4 of the 12 Judiciary Committee hearings, and he missed 21 of 135 roll call votes during the first three months of 2015.{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Austin|title=Ted Cruz the senator: Heard but not seen|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html|work=Politico|date=April 21, 2015 |access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422160320/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html|archive-date=April 22, 2015}}

File:Sen Ted Cruz and Carlos Vecchio after Guaido's visit.jpgn Chargé d'Affaires Carlos Vecchio]]

• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation (Ranking)
• Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband
• Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing
• Subcommittee on Space and Science
• Committee on Foreign Relations
• Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy
• Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism
• Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development
• Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues
• Committee on Rules and Administration
• Committee on the Judiciary
• Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism
• Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights
• Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety
• Subcommittee on the Constitution (Ranking)
• Joint Economic Committee{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2021|title=Committee Assignments of the 117th Congress |url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm#CruzTX |access-date=April 3, 2022|agency=United States Senate}}

• Committee on Armed Services (2013–2019)
• Special Committee on Aging (2013–2015)

In a November 2014 Senate speech, Cruz accused President Obama of being "openly desirous to destroy the Constitution and this Republic".Jesse Weiner, [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/ted-cruz-confused-about-cicero/383066/ Ted Cruz: Confused About Cicero: What the Texas Republican misrepresents about treason and politics in the Roman Republic], The Atlantic (November 21, 2014). In the same speech, Cruz invoked the speeches of the ancient Roman senator Cicero against Catiline to denounce Obama's planned executive actions on immigration reform. Classics Professor Jesse Weiner, writing in The Atlantic, said that Cruz's analogy was "deeply disquieting" because "In casting Obama in the role of Catiline, Cruz unsubtly suggests that the sitting president was not lawfully elected and is the perpetrator of a violent insurrection to overthrow the government ... In effect, he accuses the president of high treason. Regardless of one's views on immigration reform and the Obama administration at large, this is dangerous rhetoric."

Cruz has repeatedly said that the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran "will make the Obama administration the world's leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism".Eliza Collins, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-calls-barack-obama-sponsor-terrorism-iran-nuclear-deal-120780 Cruz stands by calling Obama a sponsor of terrorism], Politico (July 29, 2015). In response, Obama called Cruz's statements an example of "outrageous attacks" from Republican critics that crossed the line of responsible discourse: "We've had a sitting senator, who also happens to be running for President, suggest that I'm the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines, but it's not the kind of leadership that is needed for America right now." Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney also criticized Cruz's remarks, writing that although he, too, opposed the Iran agreement, Cruz's statement connecting Obama to terrorism was "way over the line" and "hurts the cause".David Jackson, [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/30/romney-hits-cruz-over-obamaterrorism-claim/ Romney hits Cruz over Obama/terrorism claim], USA Today (July 30, 2015).Alex Griswold, [http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romney-ted-cruz-way-over-the-line-calling-obama-terror-sponsor/ Mitt Romney: Ted Cruz 'Way Over the Line' Calling Obama Terror Sponsor], Mediaite (July 30, 2015).

After the death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Cruz said that the winner of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, rather than Obama, should appoint a new Justice.{{cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=February 13, 2016 |title=Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz says Obama shouldn't appoint the next replacement |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/supreme-court-justice-antonin-scalia-dies-at-79/ted-cruz-president-obama-should-not-name-scalias-successor/ |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 1, 2016}} In June 2016, Cruz blamed the Obama administration for the Orlando nightclub shooting, reasoning that it did not track the perpetrator Omar Mateen properly while he was on the terrorist watch-list.{{cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/20/ted-cruz-colorado-darryl-glenn-obama-orlando-shooting/|title=In Colorado, Cruz backs Glenn, rips Obama over Orlando|date=June 20, 2016|first=John|last=Frank|newspaper=The Denver Post}} Following the terrorist attack on Nice, France, Cruz said in a statement that the country was at risk as a result of the Obama administration having a "willful blindness" to radical Islamists.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/15/ted-cruz-to-obama-after-nice-attack-willful-blindn/|first=Jessica|title=Ted Cruz to Obama after Nice attack: 'Willful blindness is not a policy'|last=Chasmar|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=July 15, 2016}} With the death of Fidel Castro in November, Cruz charged Obama with celebrating and lionizing Castro in public statements he made addressing the death.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-us-officials-attend-fidel-castros-funeral/story?id=43803794|title=Ted Cruz: No U.S. Officials Should Attend Fidel Castro's Funeral|date=November 27, 2016|publisher=ABC News|first=Jessica|last=Hopper}} On December 28, after Secretary of State John Kerry gave a speech defending the U.S.'s decision to allow a U.N. resolution to pass that condemned Israeli settlements "on land meant to be part of a future Palestinian state", Cruz denounced the speech as "disgraceful", and said that history would remember Obama and Kerry as "relentless enemies of Israel". Cruz also accused the Obama administration of having a "radical anti-Israel agenda".{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/marco-rubio-john-kerry-israel-mideast-speech-reaction-233013|title=Rubio, Cruz denounce Kerry's speech on Israel|work=Politico|date=December 28, 2016|first=Yousef|last=Saba}}

File:President Trump and the First Lady in El Paso, Texas (48485015661).jpg in 2019]]Cruz was one of Donald Trump's most vocal critics during the 2016 presidential campaign, with the two often exchanging heated comments directed at each other, and Cruz's family.{{Cite news|title=9 truly awful things Ted Cruz and Donald Trump said about each other|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/23/9-truly-awful-things-that-were-said-between-ted-cruz-and-the-man-hell-now-support-donald-trump/|access-date=2021-05-28|issn=0190-8286}}

After several contentious personal exchanges, on May 3, 2016, Cruz said of Trump:

{{blockquote|This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies...practically every word that comes out of his mouth. And in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology textbook, his response is to accuse everybody else of lying.{{cite web|format=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNRJJsjGdv0|title=Ted Cruz: Donald Trump Is a 'Pathological Liar'|publisher=ABC News|website=youtube.com|date=May 3, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2025|archive-date=October 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005063432/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNRJJsjGdv0 |url-status=live}}}}

But Cruz eventually became an important Trump ally in the Senate.{{cite news|last=Gardner |first=Amy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-period-of-reckoning-ted-cruz-recasts-himself-from-opposition-force-to-trump-ally/2018/05/24/6814cb84-53a0-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html?noredirect=on |title=After period of reckoning, Ted Cruz recasts himself: From opposition force to Trump ally |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 23, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Skibba |first=Ramin |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-ted-cruz-allies-233622 |title=How Cruz and Trump learned to like each other |work=Politico|date=January 13, 2017 |access-date=June 23, 2018}} In late January 2017, Cruz praised Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch as "brilliant and immensely talented" in a written statement.{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/01/31/trump-nominates-neil-gorsuch-supreme-court|title=Trump nominates Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court |date=January 31, 2017|newspaper=Dallas News|first=Jamie|last=Lovegrove}} On February 23, while speaking at the 2017 CPAC, Cruz showed interest in Trump's nomination of a young justice in the mold of Scalia and Clarence Thomas.{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/23/cruz-urges-trump-field-army-scalias-thomases/ |date=February 23, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Times |title=Cruz urges Trump to field 'army of … Scalias and Thomases' |first=Stephen |last=Dinan |access-date=February 24, 2017}} On March 1, he called Trump's joint address to Congress the previous day "positive" and "unifying".{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/1/ted-cruz-donald-trump-speech-positive-unifying-vis/|title=Ted Cruz: Trump's speech a 'positive, unifying vision for the country'|author=Sherfinski, David|date=March 1, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Times}} Cruz said that during his visit to the Mar-a-Lago estate on March 18, he spoke with affiliates of Trump while negotiating the American Health Care Act.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/ted-cruz-trump-health-care-236233|title=Cruz: I negotiated health care at Mar-a-Lago|author=Kullgren, Ian|date=March 19, 2017|work=Politico}} On April 6, shortly after the Shayrat missile strike, he released a statement displaying his interest in having Trump appeal to Congress to take "military action in Syria" to prevent Islamic terrorists from acquiring weapons stored in Syria.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/327745-cruz-trump-should-make-case-for-military-action-in-syria/|title=Cruz: Trump should make the case for military action in Syria|date=April 6, 2017|first=Jesse|last=Byrnes|newspaper=The Hill}}

In April 2018, in the copy accompanying Trump's entry on the Time 100 most influential people of 2017, Cruz wrote, "President Trump is doing what he was elected to do: disrupt the status quo."{{cite web |last1=Cillizza |first1=Chris |title=Ted Cruz's embarrassing ode to Donald Trump is why people hate politicians |date=April 19, 2018 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/19/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-time-magazine/index.html |publisher=CNN|access-date=June 6, 2018}} Cruz's authorship was criticized by Charles Pierce of Esquire,{{cite web |last1=Pierce |first1=Charles |title=The Three Saddest Words I Ever Read in English: By Ted Cruz |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a19864673/cruz-praise-trump-time/ |website=Esquire |date=April 19, 2018 |access-date=June 6, 2018}} Jay Willis of GQ,{{cite magazine |last1=Willis |first1=Jay |title=Ted Cruz's Write-Up on Trump for the TIME 100 Is an Event Horizon for Utter Self-Humiliation |url=https://www.gq.com/story/ted-cruz-trump-event-horizon |magazine=GQ |access-date=June 6, 2018}} and CNN's Chris Cillizza.

Cruz endorsed Trump for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Melhado |first=William |date=2024-01-17 |title=Ted Cruz endorses Donald Trump for president |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/16/ted-cruz-endorsement-donald-trump/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}

Cruz has used harsh rhetoric against fellow Republican politicians, and his relationships with various Republican members of Congress have been strained.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/07/31/ted-cruz-shies-away-from-some-harsh-rhetoric|title=Ted Cruz shies away from some harsh rhetoric|author=Weiner, Rachel|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=September 4, 2020}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/09/ted-cruzs-republican-critics/310577/|title=All of Ted Cruz's Republican Critics|author=Arit, John|work=The Atlantic|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=September 4, 2020}} In 2013, he called Republicans he considered insufficiently resistant to Obama's proposals a "surrender caucus". He also called fellow Republicans "squishes" on gun-control issues during a Tea Party rally. Cruz's role in the United States federal government shutdown of 2013 in particular attracted criticism from a number of Republican colleagues. Republican Senator John McCain was reported to have particularly disliked Cruz; in a Senate floor speech in 2013, McCain denounced Cruz's reference to Nazis when discussing the Affordable Care Act. In March 2013, McCain also called Cruz and others "wacko birds" whose beliefs are not "reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans". During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, John Boehner described Cruz as "Lucifer in the flesh";{{cite news |date=April 28, 2016|last=Rushton|first=Christine|title=John Boehner: Ted Cruz is 'Lucifer in the flesh'|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trailguide-04282016-john-boehner-calls-ted-cruz-lucifer-in-the-flesh-1461850156-htmlstory.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 28, 2016}} in an interview, Lindsey Graham said, "If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you."{{cite news |date=February 26, 2016|last=Treyz|first=Catherine|title=Lindsey Graham jokes about how to get away with murdering Ted Cruz|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/26/politics/lindsey-graham-ted-cruz-dinner/|newspaper=CNN|access-date=April 28, 2016}}

In a heated Senate floor speech in July 2015, Cruz accused Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of telling "a flat-out lie" over his intentions to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which Cruz opposes. "What we just saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over and over again was a simple lie", Cruz said.David Morgan & Richard Cowan, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-cruz-idUSKCN0PY29P20150724 Republican White House hopeful Cruz calls McConnell a liar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118160815/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/24/us-usa-election-cruz-idUSKCN0PY29P20150724 |date=November 18, 2015 }}, Reuters (July 24, 2015). His "incendiary outburst" was "unusual in the cordial atmosphere of the Senate", according to Reuters.Manu Raju, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-says-mitch-mcconnell-lies-export-import-bank-120583 Cruz accuses Mitch McConnell of telling a 'flat-out lie'], Politico (July 24, 2015). In the same speech, Cruz assailed the "Republican majority in both houses of Congresses" for what he called an insufficiently conservative record. His speech, and especially his accusation against McConnell, was condemned by various senior Republican senators, with McCain saying that the speech was "outside the realm of Senate behavior" and "a very wrong thing to do".Ted Barrett, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/26/politics/cruz-senate-mcconnell-lied/ Republicans rebuke Cruz over his charge McConnell lied], CNN (July 27, 2015). Orrin Hatch expressed a similar opinion: "I don't condone the use of that kind of language against another senator unless they can show definitive proof that there was a lie ... And I know the leader didn't lie."Rogers, Alex. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71388/cruz-mcconnell-told-flat-out-lie-conservatives "Cruz: McConnell Told 'Flat-Out Lie' to Conservatives"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219092536/https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71388/cruz-mcconnell-told-flat-out-lie-conservatives |date=February 19, 2016 }}, National Journal (July 24, 2015). Cruz alleged that McConnell scheduled a vote on the Ex-Im Bank as part of a deal to persuade Democrats like Maria Cantwell to stop blocking a trade bill; McConnell denied there was any "deal", and that denial was what Cruz called a "lie". Hatch said McConnell did pledge to help Cantwell get a vote on the Ex-Im Bank.DeBonis, Mike. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ted-cruz-to-gop-leader-you-lied/2015/07/24/6a967690-3225-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html "Ted Cruz to GOP leader: You lied"], The Washington Post (July 24, 2015).

Among Cruz's few close allies in the Senate is Mike Lee of Utah.Jonathan Capehart, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/07/29/how-mitch-mcconnell-went-gangsta-on-ted-cruz-and-mike-lee/ How Mitch McConnell went gangsta on Ted Cruz and Mike Lee], The Washington Post (July 29, 2015).Manu Raju & Burgess Everett, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/senate-obamacare-repeal-ted-cruz-mike-lee-120637 Senate smackdown: Cruz, Lee efforts squelched: The rift between Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz widens], Politico (July 27, 2015). Cruz has expressed pride in his reputation for having few allies, saying in June 2015 that he has been vilified for fighting "the Washington cartel".Todd J. Gillman, [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20150624-cruz-says-hes-vilified-for-fighting-the-washington-cartel.ece Cruz says he's vilified for fighting the 'Washington cartel'], Dallas Morning News (June 24, 2015).

