Ted Cruz

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Ted Cruz
Image of Ted Cruz

Candidate, U.S. Senate Texas

U.S. Senate Texas

Tenure

2013 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

11

Prior offices
Solicitor General of Texas

Compensation

Base salary

$174,000

Net worth

(2012) $3,094,523

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 6, 2018

Next election

March 5, 2024

Education

High school

Second Baptist High School

Bachelor's

Princeton University

Law

Harvard

Personal
Religion
Christian: Baptist
Contact

Ted Cruz (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. Senate from Texas. He assumed office on January 3, 2013. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.

Cruz (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate to represent Texas. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 5, 2024.

Cruz previously served as Solicitor General for Texas from 2003-2008, during which he argued nine cases before the Supreme Court.

He won re-election in 2018, defeating Beto O'Rourke in the general election. The race saw the most spending in U.S. history specifically by the candidates themselves.[1]

Cruz ran for the Republican Party nomination for president in 2016.[2] He suspended his presidential campaign on May 3, 2016, after losing the Indiana Republican primary to Donald Trump.[3]

Cruz was one of four Latino U.S. senators serving in the 115th Congress.[4]

Cruz was included on President Donald Trump’s (R) list of 20 potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees released on September 9, 2020.[5] President Trump (R) nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the seat on September 26, 2020. For more information on the 2020 Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, 2020, click here.

Biography

Cruz was born in Calgary in Alberta, Canada, where his parents were working in the Alberta oil fields. In 1974 they returned to the Houston area.[6]

Cruz graduated from Second Baptist High School as valedictorian in 1988. He earned his B.A. in Public Policy from Princeton University in 1992. He went on to receive his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1995. Cruz then worked in the following positions in the law field: law clerk to Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist, associate deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice and director of the Office of Policy Planning for the Federal Trade Commission.[7]

Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to 2008. In this role he was the youngest Solicitor General in the nation, as well as the longest-serving and first Hispanic Solicitor General in the state. Among his accomplishments, Cruz argued 40 oral arguments, including nine before the U.S. Supreme Court.[8]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Cruz's academic, professional, and political career:[9]

  • 2013-Present: U.S. Senator from Texas
  • 2003-2008: Solicitor General of Texas
  • 1995-2003: Worked in the following positions: law clerk to Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist, associate deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice and director of the Office of Policy Planning for the Federal Trade Commission.
  • 1995: Graduated from Harvard University with J.D.
  • 1992: Graduated from Princeton University with B.A.

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate

2021-2022

Cruz was assigned to the following committees:[Source]

2019-2020

Cruz was assigned to the following committees:

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Cruz was assigned to the following committees:[10]

2015-2016

Cruz served on the following committees:[11]

2013-2014

Cruz served on the following Senate committees:[12]

  • Armed Services Committee
    • Subcommittee on SeaPower
    • Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
    • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
  • United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
    • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
    • Subcommittee on Science and Space
    • Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
    • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
    • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
    • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  • Judiciary Committee
    • Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security
    • Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
    • Subcommittee on The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Ranking Member
    • Bankruptcy and the Courts subcommittee
  • Rules and Administration Committee
  • Special Committee on Aging

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023

The 117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021 and ended on January 3, 2023. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-213), and the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D), who acted as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021
Vote Bill and description Status
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (69-30)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (50-49)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (51-50)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (88-11)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (83-11)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (86-11)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (64-33)
Red x.svg Nay Red x.svg Failed (46-48)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (68-31)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (61-36)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (72-25)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (94-1)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (79-19)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (65-33)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (65-35)
Red x.svg Not guilty Red x.svg Not guilty (57-43)
Not Voting Red x.svg Failed (47-47)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (50-49)
Red x.svg Nay Red x.svg Failed (49-51)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (68-29)


Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Elections

2024

See also: United States Senate election in Texas, 2024

General election

The primary will occur on March 5, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. Senate Texas

Mason Cysewski and Dan McQueen are running in the general election for U.S. Senate Texas on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Mason Cysewski (G)
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Dan_McQueen.PNG
Dan McQueen (Independent)

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 5, 2024.


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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas

The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 5, 2024.