When Boehner resigned from the House in September 2015, Cruz expressed his concern that before resigning Boehner might have "cut a deal with Nancy Pelosi to fund the Obama administration for the rest of its tenure".{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=John Boehner resigns and Ted Cruz gloats|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34355043|access-date=October 17, 2015|publisher=BBC News|date=September 25, 2015|ref=boehner_resigns}} The next month, the budget agreement passed in the House by a vote of 266 to 187, with unanimous support from Democrats and Boehner, lifting the debt ceiling through March 2017. Cruz called the agreement "complete and utter surrender".Arkin, James. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/10/29/house_passes_budget_debt_ceiling_agreement_128586.html "House Passes Budget, Debt Ceiling Agreement"], Real Clear Politics (October 29, 2015).

Cruz is one of the Senate Republicans in favor of the "nuclear option", "to speed up consideration of President Trump's nominees". Changing the Senate's rules to a simple majority vote would "ensure a quicker pace on Trump's court picks".{{cite web|last1=Bolton|first1=Alexander|title=GOP faces internal battle over changing Senate rules|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/386233-gop-faces-internal-battle-over-changing-senate-rules/|website=The Hill|date=May 6, 2018|access-date=May 24, 2018}}

In September 2020, Trump included Cruz on a shortlist, alongside fellow Senators Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley, for possible appointment to the Supreme Court. Cruz declined consideration for the position.{{cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/14/ted-cruz-supreme-court/|title=Ted Cruz says he doesn't want to join the Supreme Court after being shortlisted by Trump|first=Patrick|last=Svitek|work=The Texas Tribune|date=September 14, 2020|access-date=December 7, 2020}}

Cruz backed a failed appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court attempting to overturn or nullify the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania filed by U.S. Representative Mike Kelly, which argued that the Pennsylvania Constitution requires in-person voting except in narrow and defined circumstances; the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania had already rejected this argument.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/sen-cruz-urges-u-s-supreme-court-to-hear-emergency-appeal-on-pennsylvania-election-challenge/|title=Sen. Cruz Urges U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Emergency Appeal On Pennsylvania Election Challenge|publisher=KTVT|date=December 2, 2020|access-date=December 7, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://fusion.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-election-lawsuits-mike-kelly-scotus-alito-trump-biden-20201206.html|title=U.S. Supreme Court moves up deadline in congressman's bid to upend Pa. election results|first=Jeremy|last=Roebuck|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=December 6, 2020|access-date=December 7, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/43018710/texas-sen-ted-cruz-to-join-rep-mike-kellys-legal-team-if-supreme-court-hears-election-challenge-lawyer-confirms|title=Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to join Rep. Mike Kelly's legal team if Supreme Court hears election challenge, lawyer confirms|first=Matt|last=Knoedler|publisher=WICU-TV|date=December 7, 2020|access-date=December 7, 2020}} The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case or issue an injunction and Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes were cast for Joe Biden.{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/12/08/Pa-officials-kathy-boockvar-tom-wolf-ask-U-S-Supreme-Court-deny-Mike-Kelly-s-election-lawsuit/stories/202012080116|title=U.S. Supreme Court denies Republican appeal to block Pa. election results|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |first=Julian|last=Routh|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=January 16, 2021}} Cruz later led an effort by a group of Republican senators to refuse to count Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes,{{Cite web|last=Treene|first=Alayna|title=Multiple senators are planning to object to certifying the 2020 presidential election|url=https://www.axios.com/multiple-senators-oppose-certify-election-results-c5f0610c-91e0-4431-abbe-91b4d860dfd4.html|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=Axios|date=January 2, 2021|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Pengelly|first=Martin|date=January 2, 2021|title=Ted Cruz and other Republican senators oppose certifying election results|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/02/ted-cruz-republican-senators-reject-election-result-biden-trump|access-date=January 2, 2021|issn=0261-3077}} citing baseless allegations of fraud.{{Cite news|date=January 3, 2021|title=Cruz, cadre of other GOP senators vow not to certify Biden win without probe of baseless voter fraud claims|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Colby|last1=Itkowitz|first2=Mike|last2=DeBonis|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/02/cruz-johnson-9-other-gop-senators-say-they-will-not-vote-certify-electors-unless-audit-is-conducted/|access-date=January 16, 2021}} He attacked critics of his attempts to challenge the election results for using "angry language", suggesting that they were increasing tensions amid a volatile situation.{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=David |date=3 January 2021 |title=Ted Cruz urges critics of presidential election challenge to calm down |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/03/ted-cruz-presidential-election-challenge-calm-down-453842 |work=Politico |access-date=31 March 2024}}

{{Main|2021 United States Electoral College vote count|January 6 United States Capitol attack}}

As part of the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton filed a suit with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to have election results in four states nullified. Cruz, who had previously argued nine cases before the Supreme Court, agreed to Trump's request to argue the Paxton suit should it come before the Court, though it did not. Cruz also garnered the support of ten other senators for a plan by his decades-long friend, Trump attorney John Eastman, to delay the January 6 electoral vote certification for ten days to allow Republican legislatures in six key states Biden had won to consider submitting slates of Trump electors, based on false allegations of widespread voting fraud. Cruz said he was he was "leading the charge" to prevent Biden's certification as president.{{cite news |last1=Kranish |first1=Michael |title=Inside Ted Cruz's last-ditch battle to keep Trump in power |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/28/ted-cruz-john-eastman-jan6-committee/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 28, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Farley |first1=Robert |title=Cruz's Record Before the Supreme Court |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2016/03/cruzs-record-before-the-supreme-court/ |website=FactCheck.org |date=March 3, 2016}}

On January 6, 2021, during the debate about whether Congress should accept Arizona's electoral votes, Cruz said that 39% of Americans believed the 2020 presidential election was rigged, but that "I am not arguing for setting aside the result of this election".{{cite news |last1=Bump |first1=Philip |title=Ted Cruz's electoral vote speech will live in infamy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/06/ted-cruzs-electoral-vote-speech-will-live-infamy/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=January 6, 2021}} Some observers think Cruz knew claims about fraud in the election were inaccurate and that this speech and his earlier statements were attempts to mislead for political gain. 39% of Americans said they "strongly" or "somewhat agree" that "I am concerned that the election is rigged"; an Ipsos spokesman noted that only 28% agreed the outcome was "the result of illegal voting or election rigging".{{cite web |last1=Valverde |first1=Miriam |title='39% of Americans ... 31% of independents ... 17% of Democrats believe the election was rigged.' |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jan/06/ted-cruz/ted-cruzs-misleading-statement-people-who-believe-/ |website=PolitiFact |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=January 6, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Kahn |first1=Chris |title=Half of Republicans say Biden won because of a 'rigged' election: Reuters/Ipsos poll |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-poll/half-of-republicans-say-biden-won-because-of-a-rigged-election-reuters-ipsos-poll-idUSKBN27Y1AJ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=November 18, 2020 |quote=The 28% who said they thought the election was "the result of illegal voting or election rigging" is up 12 points from four years ago.}}

Congress's counting of the Electoral College votes was interrupted by an insurrectionist mob that stormed the United States Capitol after a rally near the White House. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people, including a police officer.{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Marc |title=The four-hour insurrection |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2021/politics/trump-insurrection-capitol/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=January 7, 2021}}

When Congress reconvened that evening to continue the count, Cruz voted to object to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes.{{Cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|title=Analysis {{!}} Ted Cruz's electoral vote speech will live in infamy|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/06/ted-cruzs-electoral-vote-speech-will-live-infamy/|access-date=January 8, 2021|issn=0190-8286}} The Senate rejected these objections by 93–6 and 92–7, respectively.{{Cite web|agency=U.S. Senate|date=January 7, 2021|title=Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 1st Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_117_1.htm|access-date=January 7, 2021|publisher=U.S. Senate |language=en-US}} The Texas Democratic Party called on Cruz to resign, saying that his efforts to block Biden's lawful victory empowered the Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol.{{cite web |title=Texas Democrats call for Sen. Ted Cruz's resignation for 'acting in bad faith' |url=https://abc13.com/politics/texas-democrats-call-for-cruzs-resignation-after-capitol-chaos/9422588/ |publisher=KTRK-TV |location=Houston |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021}} The Texas Democratic Party also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to open an official investigation into Cruz for inciting sedition and treason.{{Cite web|date=January 7, 2021|title=Ted Cruz accused of abetting sedition and inspiring pro-Trump riot by resisting Biden's victory|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/01/06/ted-cruz-accused-of-abetting-sedition-and-inspiring-pro-trump-riot-by-resisting-bidens-victory/|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=Dallas News|first=Todd J.|last=Gillman|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=January 7, 2021|title=Texas Democrats call on Ted Cruz to resign from U.S. Senate|url=https://www.ktsm.com/local/texas-democrats-call-on-ted-cruz-to-resign-from-u-s-senate/|access-date=January 7, 2021|publisher=KTSM |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=AOC, Texas Democrats Call for Ted Cruz to Resign|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2021/01/07/in-wake-of-violence-at-capitol--texas-democrats-call-for-ted-cruz-to-resign-|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en}} The Houston Chronicle called for Cruz to resign.{{Cite web|title=Editorial: Resign, Senator Cruz. Your lies cost lives.|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Resign-Senator-Cruz-Your-lies-cost-15857293.php|access-date=January 8, 2021|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}} The San Antonio Express-News called for Cruz to be expelled from the Senate.{{Cite web|title=Editorial: Impeachment for Trump, Expulsion for Cruz|url=https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Impeachment-for-Trump-expulsion-for-15856860.php|access-date=January 10, 2021|website=Houston Chronicle|date=January 9, 2021|language=en-US}} Thousands of lawyers and law students called for him to be disbarred for inciting the insurrection.{{cite news |title=Nearly 6,000 lawyers and law students call for disbarment proceedings against Cruz and Hawley |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/533604-nearly-6000-lawyers-and-law-students-call-for-disbarment-proceedings-against/ |access-date=January 11, 2021 |work=The Hill|first=Zack|last=Budryk}} President-elect Biden and Republican senator Pat Toomey both said Cruz was complicit in the "big lie" of Trump's allegations of voter fraud.{{cite news |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |last2=Luscombe |first2=Richard |date=January 10, 2021 |title='Complicit in big lie': Republican senators Hawley and Cruz face calls to resign |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/10/capitol-attack-republican-senators-josh-hawley-ted-cruz-face-resign |access-date=January 23, 2021 |work=The Guardian|language=en}} Republican operative Chad Sweet, the chair of Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign, denounced Cruz for "assault on our democracy".{{cite news |last=Gillman|first=Todd J.|date=January 10, 2021|title=Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign chair denounces him for 'assault on our democracy' after Capitol riot |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/01/10/ted-cruzs-2016-presidential-campaign-chair-denounces-him-for-assault-on-democracy-after-capitol-riot/ |access-date=January 11, 2021 |work=Dallas News}} Several corporations halted donations to Cruz and other Republicans who voted to overturn the election based on Trump's false claims.{{cite news |title=Corporate America halts donations to Republicans who voted to overturn the election |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/10/business/citigroup-bluecross-commerce-bank-pac-donations/index.html |access-date=January 11, 2021 |publisher=CNN}}{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Other GOP Objectors Face Donation Boycott From Major Businesses |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-josh-hawley-other-gop-objectors-face-donation-boycott-major-businesses-1560333 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |work=Newsweek}}{{cite news |last=Gabbatt |first=Adam |date=2021-01-12 |title=Capitol attack prompts top US firms to pull funding for leading Republicans |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/12/us-companies-political-funding-republicans-capitol-riot |access-date=January 12, 2021 |work=The Guardian}} Lauren Blair Bianchi, Cruz's communications director, resigned.{{cite news |last1=Bowden |first1=John |title=Cruz aide resigns following violence at Capitol |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/533859-cruz-aide-resigns-following-violence-at-capitol/ |access-date=January 14, 2021 |work=The Hill |date=January 12, 2021 |language=en}}

On May 28, 2021, Cruz voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the riot.{{cite web |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 21, 2021 |title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/ |access-date=May 29, 2021 |last1=Stevenson |first1=Peter W. |last2=Blanco |first2=Adrian |last3=Santamariña |first3=Daniela}} On the eve of the anniversary of the attack, he was recorded on video calling it a "violent terrorist attack", which drew sharp criticism from Fox News host Tucker Carlson on his program that night. Cruz appeared on Carlson's program the next night to apologize for that comment as "frankly dumb" and "sloppy". The next day CNN reported that Cruz had characterized the attack as terrorism at least 17 times during the preceding year.{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |title='Sloppy' wording this week? Ted Cruz actually called the Capitol assault a terrorist attack at least 17 previous times |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/07/politics/fact-check-ted-cruz-capitol-terrorist-attack/index.html |publisher=CNN|date=January 7, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Fox host spars with Ted Cruz on live TV over Jan. 6th. Keilar rolls the tape |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2022/01/07/ted-cruz-fox-news-tucker-carlson-january-6-comments-newday-vpx.cnn |publisher=CNN|date=January 7, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Cilliza |first1=Christopher |title=Ted Cruz told the truth about the 1/6 attack. Then he started backtracking. |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/07/politics/ted-cruz-jan-6-terrorist-attack-capitol/index.html |publisher=CNN|date=January 7, 2022 |access-date=8 January 2022}} Despite his attempts to downplay the incident, Cruz was widely condemned by pro-Trump Republicans—especially Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene{{cite web |last1=Sheth |first1=Sonam |last2=Metzger |first2=Bryan |title=Rep. Matt Gaetz taunts Sen. Ted Cruz and says 'you can bend over' but 'the establishment will never love you' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gaetz-cruz-you-can-bend-over-establishment-wont-love-you-2022-1 |website=Business Insider}}—for his comments.

{{see also|2021 Texas power crisis}}

In February 2021, during a historic winter storm, up to 4.3 million Texas residents were left without power and millions of others without drinking water, including Cruz and his family. In the middle of the storm, Cruz and his family were spotted on a plane heading to Cancún, Mexico, where they planned to stay at the luxury Ritz Carlton hotel and escape their home, which Heidi Cruz called in a text message "FREEZING".{{Cite news|last1=Goldmacher|first1=Shane|last2=Fandos|first2=Nicholas|author-link2=Nicholas Fandos|date=February 18, 2021|title=Ted Cruz's Cancún Trip: Family Texts Detail His Political Blunder|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/us/politics/ted-cruz-storm-cancun.html|access-date=February 19, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Barrabi|first=Thomas|date=February 18, 2021|title=Ted Cruz's wife, Heidi, invited neighbors to join Cancun trip in leaked texts: Report|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ted-cruz-wife-heidi-invited-neighbors-join-cancun-trip-in-leaked-texts-report|access-date=February 19, 2021|publisher=Fox News|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|first1=Maanvi|last1=Singh|first2=Joan E.|last2=Greve|date=February 19, 2021|title=Texas storm: Ted Cruz defends trip to Mexico as power outages continue – as it happened|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/feb/18/texas-storm-blackouts-water-us-politics-live-joe-biden-covid-coronavirus-latest-updates|access-date=February 19, 2021|issn=0261-3077}} Cruz requested that the Houston police escort him and his family through the airport.[https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/Houston-Police-confirms-officers-escorted-Ted-15960754.php Houston Police confirms officers monitored Sen. Ted Cruz, family through IAH], Houston Chronicle, 18 February 2021

Cruz left the family poodle, Snowflake, alone inside the house without heat; reporters saw the dog through the window of the front door of the dark and empty house.{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=Michael |date=February 19, 2021 |title=Ted Cruz Abandons Millions of Freezing Texans and His Poodle, Snowflake |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/02/ted-cruz-flees-texas-for-cancun-ditches-family-poodle.html |website=New York Intelligencer |access-date=February 20, 2021}} Later, a self-identified security guard told a reporter he was caring for the dog.{{Cite web|last=Hardy|first=Michael|date=February 19, 2021|title=Ted Cruz Abandons Millions of Freezing Texans and His Poodle, Snowflake|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/02/ted-cruz-flees-texas-for-cancun-ditches-family-poodle.html|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=New York Intelligencer|language=en-us}}

Cruz's political allies and rivals condemned him for leaving Texas during a crisis and traveling internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruz initially said he was taking his daughters on a weeklong vacation from school at their request, in an attempt to be a "good dad".{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/sen-ted-cruz-responds-media-reports-flying-cancun/story?id=75973763 |title=Ted Cruz back in Texas after facing backlash for flying to Cancun amid brutal weather |publisher=ABC News|date=February 19, 2021|last1=Lenthang|first1=Marlene|last2=Khan|first2=Mariam|last3=Siegel|first3=Benjamin}} Later that day, he returned to Texas, after allowing his family to stay in Mexico, saying that the vacation was a mistake.{{Cite web|last=Barrabi|first=Thomas|date=February 18, 2021|title=Cruz admits Cancun trip 'obviously a mistake' as he returns to find protesters outside his Texas home|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/protestors-gather-ted-cruz-home-texas-senator-returns-from-cancun-trip|access-date=February 19, 2021|publisher=Fox News|language=en-US}} Protesters calling for his resignation greeted him in front of his house upon his return.{{Cite news|date=February 19, 2021|title=Protesters Outside Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's Home Demand His Resignation|work=Bloomberg Quicktake: Now|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDTQWyHjRY&ab_channel=BloombergQuicktake%3ANow |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/zKDTQWyHjRY |archive-date=2021-10-28|access-date=February 22, 2021}}{{cbignore}} After returning from Cancún, Cruz volunteered in Houston to help with recovery efforts.{{cite web |last1=Kingery |first1=Jerrod |title=Amid Cancun trip backlash, Sen. Ted Cruz volunteers for storm recovery efforts in Houston |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/amid-cancun-trip-backlash-sen-ted-cruz-volunteers-for-storm-recovery-efforts-in-houston |publisher=KEYE |access-date=23 February 2021 |date=22 February 2021}}

{{Main|Ted Cruz 2016 presidential campaign}}

{{Further|2016 United States presidential election|2016 Republican Party presidential primaries}}

File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg

As early as 2013, Cruz was widely expected to run for the presidency in 2016.{{cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=September 13, 2013|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dont-underestimate-rand-paul-as-a-2016-presidential-contender/2013/09/15/1c2925c6-1e1c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Rand Paul, 2016 Republican front-runner|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 28, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=September 25, 2013|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|title=Ted Cruz's First 2016 Campaign Ad Is Over 21 Hours Long|newspaper=The Atlantic Wire|access-date=September 28, 2013|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012055512/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Metzler|first=Rebekah|date=September 27, 2013|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/27/poll-ted-cruz-leads-2016-gop-field |title=Poll: Ted Cruz Leads 2016 GOP Field|newspaper=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=September 28, 2013}} On March 14, 2013, he gave the keynote speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/2016-rubio-paul-et-al-court-cpac-crowd-88884.html|title=CPAC 2013: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul fight for the future of the GOP|last=Romano|first=Lois |newspaper=Politico|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=March 14, 2013}} He tied for 7th place in the 2013 CPAC straw poll on March 16, winning 4% of the votes cast.{{cite news|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll; Rubio close second|last=Montanaro|first=Domenico|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17341131-rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-rubio-close-second|publisher=NBC News|date=March 16, 2013|access-date=July 21, 2013}} In October 2013, Cruz won the Values Voter Summit presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Dominates Republican Straw Poll|author=Rayman, Noah|url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/10/13/ted-cruz-dominates-republican-straw-poll/|magazine=Time|date=October 13, 2013|access-date=January 23, 2014}} Cruz finished first in two presidential straw polls conducted in 2014 with 30.33% of the vote at the Republican Leadership Conference{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins presidential straw poll at Republican Leadership Conference |last=Finnegan|first=Conor|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601020257/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 1, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=May 31, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014}} and 43% of the vote at the Republican Party of Texas state convention.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins Texas GOP's presidential straw poll, Rick Perry finishes distant fourth|last=Jeffers|first=Gromer|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=June 7, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=April 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414082936/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|url-status=dead}}

Cruz did speaking events in mid-2013 across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, all early primary states, leading to further speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a 2016 bid.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724021319/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2013|title=Cruz tries to sidestep 2016 question|last=Killough|first=Ashley|publisher=CNN|date=July 21, 2013|access-date=July 21, 2013}} Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin described Cruz as the first potential presidential candidate to emphasize originalism as a major national issue.

On April 12, 2014, Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by Americans for Prosperity and Citizens United.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/12/cruz-and-paul-greeted-by-cheers-at-tea-partys-2016-warm-up/|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Jaime|last=Fuller|access-date=April 16, 2014}} The event was attended by several potential presidential candidates.{{cite news|title=Freedom Summit draws GOP hopefuls to N.H.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedom-summit-draws-gop-hopefuls-to-nh/2014/04/12/8a5225f8-c262-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 16, 2014|first=Jaime|last=Fuller|date=April 12, 2014}} In his speech, Cruz mentioned that Latinos, young people and single mothers are the people most affected by the recession, and that the Republican Party should make outreach efforts to these constituents. He also said that the words "growth and opportunity" should be tattooed on the hands of every Republican politician.

Cruz delivered one of many State of the Union responses in January 2015.{{cite news|last1=Breitman|first1=Kendall|title=Ted Cruz flubs, deletes YouTube response to Obama|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/ted-cruz-response-youtube-state-union-114434|access-date=March 7, 2018|work=Politico|date=January 21, 2015}}

On March 23, 2015, Cruz started his 2016 presidential campaign for the Republican primaries and caucuses, in a morning speech delivered at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.{{cite news|title=Transcript: Ted Cruz's Speech at Liberty University|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-ted-cruzs-speech-at-liberty-university/2015/03/23/41c4011a-d168-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html|access-date=March 23, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 23, 2015}} Also, at the same hour, he posted on his Twitter page: "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!"{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|access-date=March 23, 2015|publisher=NBC News|date=March 23, 2015}} He was the first major Republican presidential candidate for the 2016 campaign.{{cite news |last=Schleifer|first=Theodore|date=March 21, 2015|title=Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150894.php|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|location=Houston, Texas|access-date=March 22, 2015|quote=Cruz will launch a presidential bid outright rather than form an exploratory committee, said senior advisers with direct knowledge of his plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made yet. They say he is done exploring and is now ready to become the first Republican presidential candidate.}}{{cite news |last1=Corasaniti |first1=Nick |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html|newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, New York |access-date=March 23, 2015 }} During the primary campaign, his base of support was mainly among social conservatives, though he had crossover appeal to other factions within his party, including in particular libertarian conservatives.{{cite news |last=Zitner |first=Aaron |date=January 4, 2016 |title=Poll Points to Upside for Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio in GOP Race |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/poll-points-to-upside-for-ted-cruz-marco-rubio-in-gop-race-1451956770 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=New York |access-date=February 5, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cato.org/blog/ted-cruz-speech-nods-increasing-libertarian-views-within-republican-party|title=Ted Cruz Speech Nods to Increasing Libertarian Views within Republican Party|publisher=Cato Institute|access-date=March 6, 2016}}

HarperCollins published Cruz's book A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America on June 30, 2015.{{cite book|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America: Ted Cruz: 9780062365613: Amazon.com: Books|isbn=978-0062365613|last1=Cruz|first1=Ted|date=June 30, 2015 |publisher=HarperCollins }} The book reached the bestseller list of several organizations in its first week of release.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/amazon-no-evidence-of-bulk-sales-for-ted-cruz-book-210374.html|title=Amazon: 'No evidence' of bulk sales for Cruz book|last=Byers|first=Dylan|date=July 13, 2015|work=Politico}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-13/new-york-times-defends-ban-of-ted-cruz-s-book-from-bestseller-list|title=NYT Defends Exclusion of Ted Cruz's Book: 'We Are Confident'|date=July 13, 2015|work=Bloomberg.com |first=Elizabeth|last=Titus}}

File:US Senator of Texas Ted Cruz at FITN in Nashua, NH 07.jpg, on April 17, 2015]]

In the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Cruz received over 7.8 million votes,{{cite web |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/R |title=Republican Convention |work=The Green Papers |first=Richard E. |last=Berg-Andersson |access-date=July 6, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/republican_vote_count.html|title=RealClearPolitics - 2016 Republican Popular Vote|work=RealClearPolitics |access-date=October 1, 2016}} won 12 states, and earned 559 delegates.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/delegate-count-tracker|title=2016 Delegate Count Tracker: 2016 Election|work=Politico|access-date=October 1, 2016}} He raised nearly $92 million, a record for a Republican primary candidate, much of it from small online donors. The Cruz campaign had more than 325,000 volunteers.{{cite news |last=Thrush |first=Glenn |date=July 18, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz contemplates the unthinkable |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/ted-talks-hes-not-ready-to-endorse-yet-225690 |newspaper=Politico |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=July 18, 2016 |quote=The first-term senator won 8 million votes, 600 delegates and 12 states. He raised nearly $92 million — a record for a GOP primary candidate, much of it from small online donors. He ran by far the best ground operation of any GOP campaign this year, with more than 325,000 volunteers flocking to Cruz's call for a grass-roots Republican renewal.}}

On February 1, 2016, Cruz won the Iowa caucuses. The Iowa win made him the first Hispanic to win either a presidential primary election or caucus.{{cite news |date=February 1, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz makes history, becomes first Hispanic to win Iowa caucus |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/02/01/iowans-to-choose-trump-aggressiveness-cruz-conservatism-or-rubio-moderation/ |newspaper=FOX News Latino |location=New York |access-date=March 22, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Borchers |first=Callum |date=February 3, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz is the first Latino to win a caucus or primary. Why isn't that a bigger deal? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/03/ted-cruz-is-the-first-latino-to-win-a-caucus-or-primary-why-isnt-that-a-bigger-deal/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=March 22, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=February 2, 2016 |title=Iowa caucus results: Ted Cruz wins, Hillary Clinton declares victory |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/iowa-caucuses-2016-highlights/index.html |publisher=CNN|location=Atlanta, Georgia |access-date=February 6, 2016|quote=Cruz's victory sets him up as a formidable force in delegate-rich, Southern states to come and offers movement conservatives hope that one of their own can become the Republican nominee for the first time since Ronald Reagan.}} He received 28% of the vote. On February 10, Cruz placed third in the New Hampshire primary, with about 12% of the vote.{{cite news |date=February 10, 2016 |title=New Hampshire Republican Primary |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/elections/2016/primaries/republican/new-hampshire/ |publisher=CBS News |location=New York |access-date=February 10, 2016}} On February 21, he placed third in the South Carolina Republican primary with about 22.3% of the vote.{{cite news |last=Mihalik |first=Lily |date=February 20, 2016 |title=Live results from the 2016 South Carolina GOP primary |url=http://graphics.latimes.com/election-2016-south-carolina-results/ |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles, California |access-date=February 21, 2016 }}