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Endorsements

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2018

See also: United States Senate election in Texas, 2018
See also: United States Senate election in Texas (March 6, 2018 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Texas

Incumbent Ted Cruz defeated Beto O'Rourke and Neal Dikeman in the general election for U.S. Senate Texas on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ted_Cruz.jpg
Ted Cruz (R)
 
50.9
 
4,260,553
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Beto_O_Rourke-7_fixed.jpg
Beto O'Rourke (D)
 
48.3
 
4,045,632
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Neal_Dikeman-min.jpg
Neal Dikeman (L)
 
0.8
 
65,470

Total votes: 8,371,655
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas

Beto O'Rourke defeated Sema Hernandez and Edward Kimbrough in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Beto_O_Rourke-7_fixed.jpg
Beto O'Rourke
 
61.8
 
640,769
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/sema-hernandez.jpg
Sema Hernandez
 
23.7
 
245,847
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Edward Kimbrough
 
14.5
 
149,851

Total votes: 1,036,467
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas

Incumbent Ted Cruz defeated Mary Miller, Bruce Jacobson Jr., Stefano de Stefano, and Geraldine Sam in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ted_Cruz.jpg
Ted Cruz
 
85.3
 
1,315,146
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mary_Miller.jpg
Mary Miller
 
6.1
 
94,274
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/fullsizeoutput_1208.jpeg
Bruce Jacobson Jr.
 
4.2
 
64,452
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Stefano_02.jpg
Stefano de Stefano
 
2.9
 
44,251
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Geraldine Sam
 
1.5
 
22,767

Total votes: 1,540,890
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016 and Presidential election, 2016

Cruz was a Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States in 2016. He announced the launch of his campaign in a tweet on March 23, 2015.[139] He suspended his presidential campaign on May 3, 2016, after losing the Indiana Republican primary to Donald Trump.[3]

2012

See also: United States Senate elections in Texas, 2012
U.S. Senate, Texas General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTed Cruz 56.5% 4,440,137
     Democratic Paul Sadler 40.6% 3,194,927
     Libertarian John Jay Myers 2.1% 162,354
     Green David B. Collins 0.9% 67,404
Total Votes 7,864,822
Source: Texas Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"
U.S. Senate Runoff Election, Texas Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngTed Cruz 56.8% 631,812
David Dewhurst 43.2% 480,126
Total Votes 1,111,938

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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Twitter

Email


2018

Campaign website

Cruz’s campaign website stated the following:


Proven Leader. Proven Record.

Ted Cruz understands the unique history of our state, and fights for our values every day in the U.S. Senate.

As our U.S. Senator, Cruz has consistently

  • Defended our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms
  • Led the fight to stop amnesty, and championed creative solutions to fund the border security we need to keep us safe
  • Passed legislation to fund and guide NASA
  • Advocated for our military

Ted is consistently on the front line of the issues of the day and delivering for over 28 million Texans.

Most candidates run on a list of issues, but Ted has always run on his record. That record is consistent, conservative, and clear: Ted Cruz works for Texas.

Defending the Constitution

“Ted Cruz has been a tireless defender of the Constitution and the founding principles that have made this the greatest country the world has ever known.”

- Utah Senator Mike Lee

  • Fought to keep the US out of the UN Arms Treaty, which would have subordinated the Second Amendment rights of American citizens to global interests.
  • Called for a special prosecutor to investigate the IRS’s targeting of American citizens’ political activity.
  • Defended Americans’ First Amendment rights against Democrats who sought to limit freedom of expression.
  • Galvanized national support for Houston pastors targeted and forced by the City of Houston to submit religious sermons for political scrutiny.
  • Defended students’ right to display banners containing religious content at school sporting events.

Successfully defended the constitutionality of the Texas Ten Commandments monument, winning a 5-4 landmark decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • Fought and won a landmark victory at the Supreme Court in Medellin v. Texas; protected U.S. sovereignty against 90 foreign nations and the president to ensure the United States is not subject to rulings of the “World Court.”
  • Defended Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties against Obamacare’s contraception mandate.
  • Fought to help the Boy Scouts of America reverse a district court ruling barring them from leasing a public park.