On March 1, 2016, Super Tuesday, Cruz won Texas by 17%, along with Alaska and Oklahoma, providing him with four state primary victories total.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/clinton-sanders-trump-score-early-wins-super-tuesday-n529496|title=Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Score Big Super Tuesday Primary Wins|first=Andrew|last=Rafferty|date=March 2, 2016|publisher=NBC News}} In the Texas primary, he received the most votes in all but six of the state's 254 counties.{{cite news |last=McCullough |first=Jolie |date=March 2, 2016 |title=Cruz, Clinton Grab Most Votes in Almost Every Texas County |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2016/03/02/cruz-clinton-grab-most-votes-almost-every-county/ |newspaper=Texas Tribune |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=March 2, 2016|quote=With 100% of precincts reporting, Cruz, came away with 1,239,158 votes, or 43.8% of the total. Donald Trump followed behind with 757,489 votes, or 26.7% of the vote. Cruz, one of the state's two U.S. senators, got the most votes in all but six of the state's 254 counties.}} On March 5, Cruz won the Kansas and Maine caucuses, giving him six statewide wins.[http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article64216282.html Cruz Easily Wins Kansas Republican Caucuses], Kansas City Star, March 5, 2016.{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=March 5, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Wins Kansas Caucuses as 5 States Vote on 'Super Saturday' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/us/politics/primary-elections.html|newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York |access-date=March 5, 2016|quote=Senator Ted Cruz scored a hard-fought and decisive win in the Kansas caucuses on Saturday, demonstrating his enduring appeal among conservatives as he tries to reel in Donald J. Trump's significant lead in the Republican presidential race.}}{{cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=March 5, 2016 |title=Cruz Goes Two for Four, Wins Kansas, Maine |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2016/03/05/cruz-wins-kansas-caucuses-other-states-pending/ |newspaper=Texas Tribune |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=March 6, 2016 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225092349/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/03/05/cruz-wins-kansas-caucuses-other-states-pending/ |url-status=dead }}

Cruz won his widest margin up to that point in Kansas, where he beat front-runner Donald Trump by 25 points.Levine, Sam. [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kansas-republican-caucus-results-ted-cruz_us_56d7682ee4b0000de4035121 Ted Cruz Crushes At Kansas Republican Caucus], HuffPost, March 5, 2016. With his victories over Trump in Texas, Kansas, and Maine, he established himself as the candidate with the best opportunity to defeat Trump, the leading contender for the nomination.Easley, Jonathan. [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/271951-cruz-on-trumps-heels-after-super-saturday-victories/ Cruz on Trump's heels after victories on Super Saturday], The Hill, March 6, 2016.{{cite news |last=Paceap |first=Julie |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Some in GOP start seeing Cruz as best alternative to Trump |url=https://apnews.com/c951f3ce70d44811b9a3b3188401d9d1 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |newspaper=Associated Press |location=}}

On March 8, 2016, Cruz won the Idaho primary with 45% of vote—defeating Trump by 17% and earning his seventh statewide victory.{{cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=March 8, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Wins Idaho, Places Second in Three Other States |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2016/03/08/cruz-fights-2nd-mich-set-runner-miss/ |newspaper=Texas Tribune |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=March 9, 2016|quote=U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday night won the Idaho GOP presidential primary while placing second in three other states, continuing to demonstrate viability against frontrunner Donald Trump.}} He placed second in Michigan, Mississippi, and Hawaii. On March 12, Cruz won the Wyoming county conventions with 67% of the vote and 9 delegates, giving him his eighth statewide win.{{cite news |date=March 13, 2016 |title=Cruz crushes Trump in Wyoming Republican caucus |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/773219/cruz-crushes-trump-in-wyoming-republican-caucus |access-date=March 13, 2016|quote=With all votes counted, Texas Senator Cruz won 66.3 percent of the ballots in the western state, far ahead of his nearest rival, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who earned 19.5 percent of the vote.}} On March 22, Cruz won the Utah Caucus with 69.2% of the vote, versus John Kasich with 16.8% and Trump with 14%.[http://graphics.latimes.com/election-2016-utah-results/ Results from the Utah caucuses], Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2016. Because he surpassed the 50% winner-take-all threshold, he won all 40 of Utah's delegates. This win was his ninth. On April 3, North Dakota elected a slate of delegates dominated by pro-Cruz delegates. Cruz received the support of the majority of the delegates.{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/ND-R|title=North Dakota Republican Delegation 2016|work=thegreenpapers.com|access-date=October 1, 2016}}

On April 6, 2016, Cruz won the Wisconsin primary with 48.2% of the vote to Trump's 35.1%. It was Cruz's tenth statewide win. He won 36 of the 42 delegates available in Wisconsin. Trump received the other six. On April 2 and 7–9, Cruz swept the Colorado congressional district and state conventions, taking all 34 delegates.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/colorado-loss-reveals-chaotic-overwhelmed-trump-campaign-n552781|title=Colorado Loss Reveals Chaotic, Overwhelmed Trump Campaign|last=Sarlin|first=Benjy|publisher=NBC News|date=April 8, 2016|access-date=January 9, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2016/04/02/ted-cruz-wins-colorado-delegates-donald-trump/125427/|title=Ted Cruz wins first 6 Colorado delegates, Donald Trump shut out|work=The Spot|access-date=April 17, 2016|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812123440/http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2016/04/02/ted-cruz-wins-colorado-delegates-donald-trump/125427/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/09/us/politics/ted-cruz-wins-majority-of-delegates-in-colorado.html|title=Ted Cruz Wins Majority of Delegates in Colorado|first=Jeremy W.|last=Peters|date=April 9, 2016|work=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/election/ci_29746409/ted-cruz-controls-state-gop-convention-fiery-stump-speech|title=Ted Cruz dominates Colorado GOP convention winning all 34 delegates|first1=John|last1=Frank|first2=Joey|last2=Bunch|work=The Denver Post|date=April 9, 2016}} This gave Cruz his 11th state win. On April 16, Cruz won all 14 of Wyoming's at-large delegates in the state convention. This secured the majority of state delegates, giving Cruz his 12th state win.{{cite web|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_WYOMING_WYOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205062223/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_WYOMING_WYOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2019|title=News from The Associated Press}} On April 27, he said that, if he were selected as the party's nominee, he would choose former CEO of HP and fellow 2016 Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as his vice-presidential running mate.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cruz-announces-fiorina-as-choice-for-running-mate|title=Cruz announces Fiorina as choice for running mate|date=April 27, 2016|publisher=Fox News|access-date=June 6, 2016}} Shortly after losing overwhelmingly to Trump in the Indiana primary on May 3, Cruz suspended his campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/us/politics/ted-cruz.html|title=Ted Cruz Ends His Campaign for President|last=Flegenheimer|first=Matt|date=May 3, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 3, 2016}}

{{Main|Ted Cruz 2016 presidential campaign#Eligibility}}

{{Further|Natural-born-citizen clause (United States)}}

Cruz has said that when he was a child, his mother told him that she would have to formally request Canadian citizenship for him, so he and his family had always assumed he was not a Canadian citizen. In August 2013, after the Dallas Morning News pointed out that he had dual Canadian-American citizenship,{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=December 28, 2013|title=Ted Cruz says he's hired lawyers to renounce Canadian citizenship|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131228-ted-cruz-says-hes-hired-lawyers-to-renounce-canadian-citizenship.ece|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=A. H. Belo|access-date=December 30, 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Michelle Ye Hee|first1=Lee|title=Cruz says it's 'clear and straightforward' that he's a natural-born U.S. citizen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/10/cruz-says-its-clear-and-straightforward-that-hes-a-natural-born-u-s-citizen/|access-date=January 10, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 10, 2015}} he applied to formally renounce his Canadian citizenship and ceased being a citizen of Canada on May 14, 2014.{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2014|title=No, Canada: Sen. Ted Cruz has formally shed his dual citizenship|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=A. H. Belo|access-date=June 10, 2014|quote=Alberta-born Sen. Ted Cruz has given up his Canadian dual citizenship. The renunciation became official on May 14, roughly 9 months after he learned he wasn't only an American.|archive-date=September 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918102441/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/19/cruz-will-renounce-canadian-citizenship/|title=Cruz Will Renounce Canadian Citizenship|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 20, 2013}}

Several lawsuits and ballot challenges asserting that Cruz was ineligible to become U.S. president were filed at the time.{{cite news|url=http://www.unionleader.com/Primary_Ballot_Commission_upholds_candidates|title=BLC upholds Sanders, Trump on primary ballots|first=Dan|last=Tuohy|date=November 24, 2015|work=Union Leader|access-date=February 18, 2016|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813074954/http://www.unionleader.com/Primary_Ballot_Commission_upholds_candidates|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Blaisdell|first=Eric|date=January 1, 2016|title=Vermonter tries to keep names off presidential ballot|url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160101/NEWS03/160109989|work=Rutland Herald|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219082825/http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160101/NEWS03/160109989|archive-date=February 19, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/rubio-seeks-to-dismiss-court-challenge-to-his-eligibility-to-be-president/2261269/|title=Marco Rubio seeks to dismiss court challenge to his eligibility to be president|last=Leary|first=Alex|date=January 14, 2016|work=Tampa Bay Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219092734/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/rubio-seeks-to-dismiss-court-challenge-to-his-eligibility-to-be-president/2261269|archive-date=February 19, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://fox13now.com/2016/01/26/a-utah-man-is-suing-ted-cruz-claiming-hes-not-a-natural-born-citizen/|title=Utah man suing Ted Cruz claiming he's not a natural-born citizen|author=Ben Winslow and Max Roth|date=January 26, 2016|publisher=KSTU}}{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/is_ted_cruz_eligible_for_potus.html|title=Alabama residents' lawsuit claims Ted Cruz ineligible to run for president|first=Howard|last=Koplowitz|date=February 5, 2016|work=The Birmingham News}}{{cite news|url=http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/lawsuit-remove-cruz-and-rubio-from-ark-ballot|title=Lawsuit: Remove Cruz and Rubio from Ark. Ballot|first=Curt|last=Lanning|date=February 8, 2016|publisher=KARK-TV|access-date=February 18, 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630053232/http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/lawsuit-remove-cruz-and-rubio-from-ark-ballot|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|title=Cruz's 'Natural-Born Citizen' Status Tested in Birther Suit|first1=Laurel Brubaker|last1=Calkins|first2=Kevin|last2=Cirilli|newspaper=Bloomberg Business|date=January 14, 2016|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-15/cruz-s-natural-born-citizen-status-challenged-in-birther-suit|access-date=February 17, 2016}} None were successful, and in February 2016, the Illinois Board of Elections ruled in Cruz's favor, stating, "The candidate is a natural born citizen by virtue of being born in Canada to his mother who was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth."{{cite news |last=Merda |first=Chad |date=February 3, 2016 |title=Illinois election board: Ted Cruz is a natural-born citizen |url=http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/2541002/ted-cruz-illinois-natural-born-citizen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204093102/http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/2541002/ted-cruz-illinois-natural-born-citizen/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |location=Chicago, Illinois |access-date=February 4, 2016}}

File:Ted Cruz 2016 RNC (2).jpg, July 20, 2016]]

Shortly after the campaign's end, Cruz indicated that he would restart the bid if successful in the Nebraska primary,{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/279354-cruz-floats-restarting-campaign-if-he-wins-nebraska/|title=Cruz floats restarting campaign if he wins Nebraska primary|date=May 10, 2016|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|work=The Hill}} which Trump later won.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/10/nebraska-west-virginia-primaries-donald-trump|title=Donald Trump wins West Virginia and Nebraska primaries|first=Ben|last=Jacobs|work=The Guardian|date=May 10, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016}}

In the months following, several publications noted that Cruz still had not endorsed Trump,{{cite news|url=http://www.westernjournalism.com/cruz-coy-on-trump-endorsement-but-plans-strong-convention-role/|title=Cruz Coy On Trump Endorsement But Plans Strong Convention Role|date=June 9, 2016|first=Jack|last=Davis|publisher=Western Journalism|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715101924/http://www.westernjournalism.com/cruz-coy-on-trump-endorsement-but-plans-strong-convention-role/|archive-date=July 15, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/279460-ted-cruz-stalls-on-endorsing-trump/|title=Ted Cruz stalls on endorsing Trump|date=May 10, 2016|first=Alexander|last=Bolton|newspaper=The Hill}} Cruz explaining in June that he was "watching and assessing" to determine if he would support him in the forthcoming general election.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/has-ted-cruz-endorsed-donald-trump-224019|date=June 7, 2016|work=Politico|title=Cruz: I'm not ready to endorse Trump}} On July 7, after a meeting with Trump, he confirmed that he would speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/07/politics/donald-trump-meets-with-ted-cruz-reince-priebus/|title=Ted Cruz to speak at RNC following Trump meeting|date=July 7, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

In his speech on July 20, the third day of the convention, Cruz congratulated Trump but did not endorse him. He instead told listeners to "vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution". The speech was met with boos and a negative reception among the crowd.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-mike-pence-rnc.html|title=Ted Cruz Is Booed When He Refuses to Back Donald Trump at Convention|last1=Healy|first1=Patrick|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|work=The New York Times|date=July 20, 2016}} The following day at the Texas Republican delegation breakfast, Cruz defended his choice to not endorse Trump: "I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father. That pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi, that I'm going to nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say, 'Thank you very much for maligning my wife and maligning my father.'"{{cite news |last1=Schleifer |first1=Theodore |last2=Collinson |first2=Stephen |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Defiant Ted Cruz stands by refusal to endorse Trump after being booed during convention speech |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/ted-cruz-republican-convention-moment/index.html |publisher=CNN}}{{cite news |last=Phelphs |first=Jordyn |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz 'Not in the Habit' of Endorsing People Who Attack His Family |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-defends-endorsing-donald-trump-rnc-speech/story?id=40765519 |newspaper=ABC News |location=New York City, New York |access-date=July 21, 2016|quote=Further defending his RNC speech, in which declined to endorse the party's nominee, Ted Cruz said Trump knew the contents of his speech before its delivery, including the absence of an endorsement. "He didn't ask me to endorse, and indeed, three days ago I talked on the phone with him and told him, 'I'm not going to endorse you,'" Cruz said.}} On September 23, 2016, he publicly endorsed Trump for president.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/23/politics/ted-cruz-endorses-donald-trump/|title=Ted Cruz endorses Donald Trump|last1=Theodore Schleifer|first1=Theodore|last2=Borger|first2=Gloria|last3=Bash|first3=Dana|date=September 23, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

On October 10, after the 2005 audio recording of Trump was released and several Republicans retracted their endorsements, Cruz reaffirmed his support, calling Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton "manifestly unfit to be president".{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-refuses-rescind-donald-trump-endorsement-article-1.2826026|title=Ted Cruz refuses to rescind Donald Trump endorsement over 'locker room talk'|date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=New York Daily News}} On November 15, he met with President-elect Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. It had been reported that Trump was considering Cruz for the position of U.S. Attorney General, but the position went to Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions.{{cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Jennifer |date=November 15, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Considered by Trump for Attorney General |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-11-16/ted-cruz-said-to-be-considered-by-trump-for-attorney-general |newspaper=Bloomberg |location=New York City |access-date=November 16, 2016 |quote=President-elect Donald Trump is considering nominating Texas Senator Ted Cruz to serve as U.S. attorney general, according to a person familiar with the matter. Cruz, 45, was at Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday.}} On November 28, in light of Trump showing a softer tone on his campaign promises, Cruz warned that justified backlash could ensue if he strayed from them.{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2016/11/28/cruz-talks-gop-herman-plans-texas-christmastime-d-fw-monday-morning-news-roundup|title=Cruz talks GOP promises|newspaper=Dallas News|first=Nicholas|last=Friedman|date=November 28, 2016}}

Cruz was backed by the billionaire Mercer family, including Robert and his daughter Rebekah.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/why-won-t-steve-bannon-go-after-ted-cruz-1069166147590 |title=Why won't Steve Bannon go after Ted Cruz? |author= |date=October 10, 2017 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=October 26, 2017 |quote=Robert Mercer, the reclusive conspiracy-minded billionaire who spent millions to help both men - and who is closely tied to Donald Trump and the alt-right.}}

{{Main|Political positions of Ted Cruz}}Cruz has been characterized as staunchly conservative, "radical right", a religious conservative, and anti-establishmentarian.{{Cite book|last1=Olsen|first1=H.|url=https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137577481|title=The Four Faces of the Republican Party and the Fight for the 2016 Presidential Nomination|last2=Scala|first2=D.|date=2016|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US|isbn=978-1-137-57748-1|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Sides|first1=John|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvc77mmb|title=Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America|last2=Tesler|first2=Michael|last3=Vavreck|first3=Lynn|date=2018|publisher=Princeton University Press|jstor=j.ctvc77mmb|isbn=978-0-691-17419-8}}{{Cite journal|last=Noel|first=Hans|date=2016|title=Ideological Factions in the Republican and Democratic Parties|url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0002716216662433|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|language=en|volume=667|issue=1|pages=166–188|doi=10.1177/0002716216662433|s2cid=152132459|issn=0002-7162}}

Cruz is a critic of the rapprochement between Cuba and the United States, saying on Fox News in December 2014 that the thaw in relations was a "manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy" that "will be remembered as a tragic mistake".Brendan Bordelon, [http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/410295/ted-cruz-cuba-relations-thaw-tragic-mistake-brendan-bordelon Ted Cruz: Cuba Relations Thaw 'a Tragic Mistake'], National Review (December 14, 2015).

In July 2018, Cruz spoke at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Asia. He said, "It is a pleasure to be here and stand in solidarity for the men and women across this globe who have been persecuted by communists.... We must stand united, in shining light, in highlighting heroism, in highlighting courage, in speaking out for those like my family, like so many millions across the globe who've seen the jackboot of communism firsthand."{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/398488-cruz-joins-rally-for-religious-freedom/|title=Cruz joins rally for religious freedom|first=Meghashyam|last=Mali|date=July 23, 2018|website=The Hill|access-date=March 26, 2019}}

Cruz has called for an end to "overcriminalization, harsh mandatory minimum sentences, and the demise of jury trials".{{cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Colin|title=How Republican presidential candidates want to reform the criminal justice system|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-2016-candidates-want-to-reform-criminal-justice-2015-4|access-date=March 30, 2016|website=Business Insider|date=April 28, 2015}} He supports the death penalty.{{cite news|last1=Horowitz|first1=Jason|title=As Supreme Court Clerk, Ted Cruz Made Death Penalty His Cause|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/us/politics/as-supreme-court-clerk-ted-cruz-made-death-penalty-his-cause.html|access-date=May 10, 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 20, 2016}} In his 2012 Senate campaign, Cruz frequently mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in Medellín v. Texas, a 2008 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that Texas has the right to ignore an order from the International Court of Justice directing the U.S. to review the convictions and sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row.Aman Bathe, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/politics/a-history-for-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-and-supreme-court.html?_r=0 Senate Candidate and Supreme Court Have a History], Texas Tribune (July 22, 2012). He has called Medellín the most important case of his tenure as Texas solicitor general.

Cruz is a gun rights supporter,{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: My GOP Senate colleagues yelled at me for wanting to filibuster gun control|url=http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-my-gop-senate-colleagues-yelled-at-me-for-wanting-to-filibuster-gun-control/|newspaper=Hot Air|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2013}} and opposes expanding gun control regulations.Glover, Scott and Reston, Maeve (March 10, 2016). [https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/10/politics/ted-cruz-guns/index.html Ted Cruz's no-compromise stance on guns.] CNN. Retrieved: February 8, 2019.

In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt discussing the attack that killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Cruz said that "the simple and undeniable fact is the overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats", and claimed that Democrats are "soft on crime" because "convicted felons tend to vote Democratic".{{cite web|title= Cruz: 'Overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats'|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-democrats-crime-216288|work=Politico|date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=December 1, 2015}}

In August 2015, in the wake of the ambush death of a Texas police officer who was gunned down while filling up at a gas station, Cruz said that police are "feeling the assault from the President, from the top on down, as we see—whether it's in Ferguson or Baltimore, the response from senior officials, the President or the Attorney General, is to vilify law enforcement. That's wrong. It's fundamentally wrong. It's endangering all of our safety and security."Matt Levin, [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Ted-Cruz-blames-Obama-for-death-of-Harris-County-6476309.php Ted Cruz blames Obama for death of Harris County sheriff's deputy], Houston Chronicle (August 31, 2015).

Cruz met with gun control advocates Alyssa Milano and Fred Guttenberg to discuss gun violence in the United States. Guttenberg said this was "a really important day".{{cite web |last1=LeBlanc |first1=Paul |title=Parkland dad describes meeting with Alyssa Milano and Ted Cruz |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/11/politics/parkland-father-ted-cruz-alyssa-milano-gun-control-cnntv/index.html |publisher=CNN|date=September 11, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2020 }}

In May 2022, after the Robb Elementary School shooting, Cruz blamed mass shootings on declining church attendance, violent video games, prescription drugs, cyberbullying, social isolation, and other societal factors.{{Cite web |last=Evers-Hillstrom |first=Karl |date=2022-05-27 |title=Cruz blames everything but guns for school shootings in NRA address |url=https://thehill.com/news/3504498-cruz-blames-everything-but-guns-for-school-shootings-in-nra-address/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} He voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun reform bill introduced after the Robb Elementary School shooting. The bill enhanced background checks for firearm purchasers under 21, provided funding for school-based mental health services, and partially closed the gun show loophole and boyfriend loophole.{{Cite news |last=DeBonis |first=Mike |date=June 25, 2022 |title=How the Senate defied 26 years of inaction to tackle gun violence |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/25/senate-gun-deal-behind-scenes/}}{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00242.htm |access-date=2024-10-29 |publisher=U.S. Senate}}

File:Transition Authorization Act Signing (NHQ201703210002).jpg, after signing the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017]]

Cruz opposes legalizing cannabis, but believes it should be decided at the state level.Sullum, Jacob. March 5, 2015. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/03/05/by-supporting-marijuana-federalism-republican-candidates-can-be-principled-and-popular/ Ted Cruz's Cannabis Conversion Reflects The Political Prudence Of Marijuana Federalism]. Forbes. Retrieved March 22, 2015. After Colorado legalized cannabis, he said, "If the citizens of Colorado decide they want to go down that road, that's their prerogative. I personally don't agree with it, but that's their right."{{cite web|url=http://marijuana.heraldtribune.com/2015/03/06/ted-cruzs-cannabis-conversion/|title=Cannabis convert: Ted Cruz|date=March 6, 2015|work=Herald Tribune |access-date=October 1, 2016}}

Cruz has been described by the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies as a "free trader"{{cite web|publisher=Cato Institute|url=http://www.cato.org/research/trade-immigration/congress?senator=192|title=Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress|access-date=September 7, 2015}} and as a "free-trade advocate" by The Wall Street Journal.Janet Hook, [https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/23/ted-cruz-flips-on-trade-bill-on-eve-of-key-senate-vote/ Ted Cruz Flips on Trade Bill on Eve of Key Senate Vote], The Wall Street Journal (June 23, 2015). In 2013, he proposed the abolition of the IRS and the implementation of a flat tax "where the average American can fill out taxes on a postcard".{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Rachel|title=Ted Cruz: 'Abolish the IRS'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/03/ted-cruz-abolish-the-irs/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 3, 2013}} Cruz is "adamantly opposed to a higher minimum wage".J.D. Harrison, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/03/23/what-a-ted-cruz-white-house-could-mean-for-businesses/ What a Ted Cruz White House could mean for businesses], The Washington Post (March 23, 2015).

Cruz wants to decrease the size of the government significantly. In addition to eliminating the IRS as described above, he has promised to eliminate four other cabinet-level agencies: the Department of Energy, Department of Education, Department of Commerce, and Department of Housing and Urban Development.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/11/10/heres-the-agency-ted-cruz-forgot-he-wants-to-abolish/|title=Ted Cruz forgot to mention he wants to get rid of this really big part of the government|last=Ehrenfreund|first=Max|date=November 10, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=March 6, 2016}}

Cruz voted against the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00325.htm |access-date=2024-10-24 |publisher=U.S. Senate}}

Cruz was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|title=Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling|first=Aris|last=Folley|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|work=The Hill}}

Cruz is a proponent of school choice{{cite news |last=Hohmann |first=James |date=January 30, 2015 |title=The Issue Bringing Ted Cruz and Black Democrats Together |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-issue-bringing-ted-cruz-and-black-democrats-together.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=April 23, 2015 }} and opposes the Common Core State Standards Initiative.Weigel, David, [https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-19/what-ted-cruz-talks-about-when-he-talks-about-common-core What Ted Cruz Talks About When He Talks About Common Core], Bloomberg. (March 19, 2015).

Cruz rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.Josh Hicks, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/01/21/climate-change-skeptics-cruz-and-rubio-now-help-oversee-nations-climate-science/ Climate-change skeptics Cruz and Rubio now help oversee nation's climate science], The Washington Post (January 21, 2015).Sabrina Siddiqui, [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], The Guardian (March 27, 2015) In March 2015, he said that some people are "global warming alarmists" and, citing satellite temperature measurements, said, contrary to NASA's analysis, that there had been no significant warming in 18 years.{{cite interview |last=Cruz |first=Ted |interviewer=Steve Inskeep |title=Scientific Evidence Doesn't Support Global Warming, Sen. Ted Cruz Says |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/12/09/459026242/scientific-evidence-doesn-t-support-global-warming-sen-ted-cruz-says |publisher=NPR |location=Washington, D.C. |date=December 11, 2015 |work=Morning Edition |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming. For the last 18 years, the satellite data – we have satellites that monitor the atmosphere. The satellites that actually measure the temperature showed no significant warming whatsoever.}}Philip Bump, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/03/25/ted-cruz-compares-climate-change-activists-to-flat-earthers-where-to-begin Ted Cruz compares climate change activists to 'flat-Earthers.' Where to begin?], The Washington Post (March 23, 2015)

Cruz voted against the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 that would have created the National Endowment for the Oceans and authorized more than $26 billion in projects to be built by the Army Corps of Engineers, at least $16 billion of which would have come from federal taxpayers.{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Ryan |date=May 21, 2014 |title=Infrastructure Bills to Nowhere |url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/05/21/highway-and-water-resources-bills-are-a-bad-bet-for-taxpayers |newspaper=U.S. News & World Report |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm |title=Ted Cruz on Environment |website=Ontheissues.org |access-date=July 17, 2015}} He voted against the bill because it neglected "to reduce a substantial backlog of projects, to the detriment of projects with national implications, such as the Sabine–Neches Waterway".{{cite news |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Cornyn, Cruz Vote to Fix Water Resource and Development Act |url=https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=134 |newspaper=cruz.senate.gov |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 1, 2015 }} Cruz said the Corps' responsibilities were expanded without providing adequate measures for state participation. Proponents of the bill argued that it would provide steady funding to support research and restoration projects, funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments, distributed through a competitive grant program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm|title=Ted Cruz on Environment|website=ontheissues.org}}

In 2017, Cruz was one of 22 senators to sign a letter{{cite web|last1=Inhofe|first1=James|title=Senator|url=https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/download/?id=E1E34574-5655-42AA-92E8-0D23DC8C33BA&download=1|access-date=June 7, 2017|archive-date=June 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606005302/https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/download/?id=E1E34574-5655-42AA-92E8-0D23DC8C33BA&download=1|url-status=dead}} addressed to Trump urging him to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. According to OpenSecrets, Cruz has received more than $2.5 million in campaign contributions from oil, gas and coal interests since 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/01/republican-senators-paris-climate-deal-energy-donations|access-date=June 1, 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 1, 2017|title=The Republicans who urged Trump to pull out of Paris deal are big oil darlings}} He has a lifetime score of 3% on the National Environmental Scorecard of the League of Conservation Voters.{{cite web |url=http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/ted-cruz |title=Senator Ted Cruz |work=National Environmental Scorecard |publisher=League of Conservation Voters |access-date=September 19, 2017}}

Cruz is a supporter of TransCanada's Keystone XL Pipeline,Susan Cornwell, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-republicans-cruz-idUSBREA1921720140210 U.S. Senator Cruz urges broad Republican focus on energy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928172726/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/us-usa-republicans-cruz-idUSBREA1921720140210 |date=September 28, 2015 }}, Reuters (February 10, 2014). and following the Republican senate whip, was a cosponsor of legislation in support of the pipeline.Marianna Sotomayor & Alison Thoet, [https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/229632-whip-list-senate-keystone-vote/ Whip List: How senators will vote on Keystone XL pipeline], The Hill (January 29, 2015).