Jobs and Opportunity

  • The first bill Ted offered as a US Senator was to repeal every word of Obamacare.
  • Fought for Texas jobs by authoring the NASA Transition Authorization Act, which President Trump signed into law on March 21, 2017.
  • Authored legislation empowering greater private sector engagement in commercial space exploration that was signed into law by President Obama.
  • Sponsored Audit the Fed legislation.
  • Authored resolution, signed by President Trump, eliminating Obama-era rules that restricted Texas’ discretion over its unemployment insurance programs.
  • Proposed a tax plan to dramatically reduce taxes for American families and individuals, simplify the tax code and spur significant economic growth.
  • Mobilized a national effort to defund Obamacare and repeal the disastrous law in its entirety.
  • Introduced the American Energy Renaissance Act to open up energy exploration, expand Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports, end the crude oil export ban, that with other reforms unleashed job creation across the state of Texas.
  • Sponsored the Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA), to check President Obama’s overreaching “Clean Power Plan” regulations that infringe on states’ rights, drive up costs for consumers and hamper innovation.
  • Fought against budget increases that failed to bring about meaningful spending reforms.
  • Opposed the Internet Sales Tax, and spoke against establishment politicians who attempt to impose more unnecessary taxes on Americans.

Limiting Washington's Power

  • Fought to protect citizens’ free speech against unlawful and unjust targeting and designations by the IRS.
  • Opposed budget increases that failed to bring about meaningful spending reforms.
  • Advocated for reforms to boost economic growth, including repealing Obamacare, deregulation, and expansion of energy production.
  • Opposed raising the debt ceiling without addressing out-of-control Washington spending.
  • Voted against establishment politicians’ Christmas handouts to K-Street.
  • Opposed sugar subsidies and favoring a few over the American taxpayer.
  • Voted to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard so that all can compete on an equal footing.
  • Opposed budget deals that reauthorized the Export-Import bank, a handmaiden of the Washington Cartel.

Second Amendment

“Ted Cruz is one of our nation’s leading defenders of the Second Amendment. For over a decade, Ted has fought tirelessly to defend our constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and his leadership was absolutely critical to our major victories before the U.S. Supreme Court.” – NRA executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre

  • Led the fight in Congress to stop legislation that would restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.
  • Authored legislation to strengthen citizens’ Second Amendment rights and allow interstate firearms sales.
  • Argued on behalf of 31 states in District of Columbia v. Heller where the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a ban on firearms in a 5-4 landmark decision.
  • Awarded the NRA’s 2010 Carter-Knight Freedom Fund, which “rewards exemplary activities in the support and protection of the right to Keep and Bear Arms” for his work in the Heller and McDonald

Securing the Border

“We have to have an advocate in Congress, which I believe is Ted Cruz.”

- Border Patrol Agent Brandon Judd President of the National Border Patrol Council

  • Introduced the EL CHAPO Act to direct funds forfeited after the conviction of drug cartel members to construction of a wall on the southern border of the United States.
  • Coalesced conservatives across the country to defeat the Gang of Eight bill that failed to secure the border and would have granted amnesty to millions who came to the United States illegally.
  • During the Gang of Eight fight, offered a series of amendments, including measures to prevent citizenship for those here illegally, to block illegals’ access to federal, state, or local public assistance benefits, secure the border, triple the size of the Border Patrol, and implement a biometric entry-exit system.
  • Introduced Kate’s Law to establish a 5-year minimum sentence for those who illegally reenter the country.
  • Introduced with Jeff Sessions the American Jobs First Act of 2015, to reform the H-1B visa program, curb abuse, and protect American workers.
  • Proposed a number of measures to defund President Obama’s amnesty and prevent him from expanding it.

Servicemen and Women

  • Fought on behalf of the men and women injured during the 2009 terror attack at Fort Hood asserting their eligibility to receive the Purple Heart.
  • Successfully advocated to bring an F-35 squadron to the Naval Air Station Joint Base Fort Worth.
  • Helped secure more than $224 million in military construction funds to rebuild Texas’ military infrastructure.
  • Added language to the Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations bill to require the VA Secretary to provide Congress with a plan to address the long wait times for veterans seeking health care at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
  • Introduced the North Korea State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2017.
  • Authored legislation calling on the Secretary of State to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
  • Introduced the Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015, barring refugees to the United States from any country that contains substantial territory controlled by a foreign terrorist organization.
  • Introduced the IRGC Terrorist Designation Act, calling on the U.S. Department of State to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization.
  • Called on Congress to take a three-step approach to stop the flow of funds to the Iranian regime under the terms of Corker-Cardin, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act.
  • Twice introduced the Sanction Iran, Safeguard America Act to reinstate, impose, and expand Iran sanctions.
  • Introduced legislation to prevent terrorists from entering the US as UN ambassadors. The bill passed Congress unanimously and President Obama signed it into law.
  • Twice introduced the Expatriate Terrorist Act, to prevent terrorists who join ISIS or other terrorist groups from re-entering the country, and to make clear that citizens who collaborate with terrorists forfeit their right to US citizenship.
  • Spoke up for our veterans by sponsoring the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act, to make it easier for senior executives at the VA to be fired for negligence, mismanagement, and other performance failures.
  • Defended the crosses at the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial from ACLU attempts to have them removed.
  • Authored legislative language that provides for concept development of a space-based missile defense system to defend against the full spectrum of ballistic missile threats.