In a 2014 opinion editorial in USA Today, Cruz wrote that auditing the Federal Reserve System was a top Republican priority in 2015 and that he supported legislation that would allow the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen, whose confirmation Cruz tried to prevent, said in her confirmation hearing that she opposed any audit of the Federal Reserve and "for 50 years Congress has recognized that there should be an exception to GAO ability to audit the Fed to avoid any political interference in monetary policy."{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/10/29/news/economy/federal-reserve-audit-ted-cruz/index.html|title=Can Senator Ted Cruz audit the Fed?|last=Gillespie|first=Patrick|work=CNNMoney|access-date=January 24, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/01/28/rand-paul-and-ted-cruz-join-forces-against-the-fed/|title=Rand Paul and Ted Cruz Join Forces Against the Fed|last=Rappeport|first=Alan|date=2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 24, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

File:Embassy Dedication Ceremony (41431882324).jpg in Jerusalem in May 2018.]]

In 2015, Cruz voted for the USA Freedom Act, which reauthorized the USA Patriot Act but reformed some of its provisions.Eitan Arom, [http://morningconsult.com/2015/06/voter-views-on-usa-freedom-act-bode-well-for-graham-and-rubio-not-cruz-and-paul/ Voter Views on USA Freedom Act Bode Well for Graham and Rubio, Not Cruz and Paul], Morning Consult (June 10, 2015).Ashley Killough, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/politics/election-2016-ted-cruz-rand-paul-nsa-vote/ Ted Cruz knocks Rand Paul on NSA vote], CNN (April 2, 2015).

Cruz has been an adamant opponent of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran negotiated by the U.S. and other world powers, calling it "catastrophic" and "disastrous".Julian Hattem & Kristina Wong, [https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/252134-trump-cruz-to-hold-joint-anti-iran-rally-on-capitol-hill/ Trump, Cruz to hold joint anti-Iran rally on Capitol Hill], The Hill (August 27, 2015).Ryan Grim & Jessica Schulberg, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/ted-cruz-iran-war_n_7216698.html Ted Cruz On Iran Nuclear Negotiations: 'This Deal Makes War a Certainty'], HuffPost (May 5, 2015).

In March 2023, Cruz voted against repealing the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00077.htm |access-date=2024-10-29 |publisher=U.S. Senate}}

In 2013, Cruz said that the U.S. had no "dog in the fight" during the Syrian Civil War and that its armed forces should not serve as "al-Qaeda's air force".{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21585011-president-makes-case-pulling-trigger-bomb-or-not-bomb|title=America and Syria: To bomb, or not to bomb?|newspaper=The Economist|date=September 7, 2013|access-date=April 28, 2014}} In 2014, he criticized the Obama administration: "The president's foreign policy team utterly missed the threat of ISIS, indeed, was working to arm Syrian rebels that were fighting side by side with ISIS", calling ISIS "the face of evil". In a statement opposing U.S. intervention for regime change in Syria, Cruz said, "If President Obama and Hillary Clinton and Sen. Rubio succeed in toppling [Syrian President Bashar] Assad, the result will be the radical Islamic terrorists will take over Syria, that Syria will be controlled by ISIS, and that is materially worse for U.S. national security interests."{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/222e03b4b7c241bb9743f5d4cc57d0f1/ap-conversation-cruzs-ambitious-foreign-policy-has-limits|title=AP Conversation: Cruz: US more secure with Assad in power|website=The Big Story|language=en-US|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306085157/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/222e03b4b7c241bb9743f5d4cc57d0f1/ap-conversation-cruzs-ambitious-foreign-policy-has-limits|url-status=dead}}

In September 2016, Cruz backed the Obama administration's plan to sell more than $1.15 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia."[https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_114_2.htm Roll Call Votes 114th Congress - 2nd Session (2016) – 145 (71-27)]". United States Senate.

On January 5, 2017, Cruz voted in favor of a House resolution condemning UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories as a violation of international law.{{cite web |last1=Cortellessa |first1=Eric |title=US House Passes Motion Repudiating UN Resolution on Israel |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-house-passes-repudiation-of-un-security-council-resolution-on-israel/ |date=January 6, 2017 |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=January 17, 2017}}

In June 2017, Cruz co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which would make it a federal crime for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank if protesting actions by the Israeli government.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/720/cosponsors|title=Cosponsors - S.720 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act|date=March 23, 2017|website=congress.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/senate-bill-would-make-it-a-federal-crime-to-boycott-israel.html|title=43 Senators Want to Make It a Federal Crime to Boycott Israeli Settlements|last=Levitz|first=Eric|date=July 19, 2017|website=New York Intelligencer|language=en}}

File:Howdy, Modi! (48783742983).jpgn Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2019]]

File:Foreign Secretary David Cameron visits Washington D.C. (53380559741) (cropped).jpg in December 2023]]

Cruz has called the Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline a threat to the security of Europe and the U.S. In December 2019 he and Senator Ron Johnson wrote a letter to Edward Heerema, the owner of the offshore pipe layer Allseas, to warn him of sanctions if Allseas did not suspend its work on the pipeline, which would deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany.{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Ted|date=December 18, 2019|title=Letter to Edward Heerema|url=https://www.cruz.senate.gov/files/documents/Letters/2019.12.18%20Letter%20to%20Allseas%20CEO.pdf|access-date=September 18, 2020|website=cruz.senate.gov}} A few days later Allseas suspended the work.{{Cite web|date=December 23, 2019|title=Allseas Suspends Nord Stream 2 Pipelay Works|url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/allseas-suspends-nord-stream-2-pipelay-works/|access-date=September 17, 2020|website=Offshore Energy|language=en-US}} In December 2020, the Russian pipelaying ship Akademik Cherskiy continued pipelaying.{{Cite news|title=Bau von Gaspipeline Nord Stream 2 geht wieder los |trans-title=Construction of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline starts again |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000122346403/bau-von-gas-pipeline-nord-stream-2-geht-wieder-los |newspaper=Der Standard |date=2020-12-09 |access-date=2020-12-13|language=German}} In January, another pipelayer, Fortuna, joined forces with the Akademik Cherskiy to complete the pipeline.{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Trotz US-Sanktionen: "Fortuna" arbeitet weiter an Nord Stream 2 {{!}} DW {{!}} 25.01.2021|url=https://www.dw.com/de/trotz-us-sanktionen-fortuna-arbeitet-weiter-an-nord-stream-2/a-56332532|access-date=2021-07-20|publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=de-DE}} On June 4, 2021, Putin announced that the pipelaying for first line of the Nord Stream 2 was fully completed. On June 10, the pipeline's sections were connected.{{Cite news|title=Строительство первой нитки "Северного потока-2" технически завершено |trans-title=Construction of the first line of Nord Stream 2 is technically completed |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4855419?from=hotnews |newspaper=Kommersant |date=2021-06-10 |access-date=2021-06-10|language=Russian}} The laying of the second line was completed in September 2021.{{Cite web|title="Газпром» объявил о завершении строительства «Северного потока — 2"|url=https://meduza.io/news/2021/09/10/gazprom-ob-yavil-o-zavershenii-stroitelstva-severnogo-potoka-2|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Meduza|language=ru}}

A co-sponsor of the resolution to commemorate the Armenian genocide, Cruz said that while Turkey is a NATO ally, "We should never be afraid to tell the truth, and alliances grounded in lies are themselves unsustainable."{{cite news |title=GOP senator bows to White House on Armenian genocide measure |url=https://apnews.com/article/667b2a7a9ed23169f08e657704956398 |publisher=Associated Press|first=Matthew|last=Daly |date=December 6, 2019}}

Cruz has been a consistent critic of China. In early January 2017, Cruz, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and some others met with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. Cruz criticized the People's Republic of China after it reportedly made a statement asking members of Congress not to meet with Tsai.{{cite web |title=Cruz Meets with Taiwanese President, Blasts China |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cruz-meets-with-taiwanese-president-blasts-china-for-directive-to-nix-sitdown |date=January 8, 2017 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=January 14, 2017}}{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz, Texas Governor Meet with Taiwan President |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ted-cruz-texas-governor-meet-with-taiwan-president/2017/01/08/ac6fd0a6-d608-11e6-a0e6-d502d6751bc8_story.html |date=January 8, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227092213/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ted-cruz-texas-governor-meet-with-taiwan-president/2017/01/08/ac6fd0a6-d608-11e6-a0e6-d502d6751bc8_story.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Chris |title=Taiwan's President Meets With Ted Cruz in the U.S., and China Objects |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/world/asia/taiwan-ted-cruz-china.html?_r=0 |date=January 9, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 14, 2017}}

In August 2018, Cruz and 16 other lawmakers urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in western China's Xinjiang region.{{cite web |title=Chairs Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Sanction Chinese Officials Complicit in Xinjiang Abuses |url=https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairs-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-administration-to-sanction-chinese |date=August 29, 2018 |publisher=Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)}} They wrote, "The detention of as many as a million or more Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in 'political reeducation' centers or camps requires a tough, targeted, and global response."{{cite news |title=China rejects US lawmakers' sanctions call over Muslim camps |url=https://www.apnews.com/22e2fb42383a401ab9a401aa69f79257 |publisher=Associated Press |date=August 30, 2018}}

American video game company Activision Blizzard punished a Hong Kong-based professional gamer for supporting pro-democracy Hong Kong protests. Cruz accused Blizzard and Apple of censorship.{{cite news |title=AOC and Ted Cruz call out Apple for dropping Hong Kong app in joint letter |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/18/20921300/rebulicans-democrats-blizzard-apple-china-hong-kong-app-censorship |work=The Verge|first=Colin|last=Lecher |date=October 18, 2019}} He co-signed a letter to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick that read, "As China amplifies its campaign of intimidation, you and your company must decide whether to look beyond the bottom line and promote American values—like freedom of speech and thought—or to give in to Beijing's demands to preserve market access."{{cite news |title=Lawmakers condemn Apple, Activision Blizzard over censorship of Hong Kong protester |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/466507-bipartisan-lawmakers-condemn-apple-activision-blizzard-over-censorship-of/ |work=The Hill|first=Tal|last=Axelrod |date=October 18, 2020}}

On July 13, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Cruz and three other U.S. politicians for "interfering in China's internal affairs" by condemning human rights abuses in Xinjiang.{{Cite news |date=13 July 2020 |title=U.S. declares many of China's maritime claims 'unlawful' as Beijing imposes sanctions on U.S. senators |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-imposes-sanctions-on-us-senators-rubio-cruz-over-xinjiang-advocacy/2020/07/13/b169b104-c4d8-11ea-a825-8722004e4150_story.html |access-date=29 December 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} On August 10, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Cruz and 10 other Americans for "behaving badly on Hong Kong-related issues".{{Cite news |last1=Duster |first1=Chandelis |last2=Jiang |first2=Steven |date=10 August 2020 |title=China sanctions Rubio, Cruz and other US officials for 'Hong Kong-related issues' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/10/politics/china-sanctions-rubio-cruz-cotton-smith/index.html |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=CNN}}

In 2022, Cruz sharply criticized the Chinese government for its detention of Houston resident Mark Swidan, who had been held for over ten years. The United Nations and U.S. government considered Swidan wrongfully detained. He was released in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Families push Biden for release of jailed Americans in China |url=https://news.yahoo.com/families-push-biden-release-jailed-110000256.html |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Yahoo News |date=June 19, 2022 |language=en-US}}

Beginning during his time as a Dublin, California, city councilman, Eric Swalwell was targeted by a Chinese woman believed to be a clandestine officer of China's Ministry of State Security. Swalwell's general relationship with a suspected Chinese agent, Christine Fang, has been characterized as problematic, particularly given his high-profile role as a member of the House Intelligence Committee.{{cite news |title=Sen. Cruz mocks Rep. Swalwell's entanglement with Chinese spy |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/ted-cruz-eric-swalwell-chinese-spy |publisher=Fox News |date=December 10, 2020}} Cruz tweeted, "More than once, I've said 'screw the Chinese communists'. Little did I know how closely Swalwell was listening."{{cite web |title='Little did I know': Ted Cruz slams Eric Swalwell in viral tweet about ties to alleged Chinese spy |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/little-did-i-know-ted-cruz-slams-eric-swalwell-in-viral-tweet-about-ties-to-alleged-chinese-spy |work=Washington Examiner |date=December 11, 2020}}

In October 2021, Cruz posted a tweet that was critical of Australia's Northern Territory's vaccine mandates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/northern-territory-announces-mandatory-vaccines-for-workers-and-5000-fines-for-those-who-dont-comply/news-story/d1f86632da29575488918d55590f814c|title=Australia's strictest vax mandate imposed|newspaper=News.com.au|date=October 13, 2021|last1=Cosenza|first1=Emily}} Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner's response to the tweet went viral quickly, garnering near universal support from Australians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/18/northern-territory-chief-minister-and-us-senator-ted-cruz-in-twitter-spat-over-covid-vaccines|title=Northern Territory chief minister and US senator Ted Cruz in Twitter spat over Covid vaccines|work=The Guardian|date=October 18, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/nt-chief-minister-michael-gunner-fires-back-at-us-senator-ted-cruz-over-twitter/12d0cba6-89c0-4134-9de7-04efd32a6764|title=NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner fires back at US Senator Ted Cruz over Twitter post|work=Nine News|date=October 18, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Australia-ted-cruz-response-vaccine-mandate-16542836.php|title=Australia responds to Ted Cruz's criticism of vaccine mandate: 'Glad we are nothing like you'|work=Houston Chronicle|date=October 18, 2021 |last1=Wermund |first1=Benjamin }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ted-cruz-australia-vaccine-mandate-b1940577.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ted-cruz-australia-vaccine-mandate-b1940577.html |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Australia tells Ted Cruz 'we don't need your lectures, mate' in vaccine mandate spat|work=The Independent|date=October 18, 2021}}

Cruz was one of six Republican senators to vote against expanding the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would allow the U.S. Justice Department to review hate crimes related to COVID-19 and establish an online database.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/politics/anti-asian-hate-crimes-senate-vote/index.html|title=Senate advances bill to combat surge of anti-Asian hate crimes|publisher=CNN|last=Rogers|first=Alex|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 14, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00151|title=On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Motion to Proceed to S. 937)|publisher=United States Senate|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 14, 2021}}

File:200304-H-NI589-122 (49622195247).jpg preparedness in March 2020.]]

Cruz was a vocal critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed under President Obama in 2010. During the first year of Trump's presidency, Cruz sponsored legislation to repeal the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and was part of the group of 13 senators that drafted the unsuccessful 2017 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act replacement proposals of the AHCA.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/05/politics/senate-republican-health-care-men/index.html|title=GOP defends having no women in health care group|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Fox|first2=Lauren|date=May 9, 2017|publisher=CNN|access-date=June 14, 2017|last3=Barrett|first3=Ted}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/claire-mccaskill-senate-gop-healthcare-bill-secrecy-attack-2017-6|title='We have no idea what's being proposed': Democratic senator gives impassioned speech on GOP healthcare bill secrecy|last=Bryan|first=Bob|date=June 9, 2017|work=Business Insider|access-date=June 17, 2017|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-06-13/senate-republicans-writing-obamacare-repeal-behind-closed-doors|title=Senate Republicans Are Writing Obamacare Repeal Behind Closed Doors|last=Litvan|first=Laura|date=June 13, 2017|work=Bloomberg|access-date=June 17, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/6/9/15763926/senate-republican-health-care-plan-path|title=Senate Republicans are closer to repealing Obamacare than you think|last=Scott|first=Dylan|date=June 9, 2017|work=Vox|access-date=June 17, 2017}}

In 2013, Cruz voted against a bill to provide a package of federal aid to the Northern East Coast for recovery from Hurricane Sandy{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-25/hurricane-harvey-puts-cruz-cornyn-in-political-bind-over-aid |title=Hurricane Harvey Puts Cruz, Cornyn in Political Bind Over Aid |last=Wasson |first=Erik |date=August 25, 2017 |website=Bloomberg.com |access-date=August 26, 2017}} because, he said, the bill was "filled with unrelated pork" and "two-thirds of that bill had nothing to do with Sandy". The Washington Post disputed this, writing that "the bill was largely aimed at dealing with Sandy, along with relatively minor items to address other or future disasters."{{cite news|last1=Kessler|first1=Glenn|title=Ted Cruz's claim that two-thirds of the Hurricane Sandy bill 'had nothing to do with Sandy'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/08/29/ted-cruzs-claim-that-two-thirds-of-the-hurricane-sandy-bill-had-nothing-to-do-with-sandy/|access-date=May 10, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 29, 2017}} The New York Times wrote that "of 23 examples of extraneous spending that a spokesman for Mr. Cruz provided, all but one—$195 million in discretionary funds for the secretary of health and human services—were Sandy-related or sought to mitigate future storms, as the law required."{{cite news|last1=Qiu|first1=Linda|title=Was 2013 Hurricane Sandy Relief Package 'Full of Pork'?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/us/politics/hurricane-sandy-relief-fact-check.html|access-date=May 10, 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 30, 2017}}

In 2015, in the wake of severe flooding in Texas, Cruz supported federal aid funding; and in 2017, called for federal intervention as Hurricane Harvey approached the coast of Texas.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/348015-cruz-cornyn-back-texas-governors-request-for-disaster-declaration/ |title=Cruz, Cornyn back Texas gov's request for disaster declaration |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=August 25, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=August 26, 2017}}

Cruz took a "hard-line stance" on immigration issues during the 2014 border crisisBenjy Sarlin, [https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-immigration-swing-2016 Ted Cruz's hard-line stance renders border crisis key 2016 issue], MSNBC (August 5, 2014). and opposes comprehensive immigration reform. He advocates an increase from 65,000 to 325,000 annually in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%|last=Thibodeau|first=Patrick|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2900126/ted-cruz-the-presidential-candidate-who-wants-to-increase-the-h-1b-cap-by-500.html|newspaper=Computerworld|date=May 23, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2015}} According to McClatchy, Cruz staked out "hard-right immigration stances" during his 2016 presidential campaign.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article188855304.html|title=O'Rourke to Democrats: Don't shut down the government like Ted Cruz|author=Drusch, Andrea|work=mcclatchydc|date=December 11, 2017|access-date=March 16, 2018|language=en}}

Cruz opposes paths to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children (DREAMers).{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-25/cruz-blasts-citizenship-path-for-dreamers-suggested-by-trump|title=Cruz Blasts Citizenship Path for Dreamers Suggested by Trump|author=Kapur, Sahil|date=January 25, 2018|work=Bloomberg|access-date=January 25, 2018|language=en}} In February 2018, he was the sole senator to oppose a Republican motion to begin debate on legislation intended to resolve the question of what to do with DREAMers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Ted-Cruz-cast-lone-vote-against-advancing-12608732.php|title=Ted Cruz cast lone vote against advancing 'Dreamer' legislation|author=Diaz, Kevin|work=Houston Chronicle|date=February 13, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018}} He has called for the repeal of the clause of the 14th amendment that grants citizenship to those born in the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2016/01/cruz-on-birthright-citizenship/|title=Cruz on Birthright Citizenship - FactCheck.org|date=January 20, 2016|work=FactCheck.org|access-date=January 25, 2018|language=en-US}} He defends the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant children from their parents,{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/06/16/ted-cruz-digs-family-separation-beto-orourke-plans-vigil-tornillo-tent-camp|title=Ted Cruz again defends family separation, as Beto O'Rourke plans vigil at Tornillo tent camp|date=June 16, 2018|author=Gillman, Todd J.|work=Dallas News|access-date=June 17, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/06/11/ted-cruz-defends-family-separation-complaints-trump-border-crackdown-persist|title=Ted Cruz defends family separation at border as Trump bars asylum claims for domestic abuse or gang violence|author=Gillman, Todd J.|date=June 11, 2018|work=Dallas News|access-date=June 17, 2018|language=en}} blaming the migrant parents for crossing the U.S. border to seek asylum and claiming that the Obama administration maintained a similar policy.

In December 2020, Cruz blocked the Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act, which would give Hong Kongers refugee status, citing the threat of spying by China. He said the law was an attempt by Democrats "to advance their long-standing goals on changing immigration laws".{{cite news |title=Hong Kong-based activists mostly silent after US Senator Ted Cruz blocks bill giving special refugee status to dissidents, citing spy threat from Beijing |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3114598/us-senator-blocks-bill-giving-hongkongers-special-refugee-status |publisher=SCMP |date=December 19, 2020}}

During a May 2021 Senate Rules Committee hearing, Cruz falsely asserted that House Democrats had "designed" the For The People Act such that it "directs" people "to break the law and register millions of people to vote who are not eligible to vote because they are not United States citizens" and "automatically registers to vote anyone who interacts with the government" regardless of their immigration status. The bill repeatedly states only U.S. citizens would be permitted to register.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/politics/fact-check-cruz-immigrants-noncitizens-democrats-bill-s1-hr1/index.html|title=Fact check: Ted Cruz falsely claims Democrats' voting bill is intended to register millions of undocumented immigrants|first=Daniel|last=Dale|publisher=CNN|date=May 13, 2021 }}

In September 2024, Cruz tweeted an image macro of two cats hugging with captions that reiterated a false claim by Donald Trump that Haitian immigrants steal and eat American citizens' pets.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Michael |title=Trump campaign and JD Vance promote false rumors about Haitian immigrants eating pets |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/09/politics/republicans-vance-hatian-immigrants-pets-rumors/index.html |access-date=September 10, 2024 |publisher=CNN |date=September 9, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Chris |title=Trump Campaign Amplifies False Claim About Haitian Migrants in Ohio |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/09/us/politics/trump-vance-haitians-ohio.html |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=September 9, 2024 |quote=A local official said there was "absolutely no evidence" that Haitian migrants have stolen and eaten pets, an outlandish claim amplified by the Trump campaign on Monday.}} Twitter users condemned Cruz for perpetuating a racist hoax, with some citing his Cancún controversy to doubt the authenticity of his concern for the safety of Americans' pets.{{cite magazine |last1=Rashid |first1=Hafiz |title=Ted Cruz Gets Brutal Reminder After Sharing Racist Migrants Conspiracy |url=https://newrepublic.com/post/185742/ted-cruz-reminder-migrants-pets-conspiracy |access-date=September 10, 2024 |magazine=The New Republic |date=September 9, 2024 |quote=Senator Ted Cruz really thought he did something with this one.}}{{cite news |last1=Moye |first1=David |title=Ted Cruz Condemned For Posting Racist Lie About Immigrants Eating Pets |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sen-ted-cruz-racist-lie-immigrants-eating-pets_n_66df559fe4b01b464f3e5f55 |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=HuffPost |date=Sep 9, 2024 |quote="You know you're officially a loser when you're running for office and you're posting false information and memes," one person noted.}}

File:Brett Kavanaugh and Ted Cruz.jpg in July 2018]]

In March 2016, about seven months before the forthcoming presidential election, Cruz argued the Senate should not consider Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court on the grounds that "this should be a decision for the people. Let the election decide. If the Democrats want to replace this nominee, they need to win the election". In September 2020, less than two months before the next presidential election, Cruz supported an immediate vote on Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.{{cite news |last1=Desjardins |first1=Lisa |title=What every Republican senator has said about filling a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-every-republican-senator-has-said-about-filling-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-an-election-year |access-date=October 4, 2020 |work=PBS NewsHour |date=September 22, 2020}}

During Donald Trump's presidency, Cruz and fellow Texas Senator John Cornyn contributed to the appointment of multiple conservative judges to federal courts with jurisdiction over Texas.{{cite web |last1=Benning |first1=Tom |title=Trump has stacked federal courts in Texas and beyond with conservative judges, but GOP, Cornyn want more |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/09/10/trump-has-stacked-federal-courts-in-texas-and-beyond-with-conservative-judges-but-gop-cornyn-want-more/ |date=September 10, 2020 |work=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=October 24, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Recio |first1=Maria |title=Trump makes mark on Texas judiciary |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20200214/trump-makes-mark-on-texas-judiciary |date=February 14, 2020 |work=Austin American-Statesman |access-date=October 24, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Platoff |first1=Emma |title=Trump-appointed judges are shifting the country's most politically conservative circuit court further to the right |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/30/under-trump-5th-circuit-becoming-even-more-conservative/ |date=August 30, 2018 |work=The Texas Tribune |access-date=October 24, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Benning |first1=Tom |title=Trump's stacking of federal courts in Texas with conservative judges could have decades-long impact |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/03/29/trump-s-stacking-of-federal-courts-in-texas-with-conservative-judges-could-have-decades-long-impact/ |date=March 29, 2019 |work=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=October 24, 2021}}

Cruz has criticized the U.S. military for becoming "emasculated" by its recruiting efforts, comparing those efforts unfavorably to the Russian military's.{{cite news |last1=Sheperd |first1=Kate |title=Sen. Ted Cruz insulted a 'woke, emasculated' U.S. Army ad. Angry veterans fired back. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/21/ted-cruz-russia-army-emasculated/ |access-date=21 May 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=21 May 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Wermund |first1=Benjamin |title=Sen. Ted Cruz slams 'emasculated' U.S. military depicted in Army ad campaign |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Sen-Ted-Cruz-slams-emasculated-U-S-16192145.php |access-date=21 May 2021 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=20 May 2021}} He accused Democratic politicians of trying to transform "the greatest military on earth" into "pansies". He has claimed the military is debilitated and its "ability to project power and obtain air superiority is tragically anemic".{{cite news |title=Transcript of Republican debate |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 29, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/us/politics/republican-presidential-debate-transcript.html |access-date=21 May 2021}} Blaming "bloated bureaucracy and social experiments", Cruz has proposed reducing the size of the active duty military while increasing spending.{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz looks to project military strength in South Carolina |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/16/ted-cruz-looks-to-project-military-strength-in-south-carolina/ |newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Katie|last=Zezima|date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=21 May 2021}}

Cruz opposes net neutrality—which prevents Internet service providers from deliberately blocking or slowing particular websites—arguing that the Internet economy has flourished in the United States simply because it has remained largely free from government regulation.{{cite news|last=Sankin|first=Aaron|date=May 16, 2014|title=The conservative case against net neutrality|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/net-neutrality-ted-cruz-fcc/|newspaper=The Daily Dot|access-date=November 13, 2014}} He has argued that net neutrality is the "Obamacare for the internet".{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/story/after-fcc-vote-net-neutrality-fight-moves-to-courts-congress/|title=The FCC Just Killed Net Neutrality. Now What?|magazine=WIRED|access-date=December 15, 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Net-neutrality-fight-offers-another-contrast-in-12382030.php|title=Net neutrality fight offers another contrast in 2018 Senate race|author=Wallace, Jeremy|work=Houston Chronicle|date=November 24, 2017|access-date=December 15, 2017}} Cruz said that the Obama-era implementation of the principle of net neutrality had the "end result" of "less broadband, less innovation, and less freedom for the American consumer". In December 2017, after the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission repealed net neutrality, he mocked supporters of net neutrality as "snowflakes" who were misled by "online propaganda".{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-lays-out-how-a-snowflake-learns-about-net-neutrality-propaganda/article/2643593|title=Ted Cruz lays out how a 'snowflake' learns about net neutrality 'propaganda'|last=Chaitin|first=Daniel|work=Washington Examiner|access-date=December 15, 2017|language=en}}

In January 2025, Cruz and Senators Chris Murphy, Katie Britt, and Brian Schatz introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA). Senators John Curtis, Peter Welch, John Fetterman, Ted Budd, Mark Warner, and Angus King also co-sponsored the Act,{{Cite web |title=Kids Off Social Media Act {{!}} U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii |url=https://www.schatz.senate.gov/kosma |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=schatz.senate.gov |language=en}} which would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding "algorithmically targeted" content to users under 17. Cruz said: "Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech's failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms".{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Brian Schatz, Ted Cruz, Chris Murphy Introduce Bill to Protect Kids on Social Media |url=https://www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/u-s-senators-katie-britt-brian-schatz-ted-cruz-chris-murphy-introduce-bill-to-protect-kids-on-social-media/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Senator Katie Britt |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-28 |title=Schatz, Cruz, Murphy, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, off Social Media {{!}} U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii |url=https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/01/28/2025/schatz-cruz-murphy-britt-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-keep-kids-safe-healthy-off-social-media |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=schatz.senate.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Murphy, Schatz, Cruz, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, Off Social Media {{!}} U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut |url=https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-schatz-cruz-britt-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-keep-kids-safe-healthy-off-social-media |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=murphy.senate.gov |language=en}}