Standing with Israel

“Since arriving in Washington four years ago, Cruz has arguably been Israel’s most avid defender in the Senate.”

Caroline B Glick The Jerusalem Post

  • Co-sponsored legislation to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Introduced measure to provide necessary funding for Israel’s missile defense, Arrow System, David’s Sling and Iron Dome.

  • Chaired a hearing for the Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts titled “Justice Forsaken: How the Federal Government Fails the American Victims of Iranian and Palestinian Terrorism” focused on the federal government’s failure to support the American victims of Iranian and Palestinian terrorism.
  • Twice introduced legislation to prohibit negotiations between the United States and Iran until Iran released the American prisoners it is unjustly detaining and recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
  • Introduced a resolution passed by Congress to condemn Hamas’ use of civilians as human shields.
  • Introduced legislation passed by the Senate to offer rewards to those who handed in information about the kidnappers and murderers of the 3 boys who were murdered in Jerusalem, one of them being an Israeli-US citizen.
  • Brought national attention to the FAA ban on flights into Ben Gurion airport and asked if they the ban was being imposed as a form of economic sanction on Israel. Due in large part to the public pressure brought by Ted Cruz, the ban was lifted.
  • Supports Israel’s Iron Dome program, which in defending Israel also protects US security interests.

Texas Values

“Since Ted Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate, he has done everything he said he’d do for Texans, and more.”

–Texas Governor Greg Abbott

  • Fought to take away taxpayer dollars from Planned Parenthood.
  • Led the way to preserve the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance at the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Successfully defended the words “under God” in the Texas Pledge of Allegiance and Texas schools’ moment of silence law in federal district court.
  • Successfully defended the constitutionality of the Texas Ten Commandments monument, winning a 5-4 landmark decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Defended Texas’s marriage laws when a state court attempted to recognize a Vermont civil union.
  • Successfully defended Texas’s Rider 8, which prohibits state funds for groups that provide abortions.
  • Galvanized national support for Houston pastors who had been subpoenaed by the City of Houston and forced to turn in their sermons.
  • Supported students’ right to display banners containing religious content at school sporting events.
  • Led the charge on behalf of 13 states to successfully defend a federal law that bans partial birth abortion before the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Advocated for an investigation into abortion practices in the U.S. to prevent the atrocities witnessed in Kermit Gosnell’s facility from ever happening again.
  • Joined 18 states in successfully defending the New Hampshire parental-notification law before the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Authored legislation and a constitutional amendment in the Senate to prevent federal courts from further interfering with any state’s authority to define marriage.
  • Introduced legislation to protect the right of states to define marriage, without intrusion by unelected federal judges.
  • Introduced measures in Congress to protect service members’ right to worship.[140]
—Ted Cruz for Senate[141]

Campaign advertisements

The following is an example of an ad from Cruz's 2018 election campaign.

"Harvey" - Cruz campaign ad, released August 3, 2018

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage and endorsements scopes.

Issues

Debate over changes to immigration law (2014)

On June 30, 2014, President Barack Obama (D) announced plans to take executive action on immigration reform. Obama blamed House Republicans for failing to act on this issue and said that he would do it on his own without Congress. This came after thousands of unaccompanied children began to show up at the U.S. border.[142]

Cruz's press secretary issued the following statement: "President Obama made many excuses today, but the blame lies at his feet. He has forfeited endless opportunities to work with Congress to pass common sense immigration reform that secures the border and champions legal immigration, while respecting the rule of law. The humanitarian crisis at the border is a direct result of his own policy failures, and his past unilateral actions on immigration display a willingness to stretch his existing legal authorities well beyond the breaking point. This humanitarian crisis will not end until both the president and Congress make it clear that rule of law matters, and those who ignore it and come here illegally will not be allowed to stay and receive de facto amnesty."[143]