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Cruz strongly denounced outsourcing American jobs to other countries, alleging that any politician who allowed it to happen was betraying their constituents. He pinned some of his blame on then-President Obama, saying that Obama had overseen outsourcing for the previous seven years. Cruz's denunciation of Obama was criticized by PolitiFact, which found that the modern pattern of American outsourcing, while prevalent during the Obama years, had started earlier.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/mar/16/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-pins-too-much-blame-outflow-jobs-barack-o/|title=Ted Cruz Pins too Much Blame Outflow jobs Barack Obama|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|work=PolitiFact|access-date=May 11, 2022|language=en}} During the campaign, one of Cruz's promises was to return manufacturing jobs to the U.S. His choice of running mate, Carly Fiorina, was met with pushback due to her record of outsourcing, but he defended her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/cruz-defends-fiorina-s-business-record-amid-carrier-controversy-n565556|title=Cruz Defends Fiorina's Business Record Amid Carrier Controversy|last=Coleburn|first=Christina|publisher=NBC News|access-date=May 11, 2022|language=en}} In 2022, Cruz voted against Bernie Sanders's proposed measure for the United States Innovation and Competition Act, which promised to fund semiconductor manufacturers amid a shortage of their products during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure would block semiconductor manufacturers funded by the bill from outsourcing their jobs and forbid them to dissuade their employees from forming unions.{{cite web|title=Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 2nd Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00153.htm |publisher=United States Senate|access-date=May 11, 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/senate-democrats-join-with-republicans-to-vote-down-bernie-sanders-effort-to-stop-outsourcing/ar-AAWY3Ym?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=9eea19ec530f498bd089910c818449ac|title=Senate Democrats join with Republicans to vote down Bernie Sanders' effort to stop outsourcing|last=Skolnik|first=Jon|work=Salon|access-date=May 11, 2022|language=en}}

Cruz is strongly anti-abortion, but "would allow the procedure ... when a pregnancy endangers the mother's life".{{cite news |last=Barnhart |first=Melissa |date=June 27, 2013 |title=Pro-Life Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to Speak at National Right to Life Convention in Dallas |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-sen-ted-cruz-of-texas-to-speak-at-national-right-to-life-convention-in-dallas-98910/ |newspaper=The Christian Post |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=August 5, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/fikac/article/Fikac-Senate-hopeful-Cruz-casts-himself-as-3381330.php|title=Senate hopeful Cruz casts himself as conservative warrior|last=Fikac|first=Peggy|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 4, 2012|access-date=October 9, 2013}} He is in favor of cutting federal funding to Planned Parenthood.Everett, Burgess (February 12, 2016). [http://www.politico.com/blogs/south-carolina-primary-2016-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-planned-parenthood-219229 Cruz attacks Rubio on Planned Parenthood.] Politico. Retrieved: April 12, 2016. Cruz opposes both same-sex marriage and civil unions.{{cite web|date=2016|title=Ted Cruz: Not a Fan of Pride Parades|url=https://www.hrc.org/resources/2016republicanfacts-ted-cruz|access-date=8 November 2021|publisher=Human Rights Campaign}} In 2013, he said he wanted marriage to be legally defined as only "between one man and one woman",Miller, Jake. November 9, 2013. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-talks-guns-same-sex-marriage-obamacare-with-jay-leno/ Ted Cruz talks guns, same-sex marriage, Obamacare with Jay Leno]. CBS News. Retrieved December 11, 2013. but also said that the legality of same-sex marriage should be left to each state to decide.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/senator-ted-cruz-on-gay-marriage/n43013|title=Senator Ted Cruz on Same Sex Marriage|newspaper=The Tonight Show|publisher=NBC|access-date=December 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213044614/http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/senator-ted-cruz-on-gay-marriage/n43013|archive-date=December 13, 2013|url-status=dead}} In 2015, after the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell ruled same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional, he called the decision "the very definition of tyranny",{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Mike|date=23 December 2015|title=What Ted Cruz said behind closed doors|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/ted-cruz-gay-marriage-secret-audio-217090|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Politico|language=en}} accused the court of judicial activism, and said it was "among the darkest hours of our nation".{{cite web|date=June 27, 2015|title=Ted Cruz: Gay marriage decision one of 'darkest' in U.S. history - UPI.com|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/06/27/Ted-Cruz-Gay-marriage-ruling-makes-one-of-darkest-days-in-US-history/9301435429916/|publisher=UPI}} In 2017, the same day that an audio clip resurfaced of Alabama Judge Roy Moore calling Obergefell "worse" than the 1857 ruling that upheld slavery, Cruz endorsed Moore for U.S. Senate.{{Cite web|last=Ramirez|first=Fernando|date=2017-10-24|title=Ted Cruz backs Senate candidate who said gay marriage ruling 'even worse' than slavery|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Ted-Cruz-gay-marriage-Alabama-roy-moore-republican-12302803.php|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Chron|language=en-US}} He reaffirmed his position in 2022 after comments by Justice Clarence Thomas.{{Cite web |last=Golgowski |first=Nina |date=2022-07-17 |title=Sen. Ted Cruz Says Supreme Court Was Wrong In Same-Sex Marriage Ruling |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-obergefell-decision-wrong-roe-wade_n_62d42765e4b0116f21bcf44c |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=HuffPost|language=en}} While speaking to students at a summit for Turning Point USA, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses, Cruz joked that his favored personal pronoun is "kiss my ass".{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Cruz|year=2022|url=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv1e1DmwkBw|work=The Independent|title=Ted Cruz says his pronouns are 'kiss my ass'|quote="I'm Ted Cruz and my pronoun is KISS MY ASS"}} In 2022, Cruz voted against the Respect for Marriage Act.{{Cite news |last=Mourtoupalas and Blanco |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Here's which senators voted for or against the Respect for Marriage Act |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2022/senator-vote-count-respect-for-marriage-act/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}} In July 2022, Cruz issued a press release saying that he supported the repeal of the 1845 Texas anti-sodomy law, writing, "consenting adults should be able to do what they wish in their private sexual activity, and the government has no business in their bedrooms."{{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Ted Cruz says Texas should repeal ban on gay sex |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/07/27/ted-cruz-says-texas-should-repeal-ban-on-gay-sex/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}Murney, Micheal. Ted Cruz's 2022: Uvalde fallout, viral backlash, Houston Chronicle, December 26, 2022. Cruz compared the vandalism and destruction of monuments and memorials in the United States to the 2001 destruction of the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan by the Taliban.{{cite news |title='American Taliban.' Ted Cruz sounds off after protesters topple Columbus statues |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article243457431.html |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=June 11, 2020}}

Cruz and Michael J. Knowles started a podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, on January 21, 2020. The first episodes were summaries of the impeachment hearings of Donald Trump. After the hearings ended the podcast expanded its content to include other topics and interviews, including with Washington politicians such as U.S. Senators Tim Scott, Lindsey Graham, and Mike Lee, Trump administration officials including White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, then-U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and actors Jon Voight and Isaiah Washington.Levine, Marianne. [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/27/ted-cruz-podcast-105808 Ted Cruz's new gig: Top podcaster], Politico, January 27, 2020.

In October 2022, Verdict with Ted Cruz picked up corporate partner iHeartRadio. The podcast also expanded to three times a week and Ben Ferguson replaced Knowles as co-host.{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Jared |title=Cruz picks up corporate partner for podcast |website=The Hill |date=2022-10-12 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3684482-cruz-picks-up-corporate-partner-for-podcast/ |access-date=2023-11-09}} iHeartMedia introduced the program onto its conservative talk radio stations via its network wing Premiere Networks in 2025, making Cruz the first sitting U.S. senator to host a national radio show.{{Cite web |last=Wermund |first=Benjamin |date=April 22, 2025 |title=Ted Cruz becomes the first sitting senator with a talk radio show |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ted-cruz-podcast-am-radio-20289098.php |website=Houston Chronicle}} Cruz does not receive payment for hosting the podcast to avoid campaign finance complications.

• {{cite book |last=Cruz |first=Ted |title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America |publisher=Broadside Books |date=2015 |isbn=978-0-06-236561-3}}
• {{cite book |last=Cruz |first=Ted |title=One Vote Away: How a Single Supreme Court Seat Can Change History |publisher=Regnery |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-68451-134-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Cruz |first=Ted |title=Justice Corrupted: How the Left Weaponized Our Legal System |publisher=Regnery |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-68451-361-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Cruz |first=Ted |title=Unwoke: How to Defeat Cultural Marxism in America |publisher=Regnery |date=2023 |isbn=978-1-68451-362-8}}

File:HeidiTedCruzVers2Houston31MARCH2015 - Copy.jpg, March 2015]]

Cruz married Heidi Nelson on May 27, 2001.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/26/us/ted-cruz-fast-facts/|title=Ted Cruz Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=March 26, 2015}} The couple met when Cruz was working on George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign. Heidi took leave from her position as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. in 2016 to support Cruz's run for president.{{cite web |last1=Plott |first1=Elaina |title=Heidi Cruz Didn't Plan for This |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/10/heidi-cruz-ted-his-senate-bid-and-2016-race/573256/ |website=The Atlantic|date=October 18, 2018 }} She previously worked in the White House for Condoleezza Rice and in New York as an investment banker.{{cite web|url=http://www.houston.org/about/board-staff.html#board/212727|title=Board Member Bios: Heidi Cruz|publisher=Greater Houston Partnership|access-date=August 16, 2013}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-23/cruz-s-wife-heidi-said-to-take-unpaid-leave-from-goldman|title=Cruz's Wife Heidi to Take Unpaid Leave From Goldman|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=March 23, 2015|first=Michael J|last=Moore|date=March 23, 2015}} Cruz lives with his wife and their two children in River Oaks, Houston.{{cite web |author=Chumley, Cheryl K. |date=October 25, 2013 |title=Ted Cruz's daughter, 2: 'I want to work with daddy' |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/25/ted-cruz-daughter-2-i-want-work-daddy/ |access-date=September 13, 2020 |work=The Washington Times}}{{Cite web|last=Wermund|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Did-Sen-Ted-Cruz-fly-to-Canc-n-amid-the-Texas-15959773.php|title=Did Sen. Ted Cruz fly to Cancún during the Texas freeze?|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=2021-02-18|access-date=2021-02-22}}

Cruz has joked, "I'm Cuban, Irish, and Italian, and yet somehow I ended up Southern Baptist."{{cite news |date=December 20, 2012 |title=Editorial: Texan of the Year finalist Ted Cruz |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20121220-editorial-texan-of-the-year-finalist-ted-cruz.ece |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |location=Dallas, Texas |publisher=A. H. Belo |access-date=February 28, 2016 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815131635/http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20121220-editorial-texan-of-the-year-finalist-ted-cruz.ece |url-status=dead }} He is fond of wearing cowboy boots, but he refrained from doing so when arguing before the Rehnquist court.{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Amita |title=What You Need To Know About Ted Cruz |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/03/23/394719332/what-you-need-to-know-about-ted-cruz |publisher=NPR |access-date=19 December 2019 |date=23 March 2015}} As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets, Cruz's net worth was more than $3.1 million.{{cite web |title=Ted Cruz - Net Worth - Personal Finances |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/ted-cruz/net-worth?cid=N00033085 |website=OpenSecrets |access-date=15 October 2021}} On March 8, 2020, Cruz began self-isolation after contact with a person infected with COVID-19 at the ACU's Conservative Political Action Conference. Staying at his home in Texas,{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-08/cruz-staying-at-home-after-exposure-to-man-with-coronavirus|title=Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar staying at home after exposure to man with coronavirus|date=March 9, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en|access-date=March 9, 2020}} he avoided contact with colleagues and constituents for 14 days. Cruz said he had been advised that the odds of contracting the virus were very low.Smith, LaVendrick. [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/03/08/ted-cruz-in-self-quarantine-after-interacting-with-coronavirus-patient-at-cpac/ Ted Cruz in self-quarantine after interacting with coronavirus patient at CPAC], Dallas Morning News, March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020. In 2023, he cameoed in The Daily Wire comedy film Lady Ballers.{{cite web |last=Condon |first=Ali |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/11/29/ted-cruz-transphobic-film-lady-ballers/ |title=Ted Cruz appears in transphobic sports film Lady Ballers |date=November 29, 2023 |website=The Pink News}}

• Conspiracy theories related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal
• List of foreign-born United States politicians
• Legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Chief Justice)
• List of United States senators born outside the United States
• List of United States senators from Texas
• Donald Trump Supreme Court candidates
• Ted Cruz–Zodiac Killer meme

{{reflist}}

{{sister project links|d=Q2036942|c=Category:Ted Cruz|s=Author:Rafael Edward Cruz|n=Category:Ted Cruz|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|wikt=no}}

• {{official website|https://www.cruz.senate.gov|Official Senate website}}
• [https://www.tedcruz.org/ Campaign website]
• [https://www.oyez.org/advocates/r_ted_cruz Appearances at the U.S. Supreme Court] from the Oyez Project
• {{Ballotpedia|Ted_Cruz}}
• {{C-SPAN|1019953}}
• [https://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/ Ted Cruz] collected news and commentary at The Texas Tribune
• {{NYT topic|people/c/ted_cruz}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz R. (Ted) Edward Cruz] – profile at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (archived)
• {{CongLinks | congbio=C001098 | votesmart=135705 | fec=S2TX00312 | congress=ted-cruz/2175 }}
• [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/verdict-with-ted-cruz/id1495601614 Verdict with Ted Cruz] Ted Cruz podcast with co-host Michael Knowles
• {{IMDb name|5563034}}

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