National security

ISIS insurgency in Iraq

See also: ISIS insurgency in Iraq and Syria

In August 2014, Cruz said that President Barack Obama (D) needed to seek congressional authorization if airstrikes were to continue against ISIS forces in Iraq. Cruz said, "I believe initiating new military hostilities in a sustained basis in Iraq obligates the president to go back to Congress and to make the case and to seek congressional authorization. I hope that if he intends to continue this that he does that." Cruz also stated his support for the policy of bombings and humanitarian aid itself. He stated, "I am glad that President Obama is finally beginning to take the threat of ISIS seriously."[144]

On September 7, 2014, Cruz restated the need for action against ISIS and for Obama to get congressional approval for that action. He said, "President Obama should make the case to the American people and seek authorization from Congress. Formal congressional authorization is required by the Constitution and would force the president to commit to a clearly defined strategy to protect our national security. And it would unite the Congress in the mission to protect America and eradicate ISIS."[145]

Crisis in Gaza

Cruz announced on July 23, 2014, that he was placing holds on all federal nominees to the U.S. Department of State because of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) decision to stop all flights from the U.S. to Israel, calling it an "economic boycott." The Obama administration replied to Cruz's suggestion, calling the claim "ridiculous and offensive." Cruz responded, stating, "The only thing ‘offensive’ about this situation is how the Obama Administration is spurning our allies to embolden our enemies; the only thing ‘ridiculous’ is the administration’s response to basic questions. Until the State Department answers my questions, I will hold all State Department nominees."[146]

Cruz lifted the hold on July 28, 2014, after he received a briefing on the reasoning behind the flight ban by FAA officials. Cruz explained, "I appreciate the FAA’s efforts to respond to my questions, and so I have lifted my hold on State Department nominees. The hold was designed to force answers to important questions about why the Obama administration had banned flights to Israel. Thankfully, in response to widespread criticism, the administration has now reversed course and lifted its ban on flights to Ben Gurion International Airport."[147]

Hamas

Cruz and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) condemned Hamas in a resolution they presented to the Senate on July 28, 2014. Cruz said of Hamas, "Hamas is undoubtedly guilty of violating international humanitarian law through its deliberate, repeated, and consistent use of civilians as human shields. The United States of America, along with the entire international community must expose and denounce Hamas’ barbaric tactics and unequivocally support Israel’s right to self-defense." Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) filed the resolution in the House, as well.[148]

Healthcare

Continuing Resolution filibuster

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

Cruz spoke for over 21 hours on the floor of the Senate about defunding the Affordable Care Act. He relinquished control of the floor at noon on September 25, 2013. According to Senate rules, the latest he could have spoken was only an hour later at 1 p.m. According to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), "This is not a filibuster. This is an agreement that he and I made that he could talk."[149]

During the speech, Cruz was questioned by Democrats Tim Kaine of Virginia and Dick Durbin of Illinois and received the support of Utah Senator Mike Lee and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.[149]

The speech took place after Cruz called for Republican senators to effectively filibuster the continuing resolution that passed the House in September 2013. He said, "Step two is the Senate, where all accounts suggest Harry Reid plans to use procedural gimmicks to try to add funding back in for Obamacare. If Reid pursues this plan — if he insists on using a 50-vote threshold to fund Obamacare with a partisan vote of only Democrats — then I hope that every Senate Republican will stand together and oppose cloture on the bill in order to keep the House bill intact and not let Harry Reid add Obamacare funding back in."[150]

He went on, "Now is a time for party unity; Senate Republicans should stand side-by-side with courageous House Republicans."[150]

Campaign donors


Comprehensive donor history


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Ted Cruz campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributions
2024U.S. Senate TexasOn the Ballot primary$40,800,932
2018U.S. Senate TexasWon general$45,668,718
Grand total raised$86,469,649
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission

* This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

2018

U.S. Senate Texas 2018 election - Campaign Contributions
Top industry contributors to Ted Cruz's campaign in 2018
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $549,610.03
Energy & Natural Resources $428,863.68
General Business $366,685.61
Transportation $310,047.91
Government Agencies/Education/Other $281,782.82
Total Raised in 2018 $0.00
Total Spent $45,990,175.82
Source: Follow the Money

2018

U.S. Senate Texas 2018 election - Campaign Contributions
Top individual contributors to Ted Cruz's campaign in 2018
CRUZ, RAFAEL EDWARD (TED) $257,000.00
ABRAMOWITZ, JOSHUA G $28,500.00
STEWART, MR GORDON $18,700.00
AGEE, MR RICHARD $14,600.00
CAMERON, RONALD M $13,500.00
Total Raised in 2018 $0.00
Total Spent $45,990,175.82
Source: Follow the Money



2012

Cruz won election to the U.S. Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Cruz's campaign committee raised a total of $14,511,279 and spent $14,031,864.[151] This is more than the average $10.2 million spent by Senate winners in 2012.[152]

Cost per vote

Cruz spent $3.16 per vote received in the 2012 general election. This is the third lowest among U.S. senators who won election in 2012.


Personal Gain Index

Congressional Personal Gain Index graphic.png
See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives
Net Worth Metric graphic.png

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Cruz's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $1,029,049 and $5,159,997. That averages to $3,094,523, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican senators in 2012 of $6,956,438.47. Cruz ranked as the 45th most wealthy senator in 2012.[153] Between 2011 and 2012, Cruz's calculated net worth[154] increased by an average of 83 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[155]

Ted Cruz Yearly Net Worth
YearAverage Net Worth
2011$1,695,395
2012$3,094,523
Growth from 2011 to 2012:83%
Average annual growth:83%[156]
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.[157]

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). Cruz received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Republican/Conservative industry.

From 2011-2014, 27.78 percent of Cruz's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.[158]

Donation Concentration Metric graphic.png
Ted Cruz Campaign Contributions
Total Raised $17,812,695
Total Spent $15,686,140
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Republican/Conservative$1,574,249
Lawyers/Law Firms$930,584
Oil & Gas$927,368
Retired$832,361
Securities & Investment$684,141
% total in top industry8.84%
% total in top two industries14.06%
% total in top five industries27.78%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Cruz was a rank-and-file Republican as of July 2014. In June 2013, Cruz was rated as a "centrist Republican follower."[159]

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.[160]

Cruz most often votes with:

Cruz least often votes with:


Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Cruz missed 104 of 927 roll call votes from January 2013 to September 2015. This amounts to 11.2 percent, which is worse than the median of 1.6 percent among current senators as of September 2015.[161]

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Cruz ranked fourth in the conservative rankings among U.S. senators in 2013.[162]

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Cruz voted with the Republican Party 83.6 percent of the time, which ranked 33rd among the 45 Senate Republican members as of July 2014.[163]

2013

Cruz voted with the Republican Party 85.4 percent of the time, which ranked 38th among the 44 Senate Republican members as of May 2013.[164]

Noteworthy events

Electoral vote certification on January 6-7, 2021

See also: Counting of electoral votes (January 6-7, 2021)

Congress convened a joint session on January 6-7, 2021, to count electoral votes by state and confirm the results of the 2020 presidential election. Cruz voted against certifying the electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. The Senate rejected both objections by a vote of 6-93 for Arizona and 7-92 for Pennsylvania.

Decision to self-quarantine on March 9, 2020

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Cruz announced on March 9, 2020, that he would self-quarantine following his potential exposure to the coronavirus.[165] Cruz announced he would extend his quarantine period on March 13.[166] Cruz's period of self-quarantine came to an end on March 17.[167]

Covid vnt.png
Coronavirus pandemic
Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.


COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The first confirmed case of the disease in the United States was announced on January 21, 2020. For more of Ballotpedia's coverage of the coronavirus impact on political and civic life, click here.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Cruz and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters.[7] Heidi works as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs, assigned to the Houston area.[168]

Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on December 22, 1970. His father, a Cuban immigrant, fled his home country in 1957 after fighting against the dictator Fulgencio Batista. His mother is Irish-American.[169]

Rafael Cruz

Cruz's father, Rafael, has made headlines through speaking engagements. At one such engagement in July 2013, Rafael compared President Obama to Fidel Castro.[170]

Rafael Cruz endorsed Katrina Pierson in her primary challenge against Republican incumbent Pete Sessions in Texas' 32nd Congressional District in 2014.[171]

See also


External links

Footnotes

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  154. This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
  155. This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.
  156. This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.
  157. This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see the Congressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.
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  171. Politico, "Ted Cruz's dad backs Pete Sessions challenger," January 7, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
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U.S. Senate Texas
2013-Present
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
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Solicitor General of Texas
2003-2008
Succeeded by
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